SKIMS Hosts Major Endocrine Surgery Update, Showcases New Advances | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences on Sunday inaugurated a day-long “Endocrine Surgery Update”, bringing leading national experts to Srinagar for an academic exchange on the latest breakthroughs in Endocrine Surgery. The event, organised by the Endocrine and Breast Cancer Division of the Department of General and Minimal Invasive Surgery, marked a significant moment for SKIMS as it highlighted the Institute’s growing prominence in specialised surgical care.

The academic session was attended by Prof SK Mishra of RMLIMS Lucknow, former President of the Indian Association of Endocrine Surgeons, who served as the Chief Guest. Earlier, he delivered a detailed lecture on the present and emerging landscape of endocrine surgery, tracing scientific advances and forecasting future clinical directions. He praised Director SKIMS, Prof M Ashraf Ganie, for what he described as a clear vision centred on diversification, development of subspecialities, and a deliberate strengthening of the research ecosystem. He said meaningful research must address local health challenges and recalled how sustained scientific work on iron deficiency and ascariasis led to the elimination of those conditions at a population scale.

The update featured deliberations on recent technologies in endocrine surgery and drew participation from several national experts. Speaking on the occasion, Director SKIMS Prof M Ashraf Ganie commended Prof Aijaz A Mallik, Head of General and Minimal Invasive Surgery and Chief of the Endocrine and Breast Surgery Division, for establishing the specialised endocrine surgery unit at SKIMS, placing it among only eight such centres in the country. He noted that SKIMS had taken a pioneering step by launching the MCh Endocrine Surgery programme, ahead even of AIIMS New Delhi, placing the Institute firmly on the national academic map.

Reflecting on the institution’s trajectory, Prof Ashraf said SKIMS had grown through difficult phases but continued to be constrained by the absence of full institutional autonomy. He reiterated the need for diversification and the creation of more subspecialities to ensure that SKIMS retains national and global relevance. He urged senior faculty to steer research in new directions and to break out of conventional academic frameworks.

Dean Medical Faculty Prof GM Gulzar and Principal SKIMS Medical College Prof Fazal Q Parray also addressed the gathering, praising the organisers for hosting an event that brought fresh insight into the field and further strengthened academic engagement at SKIMS.

In his welcome address, Prof Aijaz A Mallik thanked the invited experts and acknowledged the encouragement provided by the Director. He said endocrine surgery had evolved rapidly worldwide and that SKIMS was committed to absorbing the latest surgical techniques and aligning itself with global standards. He described the introduction of the MCh Endocrine Surgery programme as a landmark accomplishment that positioned SKIMS among the seven accredited centres in India. He said the academic exchange would enrich faculty and students alike.

Guest of Honour and IAES President Prof Gaurav Agarwal, IAES Secretary Prof Pooja Ramakant, and past President Prof Anjali congratulated SKIMS for hosting the update and said that such initiatives were essential in advancing standards of endocrine surgery in the region.

The inaugural session concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Organising Secretary Prof Munir A Wani, who acknowledged the contributions of all delegates and participants and said the discussions would help strengthen academic and clinical practice in the specialty.