Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Indian Society of Gastroenterology

KOCHI:
The silver jubilee of the Kerala chapter of Indian Society of Gastroenterology will be celebrated in association with Department of Gastroenterology Medical Trust Hospital and Cochin Gut Club, at IMA House, Kochi on March 4th and 5th 2017.
The theme of the two day CME is Gastrointestinal Oncology (GI Oncology), discussing different issues from prevention to palliation. A learning center for the young gastroenterologists where various advanced endoscopic procedures are shown as video clippings will be set up here.
Hands on training for ERCP is imparted on a trainer model. In addition there is a parallel workshop for the endoscopic technicians, technician students and nurses where they get exposure to newer instruments and procedures.
Around hundred faculty members are giving lectures, presenting papers,training the juniors and endoscopy
assistants. Approximately 300 delegates are expected to participate in the conference.
The formal inauguration of the conference and silver jubilee celebrations is at 6pm on March 4th at IMA house. Dr.Ramesh R, Director of Health Services, Kerala is the guest of honour. P V Antony,director Medical Trust hospital would offer felicitations.
Chief guest of the day Padma Shri. Prof. Dr.T S Chandrasekar, President Indian Society of Gastroenterology would honour around twenty senior teachers and faculty members in a solemn function – Gurupranamam.
Prof.V Balakrishnan would be conferred the Life Time Achievement award for his immense contribution to the field of Gastroenterology in Kerala. The key note address on Innovative Techniques in GI Endoscopy – The Indian Contribution would be delivered by the National President of ISG.The silver jubilee souvenir ‘Syner GI ‘ would be released by Dr.Naresh Bhat, President Elect, Indian Society of Gastroenterology.
From humble beginnings in 1992,the Kerala chapter of ISG has grown to one among the best chapters in the country.
Indian Society of Gastroenterology, the national forum for the practicing gastroenterologists in the country had its inception in 1960.Currently the organization has more than 1500 members and is very active in academic and research activities.The Kerala chapter was formed almost 30 years later with a handful of gastroenterologists and gastrosurgeons as members. It was established in 1992 with Prof.V Balakrishnan as the president and Dr.Philip Augustine as the secretary.
The first meeting the Kerala chapter was organized by Prof.Vinayachandran Nair at Calicut. Prof.V Balakrishnan was heading the Gastroenterology department at Trivandrum Medical College and Prof.Vinayachandran Nair was heading the same at Calicut Medical College at that time.Meanwhile Dr.Philip Augustine was setting up a state of the art unit at Devamatha Hospital in Koothattukulam.These three legends are instrumental in the growth and development of Gastroenterology as a specialty in Kerala.Post Doctoral training courses (DM) began in both the Medical Colleges.
As years passed by the state chapter scaled greater heights.At present there are 200 life members.The society holds two conferences every year.This is the ideal platform for research work, training, publishing and updating our medical knowledge. Our facul
ty has many publications in reputed national and international journals on various topics.The prominent among them are tropical pancreatitis,viral hepatitis,endotherapy of pancreatic and biliary diseases and liver transplantation.
The society has taken initiative in conducting multi centric clinical trials. The latest is the work done on Crohn’s disease, an emerging clinical problem in the state. Many of our members are brilliant teachers,astute clinicians, excellent surgeons and endoscopists. Their hardwork and dedication is praiseworthy and has helped immensely to the growth of Gastroenterology as a major speciality in Kerala.The society conducts regular teaching programmes for the post graduates and training programmes for the endoscopy
technicians.