Author: chandan giri

ICMR-RMRC, Bhubaneswar, in collaboration with the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, organised a National Level Workshop on “Nutritional Assessment, Dietary Profiling, and Anthropometry among Indian Children, Adolescents, and Adults: Bridging Community Insights to Program and Policy” from 1–5 September 2025.

Over 400 faculty members and research scholars from across India applied, of whom only 40 participants were selected, representing states such as Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and several others.

Dr. Sai Chandan Das, Associate Professor in the Department of Community Medicine, KIMS, was among the selected participants.  He actively engaged in the deliberations and shared his field experiences. Dr. Sanghamitra Pati, Additional Director General, ICMR, New Delhi, felicitated Dr.Sai Chandan Das for his participation.

The workshop encompassed a wide spectrum of topics, including biochemical aspects of nutrition, paediatric and adolescent nutrition (from evidence to research), advanced tools and techniques for nutritional assessment and anthropometry, and dietary behaviour and profiling in the Indian population. The insights gained by Dr. Sai through this prestigious national platform are expected to greatly benefit medical students, MD/PhD scholars, and other researchers pursuing nutrition-related studies.

The 100^th Institutional Medical Research Committee (IMRC) Meeting of the Research and Development Department, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), was held on 22^nd August 2025, marking a landmark milestone in the institution’s research journey.

The meeting was graced by Pro-Chancellor, Padmashree Prof. (Dr.) Subrat Acharya, along with Dean & Principal of KIMS, AVM (Dr.) R.C. Das; Adviser Prof. (Dr.) A.C. Anand; Adviser Prof. (Dr.) Ramnath Mishra; Associate Dean (Research) Prof. (Dr.) Shubhansu Patro; and Member Secretary Prof. (Dr.) Ipsa Mohapatra. Faculty members, committee representatives, and the Research & Development staff actively participated in the session, which was also celebrated to mark this historic occasion.

In his keynote address, Prof. Acharya reflected on the evolution of the department and the sustained efforts that laid the foundation for its present growth. Prof. Mishra offered insights into the formative years of the committee and emphasized the importance of building a strong and sustainable research culture. Prof. Das inspired the younger generation to embrace research wholeheartedly, stressing the need to foster innovation, creativity, and critical thinking in scientific pursuits.

The session concluded with Prof. Patro expressing heartfelt gratitude to all dignitaries, faculty members, and staff for their continuous support and commitment in strengthening the research ecosystem at KIIT.

At KIMS, our dedicated faculty and researchers have undertaken 1,697 research projects across basic science, clinical studies, and translational research, reflecting sustained effort and innovation. Of these, eight projects have received funding from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), including two prestigious collaborations with Harvard University and the University of Toronto, while the World Health Organization (WHO) supported a landmark project in clinical immunology, further strengthening our global research footprint.

Besides, KIMS has been actively engaged in over 20 national and international clinical trials, underscoring its vital role in advancing therapeutic and preventive healthcare research. Demonstrating innovation and translational impact, the institution has successfully filed and secured 21 patents, while also nurturing young researchers through 52 student projects under the ICMR Short-Term Studentship (STS) scheme. The Research & Development Department continues to drive these initiatives, providing oversight for diverse research activities and playing a pivotal role in the administration of Ph.D. programs, thereby ensuring a robust and future-ready research ecosystem.

The 100^th IMRC Meeting stands as a proud testimony to KIIT University’s enduring commitment to advancing knowledge, nurturing innovation, and promoting impactful medical research for the future.

The NSS wings of Kalinga Institute of Nursing Sciences (KINS), organized a flash mob under the theme “YaARIYouthAgainstRagging.” The event was executed by the student NSS coordinators and volunteers from the B.Sc. and GNM Nursing programs of KINS, under the guidance of NSS Program Officer Ms. Jayshree Pradhan (Tutor, KINS) and Co-Program Officer Mr. Debasis Pradhan (Tutor, KINS).

The flash mob featured three dance performances and one song performance: The groups which performed dance were Shakti Group, Ripper Dance and Energy Booster, while the group that performed the song was ‘Mardaani‘.

The event utilized a creative, performance-based format to highlight the physical and psychological harms of ragging, aiming to instill a culture of safety, inclusivity, and respect on campus. Aligned with a zero-tolerance policy, the flash mob encouraged students to speak out, support peers, and report incidents. By bringing together seniors and newcomers in a shared, dynamic display of solidarity, it underscored a collective commitment to empathy and vigilance against ragging

The flash mob effectively utilized creative performances to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of ragging. By engaging students and faculty, the event fostered a culture of inclusivity and mutual respect. The enthusiastic participation and widespread sharing of the event’s content amplified its message, reinforcing the collective commitment to a ragging-free campus.

The Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) and Shubhra Foundation, Gujarat have signed an MoU to set up a rural hospital in Kunchisole village under Betnoti in Mayurbhanj district. The MoU was signed today in the presence of Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT, KISS & KIMS, and Smita Murmu, Director of Shubhra Priyambada Foundation.

