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From New Jersey to Pandatherippu: Dr. John Scudder and the First Western Medical Centre in South Asia By  Dr. D.C. Ambalavanar, Visiting Lecturer in Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Jaffna, October 29, 2017  Dr. John Scudder, Sr. – Missionary, evangelist, healer and teacher On October 18th a public function was held by the Church of the American Ceylon Mission in the village of Pandatherippu in Northern Sri Lanka. This was the final event of several held over the past year to celebrate and commemorate the arrival of the first American missionaries to Jaffna in October 1816. During this function which was attended by public officials, members of the medical profession and church members, a postage stamp and first day cover honoring Dr. John Scudder was officially released by the Sri Lankan Postal Department. Who was this John Scudder who was being so singularly honored by a community and country so far from ...