CONFERENCES 2025

A three-day national conference was organised by IAP Jaipur Branch with MGUMST focused on awareness, treatment, and prevention of thalassemia with insights from global and national experts.

* Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences & Technology proudly hosted Thalcon 2025, a national-level three-day conference dedicated to thalassemia awareness and advancements in treatment.

⚠️ Day 1 began with joy and hope as children cured of thalassemia were celebrated.

🔬 Day 2 featured a hands-on workshop with 35 delegates from MGU and PGI Chandigarh.

🌐 Day 3 witnessed 293 medical professionals from across India, culminating in the Dr Munish Kumar Kakkar Memorial Lecture by Dr Frederic Bernard from France, emphasizing the need for premarital carrier testing.

•The inaugral event was chaired by Dr Rachna Narayan and graced by Honorable Emeritus Chairperson of MGUMST Dr. M L Swarankar and Honorable Chairman-cum-Chancellor of MGUMST Dr. Vikas Chandra Swarankar, alongside IAP Jaipur Office Bearers and experts like Dr Vinay Kapoor, Dr ND Soni, Dr CB Dasgupta, and Dr SS Jaiswal.

💉 Organised by Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Department of IHBT, and South East Asia Institute for Thalassemia,  and IAP Jaipur Branch – the event set new benchmarks in thalassemia care and education.

For details of THALCON 2025 and Scientific  Content visit: https://thalcon2025.in/

The first national RAJ AOPN Conference was held on 23rd February 2025 at Hotel Holiday Inn, Jaipur. Doctors, experts, and organizations from across the state participated in the event. This experience proved to be highly valuable for the organization, providing inspiration for even better work in the future. Dr. Lokesh Saini opened the conference with an impactful welcome address. He warmly greeted all the guests and emphasized the objective and significance of the event, underlining the importance of such dialogues in the field of pediatric neurology.

Dr. Vinit Wankhede shared how neurogenetics can be effectively incorporated into routine OPD practice. Using simple examples, he explained new possibilities in identifying and diagnosing complex

neurological cases. Dr. Vivek Jain delivered a video-based presentation that clearly distinguished between accurate and misdiagnosed cases of Cerebral Palsy (CP). His session provided valuable insights for clinicians in better recognizing and managing CP. Dr. S. Sitaraman was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his long-standing contributions to child neurology. This award reflects his decades of dedication, innovation, and service, standing as an inspiration for future generations. Dr. Sharad Sharma delivered an insightful session on Epilepsy Syndromes, focusing on the clinical classification, diagnosis, and tailored treatment approaches for various epileptic conditions. His talk emphasized early recognition and individualized management plans. Dr. Meenal Garg presented the clinical utility of Anti-Seizure Medications (ASM) in managing provoked seizures.

The session, enriched by panelists Dr. Rakesh Sharma, Dr. Praveen Kumar, Dr. Kiran Makhija, and Dr. Anoop Kumar, explored decision- making strategies, duration of therapy, and patient-specific considerations. Dr. Shefali Gulati shared the latest advancements in the understanding and management of Autism Spectrum Disorder. She highlighted evidence-based interventions and emphasized early

diagnosis and multidisciplinary care. The session was chaired by Dr. Kusum Devpura, Dr. Atul Shanker, and Dr. Devendra Sareen, adding clinical insights to the discussion. Dr. Sanjeev Joshi discussed a

structured clinical approach to managing the first episode of unprovoked seizures. He elaborated on evaluation protocols, diagnostic tools, and treatment thresholds. Chairpersons Dr. Kiran Pabri, Dr. Vasundhara Chugh, and Dr. Madhu Chaudhary provided additional perspectives based on real-world cases. Dr. Varnit Shanker shared his thoughts on the establishment of the Rajasthan State Chapter of AOPN. In this significant session, panelists Dr. Tarun Patni, Dr. Lokesh Saini, and Dr. Sharad Sharma highlighted the chapter's future direction, networking initiatives, and collective vision for pediatric neurology in the region. Dr. Lokesh Lingappa discussed practical approaches to integrating pediatric neurology into daily OPD practice. His session focused on identifying neurological signs early, streamlining referrals, and enhancing primary care outcomes. The session was chaired by Dr.

Priyanshu Mathur, Dr. Rupesh Masand, Dr. Shailen Sharma, and Dr. O.P. Balodia, who added clinical insights based on community-level experiences.

Dr. Anoop Verma delivered a highly engaging video-based session on common movement disorders in children. Through real-case visuals, he explained diagnostic challenges and management protocols.

Chairpersons Dr. Ram Babu Sharma, Dr. Rajesh Mathuria, Dr. Dhananjay Mangal, and Dr. Natwar Parwal contributed expert observations on the evolving approach to pediatric movement disorders.

Dr. Manish Parakh presented an in-depth overview of Cerebral Sinovenous Thrombosis (CSVT) in children. His talk included case- based learning, clinical signs, imaging strategies, and treatment

guidelines. The session was enhanced by the panel presence of Dr. Surya Sethi, Dr. Anurag Sharma, Dr. Hemant Tiwari, and Dr. Anshul Mittal. Dr. Ajay Goenka highlighted the relevance of EEG in diagnosing

and monitoring pediatric neurological conditions. The panel discussion featuring Dr. Surbhi Gupta, Dr. Juhi Gupta, Dr. Romit Jain, and Dr. Jagveer Singh provided valuable insights into real-time EEG

interpretation and its impact on clinical decision-making. Dr. Anshita Arora gave a focused presentation on the emergency management of Status Epilepticus in children. She outlined step-wise intervention

protocols and emphasized early action to prevent complications. The session included panel insights from Dr. Veena Laxmi, Dr. Richa Chaudhary, and Dr. Bhanu Pratap Singh, who added practical tips from

pediatric emergency settings. Dr. Lokesh Saini concluded the conference with thoughtful closing remarks. He appreciated the active participation of all delegates and speakers.

📑 Post-Conference Brief Report – PIDA MIDTERM 2025, Jaipur

1. Introduction / Overview

The National Mid-Term Conference of the Paediatric Infectious Disease Academy (PIDA Midterm 2025) was successfully held on 5th & 6th July 2025 at the Rajasthan International Centre (RIC), Jaipur. The conference served as a premier platform for paediatricians and infectious disease specialists to exchange knowledge, share clinical practices, and strengthen collaborations.

2. Participation

• The conference witnessed the participation of over 400 delegates and 150 faculties from across India. Leading academicians, clinicians, and young researchers actively engaged in the academic and scientific sessions.

3. Scientific Program Highlights

• The scientific program featured 12 keynote guest lectures, 21 panel discussions, oral paper presentations, and 100+ E-posters covering crucial topics such as Neonatal Sepsis, Antimicrobial Resistance, Pediatric Meningitis, and Vaccination Challenges. The Pre-conference Nurses Workshop on Infectious Disease Controlat Hope Hospital, Jaipur, also received an excellent response.

4. Special Events

• A cultural musical evening was organized on 5th July at the Convention Hall, RIC, which provided an excellent networking platform for faculty and delegates.

5. Outcomes & Impact

• The conference reaffirmed the importance of evidence-based approaches in pediatric infectious diseases, highlighted the role of collaborative research, and encouraged young clinicians to actively participate in academic pursuits.

6. Acknowledgements

• The Organising Committee extends heartfelt gratitude to all faculty members, delegates, sponsors, and partners for their unwavering support in making PIDA Midterm 2025 a grand success.

7. Closing Note

• With the resounding success of PIDA Midterm 2025, we look forward to welcoming you all to future academic endeavors under the banner of the Paediatric Infectious Disease Academy.