Author: chandan giri

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.

In a proud moment for KIMS, Prof. and HOD Dr. Sonali Kar and Postgraduate student, current batch of 2022, Dr. Angana Ray were invited for oral presentations at the prestigious 2^nd Annual National Sustainability Society (NSS) Conference, held at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA, from October 20–22, 2025. 

The conference brought together 414 participants from across the globe, including representatives from academia, industry, non-profits, and government organisations. The conference focused on “Transformative Change for a Just and Sustainable Future”, emphasizing collaborative approaches toward environmental stewardship, social equity, and sustainable development. Participants engaged in discussions and workshops addressing innovative solutions to pressing sustainability challenges.

Dr Kar presented the thesis work of her student Dr. Nirmalya Mohapatra, titled “Solid Waste Management in Urban and Rural Households in Odisha, Eastern India: A Comprehensive Pragmatic Study to Assess State Policy Reach to Households to Manage Waste and Save the Environment”.

Dr. Angana Ray presented her thesis work on “Research in Urban Slums in Cities in India Recommends Sustainable Restriction in Noise Pollution and Good Hygiene as Key Strategies for Ear Health Among Adolescents and Adults “. Her work was also guided by Dr. Sonali Kar.

The presentations received an enthusiastic response from the attendees and sparked meaningful discussions on sustainability in community health. They also attended the Workshop on “Teaching Sustainable Development: Integrating Theory and Practice”, which explored innovative pedagogical strategies to embed sustainability principles into health education and community practice.

A collaboration between KIMS and Harvard University is being fostered to formulate a module on Sustainability Teaching Concepts in a multidisciplinary approach. Their participation highlighted KIMS’s continued commitment to promoting sustainability-driven research and global academic collaboration.

The team extended sincere gratitude to Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT and KISS, and Dr. R. C. Das, Dean and Principal, KIMS, as well as the Faculty and staff of the Department of Community Medicine for their constant encouragement and support in enabling international academic engagement and research dissemination.

As part of the ongoing national mission to eradicate poliomyelitis, the Department of Community Medicine, KIMS successfully conducted the Pulse Polio Immunization Programme across two centres — Immunization Clinic, KIMS Hospital and Rural Health and Training Centre (RHTC), Kalarabankaon 12^th, 13^th, and 14^th October 2025.

The campaign aimed to ensure that every child under the age of five should receive two drops of the life-saving Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV). The drive witnessed enthusiastic participation from parents and guardians, reflecting strong community engagement and awareness towards maintaining a Polio-Free India.

At RHTC, Kalarabanka, the programme was conducted under the leadership of Prof. (Dr.) Sonali Kar, Head of the Department of Community Medicine.  A total of 157 beneficiaries were immunized on 12^th October, 2025. The event was efficiently supervised by Dr. Sai Chandan Das, RHTC In-Charge, and well-coordinated by Mr. V.K. Sen Gupta, Medical Officer In-Charge (MOIC). The dedicated efforts of Mr. Sangram Mohapatra, along with the nursing, housekeeping, and support staff, ensured smooth operations. Postgraduate students (PGs) and interns conducted counselling sessions to spread awareness on polio and routine immunization.

Simultaneously, at KIMS Hospital, Immunization clinic under the supervision of Dr. Prem Sagar Panda , Immunizations In-charge and other senior faculties Prof. (Dr.) Basanta Kumar Behera which was guided by Prof. (Dr.) Sonali Kar, Head of the Department of Community Medicine.

This three-day campaign covered 321 children, with 200 children immunized on 12^th October, 73 on 13^th, and 48 on 14^th October 2025. Faculties, postgraduate residents, interns, and nursing staff worked tirelessly to ensure maximum outreach and efficiency. In all, 478 children were immunized during the combined campaign across both sites. Awareness messages on child health and routine immunization were disseminated throughout the programme.

The successful completion of the Pulse Polio Programme highlights the dedication, teamwork, and unwavering commitment of the Department of Community Medicine, KIMS, towards sustaining India’s polio-free status and promoting public health awareness.