The event was inaugurated by Vijaybhai Rupani, Chief Minister, Gujarat
The 73rd Annual Conference of Indian Radiological and Imaging Association and Asian Radiology Forum, held in Gandhinagar, was inaugurated by Vijaybhai Rupani, Chief Minister, Gujarat. Also present during the ceremony was Nitinbhai Patel, Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister, Gujarat.
Top leaders and experts from the national and international radiology fraternity present to grace the occasion were Dr Hemant Patel, National President – IRIA and Organising Secretary IRIA 2020; Dr Harshad Shah, Organising Chairman IRIA 2020; Dr Dinesh Patel, Organising Chairman IRIA 2020; Dr Mohan K; Dr Asutosh Dave, Organising Secretary IRIA 2020; Dr C Amarnath, Organising Secretary IRIA 2020; Dr Rajeev Singh, Secretary-General IRIA; Dr Ankur Shah, Chairman Scientific Committee IRIA 2020; and Dr Deepak Mehta, Chairman Scientific Committee IRIA 2020.
IRIA 2020 kick-started its sessions with the inauguration of the ICRI, IRIA’s academic body. The focus of IRIA in the last few years has been improving radiological education and encouraging budding radiologists. After the auspicious lamp lighting ceremony, the new office bearers for the year 2020 were introduced and felicitated.
Dr Hemant Patel, President, IRIA felicitated Dr Lalendra Upreti, Elected Chairman, ICRI and Dr Shailesh Lunawat as Secretary ICRI who further introduced the other office-bearers.
Dr Upreti from ICRI spoke about the vision for the current year and how the team would ensure improved education this year. He also spoke about the success of their budding radiologist training programmes that were organised last year to inspire and buy young and aspiring radiologists in the country. “ICRI’s focusses on the setting SOPs and standards for practice for radiologists across the country. This year too, we will focus on improving standards and set SOPs for efficient radiologist practices in India,” Dr Upreti mentioned.
Further, Dr Upreti also informed that the blueprint for the next years has been prepared in consultation with the President-Elect, Dr Deepak Patkar. The ICRI will continue its work in the field of education while conducting the budding radiologists’ programme, mock tests, CMEs and the outreach programme envisioned and started by President Dr Hemant Patel, he said.
Dr Lunawat further informed the audience on the successful event that inspired the ICRI in 2019. The ICRI members then launched the newsletter for IRIA that will be circulated amongst IRIA member periodically for knowledge sharing and more. The organising committee members of all the educational programme of 2019 were felicitated.
Dr Deepak Patkar, President, Elect, IRIA 2020 said, “During the year ahead, our efforts will be on improving radiological education in the country and abroad. This year, we will be coming out with a Whitepaper on AI in radiology, which will enable radiologists to understand the true potential and application of AI. We will also launch an international mentoring programme for radiologists across the world. This programme will focus on knowledge sharing and mentoring of young radiologists across the world. The aim is to further extend our studies in sub-specialities radiology and advance our research work. Additional, we will further our drive on the outreach programme to improve access to radiological services in the country.”
Dr Hemant Patel spoke about how 2019 had the maximum number of radiological programmes in the history of IRIA. He mentioned that next year too the focus will be to further these efforts. He also spoke of the vision behind starting the newsletter service to the radiologists to keep them well informed on the educational programmes that will be conducted in the year ahead.
While summing up the moring programme, Dr Ravi Kant, Guest of honour of the day urged the audience to focus on patient-oriented medicine. He said there is need for the radiologist’s community to work closely with other healthcare providers to improve the quality of care in the country.
“Utilisation of learning resources should be used to their fullest potential to ensure maximum support for students, and integration of government and private educational institutes and organisations will help with that,” said Abhijat Sheth, President – National Board of Examination, who attended the event as the Chief Guest.
IRIA — Awards and Oration
An award and oration ceremony was also conducted by ICRI which saw young and upcoming radiologists being lauded for their contribution to the field. While Dr C Amarnath was presented the NG Gadekar Oration 2021, Dr Mihir Mitter Oration 2021 was presented to Dr Sikandar Shaikh.
Dr Abhijit Taori received the Dr VP Lakhanpal Gold Medal for best academic contribution in the year 2018. The Onco Imaging Award 2019 was bestowed upon Dr Akanksha Aggarwal.
Afterwards, fellowships (FICR) were awarded to Dr Anjali Prakash, Dr Amit Disawal, Dr Bhawan Paunipagar, Dr Darshana Paunipagar, Dr Mahesha BM, Dr Paramjeet Singh, Dr Rashmit Dixit, Dr Sameer Vyas, Dr Rajat Jain and Dr Smita Manchanda.
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