Author: chandan giri

The first-ever ‘Annual Odisha State Pain conference’ kicked off at Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) on  6^th December, 2025. Inaugurating the two-day scientific meet, Vice-Chancellor of Odisha University of Health Sciences, Dr. Manas Ranjan Sahoo highlighted the crucial role of anaesthesiologists in surgical success, stating that “behind every successful surgeon, there is a good anaesthesiologist.” 

He stressed that pain management is the key to positive surgical outcomes and assured that OUHS will soon introduce dedicated courses on pain medicine in Odisha. He also announced plans to start PhD programmes for doctors under the OUHS umbrella and urged experts to conduct Continuing Medical Education (CME) programmes on pain management to strengthen academic exchange. 

The two-day conference is being jointly organised by the Department of Pain Medicine and the PG Department of Anaesthesiology, KIMS, under the aegis of the Indian Society for Study of Pain (ISSP), Bhubaneswar City Branch. The theme of the conference, “Shaping the Future of Pain Medicine in Odisha and Beyond,” aimed to bring together leading clinicians and experts to exchange knowledge, share innovations and collectively advance the field. 

Head of the Department of Anaesthesiology, KIMS, Dr. Amrita Panda, said the conference encompassed all aspects of pain management and focused on holistic and evidence-based approaches for better patient outcomes. President of ISSP Odisha Chapter, Dr. Ritish Roy termed the response to the first edition of the conference as “phenomenal,” stating that it reflects the eagerness of doctors across Odisha to learn every aspect of pain management.

Medical Superintendent of KIMS, Prof. M. R. Behera, highlighted that pain requires a multimodal treatment approach, involving physical, psychological and medical interventions. He said the conference would deliberate on diverse dimensions of pain and its management.

National President of ISSP, Dr. Krishna Poddar, expressed her commitment towards strengthening pain medicine in India. She urged KIMS to initiate a DM course in Pain Management, adding that she envisions premier institutions like AIIMS also offering specialised courses in pain medicine in the future.

 Organising Secretary of the conference and Consultant, Department of Pain Medicine, KIMS, Dr. Rajendra Sahoo, informed that 190 delegates have registered for the conference, including participants from Nepal, highlighting the growing international interest. He further announced that KIMS is prepared to run fellowship programmes in pain management.

The Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bhubaneswar, will host the 2^nd edition of the flagship national health summit, ‘KIMS National Conclave 2025’, on 22 November.

 The conclave, themed “Future of Medical Care and Progress,” will bring together leading experts in clinical medicine, public health, policymaking, medical technology, and social transformation to deliberate on the future direction of healthcare delivery in India.

 The ‘Health Empowerment in Rural Odisha’ (HERO) Award’, instituted from this year, will be given on the occasion. It will be conferred annually on eminent physicians of Odisha for their significant and measurable contribution to the health outcomes and wellbeing of rural communities across the state.

 With participation from eminent national and international speakers, the event will address rising disease burdens, rapid digitalisation, inequitable access, and the need for resilient, patient-centred systems.

 Guided by the vision of Dr Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT, KISS & KIMS, the conclave is led by senior academicians including Prof. (Dr.) Subrat Acharya, Prof. (Dr.) Y. K. Chawla, Prof. (Dr.) C. B. K. Mohanty, and Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Director General of KIMS and Organising Secretary.

 Speaking about the objective of the conclave, Prof. (Dr.) Subrat Acharya, Pro-Chancellor, KIIT and noted gastroenterologist, said that the overarching goal of the conclave is to deliberate on pressing issues that includes that “progress in medical treatment ultimately reach the people.” He emphasised the need to rethink India’s healthcare delivery mechanisms and strengthen areas that medical colleges do not traditionally teach—health promotion, disease prevention, communication skills, and locally relevant problem-solving.

 He added that the conclave will focus on how innovations, cellular science, and clinical sciences can converge to drive meaningful change through translational research.

 He noted that these discussions will go “beyond conventional medical thinking” and explore whether India can build systems that are both state-of-the-art and affordable.

 The day-long scientific sessions are structured around three pillars—Systemic Reform and National Service, Innovation and Translational Research, and Specialised Care and Institutional Excellence.

 Key sessions include Dr. K. Srinath Reddy’s address on reforms in medical education, calling for greater focus on public health, social determinants, and community engagement.

 On the research front, Dr. Rajiv Bahl, DG–ICMR, will outline strategies to boost India’s medical research ecosystem, while Prof. Alok Dhawan will discuss translating systems biology into clinical applications. Prof. V. Kamakoti of IIT Madras will spotlight affordable, engineering-driven healthcare innovations.

The 10^th Edition of India’s Premier Healthcare Technology Innovation Conclave – CAHOTECH 2025, hosted by the Consortium of Accredited Healthcare Organizations (CAHO) concluded in KIMS on 16^th November, 2025. It is for the first time KIMS hosted CAHO in Odisha.

The two day event themed “Technology & Impact: Solving Challenges in Healthcare,” organised by KIMS and CAHO, was attended by delegates representing the healthcare industry, professionals, innovators, startups, and students.

