Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) celebrated World Pathology Day by organizing an International Conference highlighting advancements and challenges in the field of pathology.
Director SKIMS & EOSG Prof. M. Ashraf Ganie congratulated the Department of Pathology for bringing together eminent national and international experts. He extended gratitude, Prof. Sumeet Gujral, and Prof. Nandita Kakkar for joining the event and enriching the academic discourse. He also thanked Mr. Arvind Panday (MD, BSNL) for joining the event as special guest.
Commending the Department for its excellent services, Prof. Ashraf Ganie emphasized the need to diversify and adopt a multidisciplinary approach with cohesive collaborations to enhance academic and clinical excellence. He said that apart from increasing the number of postgraduate seats, there is a need to introduce specialized fellowship programs and strengthen molecular pathology to transform the department into a Centre of Excellence at SKIMS.
Prof. Ashraf also announced that SKIMS is in the process of formalizing a collaboration with BSNL India for a joint initiative focusing on research and patient-centric digital services such as Tele-Pathology and Tele-Radiology, with modalities currently being worked out. He thanked MD BSNL, Mr. Arvind Panday, for his support in this endeavor.
He further informed that J&K Bank will facilitate patient appointment services through Khidmat Centres across peripheral areas, thereby strengthening accessibility and patient convenience. He extended gratitude to J&K Bank for their cooperation and support.
Former Director SKIMS Dr. Showkat Zargar, who graced the occasion as Chief Guest, described pathology as the “Queen of Medicine” and emphasized the importance of continuous learning and skill enhancement among faculty to improve patient care and outcomes.
Prof. Gujral, renowned pathologist and Guest of Honour, spoke about the national scenario, highlighting the acute shortage of experts in peripheral institutions. While acknowledging the increase in the number of medical colleges, he noted that around 30% still lack adequate infrastructure. He stressed the need to bridge this gap by training and retaining skilled pathologists in peripheral areas and welcomed the growing opportunities for fellowship programs in the field.
Dean Medical Faculty SKIMS, Prof. G. M. Gulzar, in his address, acknowledged the immense contribution of pathologists and said that precision medicine and digital pathology are redefining the contours of modern medicine.
Head of Department, Prof. Syed Besina, in her welcome address, outlined the key achievements and ongoing activities of the Department of Pathology. She also highlighted the scientific sessions of the conference, which featured lectures by eminent pathologists, including Prof. Nandita Kakkar and other leading experts from across the country.