 On behalf of Shubhra Priyambada Foundation, Badri Mohapatra, and on behalf of KIMS, Group Director Dillip Panda, signed the MoU. As per the understanding, Shubhra Priyambada Foundation will provide all infrastructure for the hospital, while KIMS will take responsibility for the hospital’s clinical establishment, operations, and overall administration.

 Smita Murmu, belonging to a reputed family, has been working for over 30 years in Betnoti and surrounding areas of Mayurbhanj district in the fields of healthcare and other social welfare activities. With the establishment of KIMS–Shubhra Hospital, tribal and local populations of Betnoti and nearby areas will be immensely benefited.

 Kunchisole village is the birthplace of Dr. Girish Chandra Murmu, the former CAG and first LG of Jammu & Kashmir, who is a source of pride for Odisha and India.

 Dr. Achyuta Samanta expressed his delight over the signing of the MoU and said that KIMS-Shubhra Hospital will soon become operational.

A day-long Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme on Vertigo was organized by the Department of ENT at KIMS. The workshop brought together ENT specialists, neurologists, psychiatrists, and other medical experts from across Odisha and outside the state to deliberate on effective management of vertigo and related disorders.

Three eminent specialists from outside Odisha—Dr. Srinivas Dorasala, Consultant, Annayya Health Care and Honorary Professor, JNMC; Dr. Surajit Barman, Consultant Neuro-otologist, Vertigo Care, Guwahati; and Dr. Nilotpal Dutta, Head, Neurotology (Vertigo & Balance Clinic), Manipal Hospitals, Kolkata—shared their expertise as keynote speakers.

The CME focused on how best to diagnose and treat patients presenting with symptoms like headache, head reeling, nausea, imbalance, hearing loss, and vision problems. Doctors emphasized that vertigo can originate from issues related to the ear, brain, or eyes, and accurate diagnosis is critical in deciding whether the patient should be treated by an ENT specialist, neurologist, cardiologist, or other specialists.

Prof. (Dr.) Kabikanta Samantaray, HOD, ENT Department, KIMS, said: “The main objective of this workshop is to ensure that a patient suffering from head reeling gets the right diagnosis and timely treatment. Common symptoms include headache, vertigo, feeling of vomiting, imbalance while walking, reduced hearing, and even eyesight issues. Since vertigo can be linked to the ear, brain or eyes, it is important that if the cause is not ENT-related, the patient is correctly referred to a neurologist, cardiologist or the appropriate specialist. This multi-disciplinary approach will greatly improve patient outcomes.”

Supported actively by KIMS, the CME provided a valuable platform for specialists to exchange knowledge and practical insights. The sessions also highlighted the importance of collaborative care in managing vertigo cases, which often overlap multiple medical specialties.

The Child Health Nursing department of KINS under KIIT-DU celebrated World Breastfeeding Week 2025 from 1^st August to 7^th August 2025 with the theme “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems”. It was attended by GNM 2^nd year, B.Sc. Nursing 6^th semester, MSc Nursing 1^st year and 2^nd year, including KINS faculties.

On the first day, a workshop was conducted on “Facility-based Newborn Care (FBNBC) and Essential Newborn Care (ENBC)”. The celebration started with lamp lighting, a magnificent classical welcome dance and a keynote address by Prof.(Dr.) Niyati Das, Principal, KINS.

Eminent speaker Dr. Jagdish Prasad Sahoo, Additional Professor of Neonatology, AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, shared the knowledge enriched with evidence-based practice in a very effective manner. The effectiveness of this session was assessed by pre-test and post-test responses. Continuing this celebration, on 2^nd August, a workshop on Integrated Management of Neonatal & Childhood Illness (IMNC) was conducted at KIMS.  

This session was conducted by Dr. Alpana Mishra, Professor, Department of Community Medicine. This session was indeed informative, which was evaluated by pre-test; post-test responses, along with feedback.

On 4^th August, with the motive of disseminating hands-on training skills, a CNE was organised by 1^st year and 2^nd year MSc Nursing O&G Nursing specialty, Child Health Nursing, Community Health Nursing and Mental Health Nursing specialty in Child Health Nursing lab and OBG lab of KINS on essential aspects like Antenatal assessment, Postnatal assessment, Neonatal resuscitation, Essential Newborn care, Labour management and Partograph.

Each station was equipped with an aid and checklist. All BSc. Nursing 6^th semester and GNM 2^nd year students, group-wise, attended this workshop. As a part of activity-based learning, a Congenital Disorder file exhibition was organised by BSc Nursing 6^th semester students on 5^th August at the Child Health Nursing Lab.  This was evaluated by Prof.(Mrs.) Kalyani Rath, Vice Principal, HOD, Obstetrics and Gynaecological Nursing, KINS.

On 7^th August, MSc 1^st year and 2^nd year Child Health Nursing conducted an in-service education for nursing officers working in paediatric and OBG departments with the theme of “Every Baby Counts: A Holistic Approach to Zero Separation, Breastfeeding and Kangaroo Mother Care” at the Paediatric Ward Demo Room. The celebration of Breastfeeding Week concluded on a successful note, marked by enthusiastic participation from students, faculty, and healthcare professionals.