Pune: Emerging technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) are set to revolutionize healthcare and the role of doctors, according to Dr. P. Jagannath, Chief of GI Oncology at Lilavati Hospital and Director of Continental Cancer Centre, Continental Hospitals, Hyderabad.
Speaking at the ‘Prof. Dr. Shashank Shinde Memorial Lecture’ during the inauguration of the second annual conference of ‘The Oncology Group of Pune,’ Dr. Jagannath emphasized that technology will not replace or compete with doctors, but will instead assist them, making it imperative for medical professionals to embrace these advancements.
The two-day conference, held under the theme ‘Navigating Controversies: Unravelling Dilemmas in GEJ & Colorectal Cancer,’ featured numerous knowledge-sharing sessions and discussions on complex surgical procedures.
Key sessions included 'How I Manage My Complications,' which provided insights into handling difficult surgical scenarios, and ‘The Dream MDT,’ where experts deliberated on challenging cases.
Prominent figures at the event included Dr. Sanjay Deshmukh, Founder President of The Oncology Group Pune, Dr. Girish Phadke, Organizing Chairperson, and Organizing Secretaries Dr. Sujai Hegde and Dr. Chetan Deshmukh. Renowned surgeons Dr. Jaising Shinde, Dr. Ramesh Dumbre, Dr. Manish Bhatia, and Dr. Debanshu Bhaduri were also in attendance.
Dr. Jagannath stressed the transformative potential of technology in cancer care and clinical practice, likening its impact to how UPI revolutionized the financial sector.
He predicted that in the next two to three years, healthcare would undergo a significant disruption, improving the way medical professionals work and enhancing patient care.
As a pioneer in Hepato Biliary Pancreatic Surgery in India, Dr. Jagannath reminisced about his early days at Tata Memorial Hospital and reflected on the legacy of Dr. Shashank Shinde, highlighting his dedication to patient care.
He further underscored the need for collaboration between medical centers, improved documentation, research, and quality publications to enhance academic output in the face of the high clinical volume in India.
‘The Oncology Group Pune,’ established in 2019, aims to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous education among oncology professionals.
As the conference concluded, the discussions underscored the importance of integrating emerging technologies in clinical practice, emphasizing that while challenges remain, the potential benefits for both patients and healthcare providers are substantial.