In his welcome address, Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT, KISS & KIMS said, over the years, CAHOTECH has emerged as the flagship platform of CAHO’s Health Tech Forum, serving as a grand confluence of healthcare providers, technology innovators, policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders. He said, CAHOTECH 2025 will serve as an ideal platform for the exchange of visionary ideas, discovery of collaborative opportunities, and creation of impactful innovations—where the dual forces of technology and purpose converge to address real-world healthcare challenges effectively.

Dr. Vijay Agarwal, President, CAHO said, CAHO is a platform that celebrates innovation for safer, smarter and more equitable healthcare. Its aim is specially to bring the accredited hospitals together in their continuous quality journey improvement. He thanked Dr. Samanta for hoisting CAHO in Odisha for the first time.

Dr. Subrat Kumar Acharaya, Pro Chancellor KIIT DU, quoting Dr. Samanta’s vision said, Dr. Samanta believes poverty is the vital issue of the country and education can eradicate poverty. The vision of KIIT and CAHO are similar. Safety of people getting treatment is the fundamental aim of medical science.

Dr. Suman Chakraborty, Director IIT joining as Guest of honour said, medical technology is an area that is not just important for today. it will be the only resort to provide quality health care to everyone in the globe.

Giving the example of IIT Kharagpur, he said, IIT Kharagpur has been visionary to introduce the school of medical science and technology in the year 2001.

Among others, Dr. Lallu Joseph – Secretary General; Mr. Prashant Sharma- MD Charnock Hospital; Dr. Sankar Sengupta – Vice President, CAHO; Mr. Soumyakanta Sathpathy- Director – Operations, KIMS and Odisha State Chair CAHO were also present on the occasion.

Dr. Sai Chandan Das, Associate Professor in the Department of Community Medicine, KIMS, Bhubaneswar, spearheaded an enriching Postgraduate Quiz Competition, “EPIMIX – The Goblet of Epidemiology,” during the EFICON Conference held at AIIMS, New Delhi, from 11^th to 13^th November, 2025.

The highlight of the event was the vibrant participation of postgraduates from premier institutions across the country, including AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh, and several other reputed medical colleges of India. The atmosphere was marked by enthusiasm, collaboration, and healthy competition. The quiz featured multiple rounds designed by Dr. Sai and his team members from HIMS, Dehradun, to challenge postgraduates on epidemiology, biostatistics, research methodology, national health programs, and contemporary public health issues. The event left participants inspired, motivated, and enriched with knowledge, further strengthening the culture of scholarly engagement in public health.

This academic initiative stood as a testament to the collaborative spirit of the Community Medicine and Public Health fraternity and reflected the EFICON Conference’s commitment to fostering learning, innovation, and professional excellence. In addition to organizing the quiz, Dr. Sai was also invited to serve as the Chairperson for the Oral Presentation Sessions.

Prof. (Dr.) Suneela Garg, Advisor to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR); and Dr. Pradeep Agarwal, Secretary of the Epidemiology Foundation of India, felicitated Dr. Sai Chandan for conceptualizing and successfully organizing the quiz.

Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences (KIDS) has received the Charaka National Award for Best Dental College from the Indian Dental Association (IDA).

The award was received by Dr. Jugajyoti Pathi, Director of KIDS, who acknowledged the contribution of faculty, students, and staff. Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS expressed his pleasure over the success of KIDS and thanked all doctors, students and staff of KIDS.

The Charaka National Awards, instituted by the IDA, acknowledge contributions in the field of dentistry. KIDS received public votes and was evaluated by a panel of judges. KIDS stood tall among winners, bagging over 4 lakh public votes and impressing judges. It highlighted its cutting-edge infrastructure including more than 300 dental chairs, AI-based diagnostics, 3D printing laboratories; impactful research such as Cleft Connect app for cleft lip/palate care; and community-first outreach – transforming oral health across Odisha.

KIDS highlighted its clinical and academic facilities, including more than 300 dental chairs, AI-based diagnostics, and 3D printing laboratories. The institute also showcased research initiatives such as the Cleft Connect application for cleft lip and palate care, along with community oral health outreach in Odisha.

The event was attended by representatives including Mr. Gustovo Gonzalez, Consul General of Chile; Mr. Alex Chain, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA); and senior IDA office bearers Dr. Subhra Nandy (President), Dr. Ashok Dhoble (Hon. Secretary General), and Dr. Manoj Srivastava (President-Elect).

National Academy of Medical Sciences(NAMS)  conferred Emeritus Professor of KIMS Dr. Hemanta Kumar Kar FAMS in Dermatology for the year 2025 on 8^th November, 2025. This is the most prestigious honour given to the eminent Scientists of the country in their specific field  every year. Dr. Kar attended the convocation held at PGIMER, Chandigarh on 8^th November, 2025 and received the honour from the Haryana Governor, the Chief Guest of the convocation and Prof Paul, Hon’ble member of NITI Udyog, who was the guest of honour. Every year only one of the Dermatologists of the Country  is given this honour. Director of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar Prof. Ashutosh was also honoured with FAMS this year in Medicine.