Integrity, public service nonetheless core to drugs: speaker at Gajaraj Memorial Oration


Dr. Arcot Gajaraj Picture Credit score: Particular Association

Amid rising pressures in healthcare — each technological and systemic — the values ​​of scientific integrity, moral judgment, humility, and public service stay related, mentioned S. Rajasekaran, chairman, Division of Orthopaedics, Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore.

He was delivering the 21st Professor Arcot Gajaraj Memorial Oration held in Chennai, marking the 100th Beginning anniversary of Arcot Gajaraj (1925-2003), Indian radiologist and medical educator who performed a significant position in shaping radiology and imaging sciences within the nation.

Reflecting on Dr. Gajaraj’s work, Dr. Rajasekaran mentioned how these values, which persistently guided Dr. Gajaraj’s observe, stay important immediately, notably as rising pressures weigh on healthcare.

He additionally spoke about how the emergence of synthetic intelligence (AI) has modified the doctor-patient relationship, noting that immediately, “info is obtainable to all, and everyone seems to be, in a roundabout way, a medical learner.” He spoke of the promise of AI, together with situations the place techniques have scanned massive international datasets in seconds to assist diagnose uncommon situations, whereas cautioning towards unfiltered on-line content material and over-reliance on automated interpretation.

In her welcome tackle, A. Jaishree Gajaraj, senior marketing consultant in Obstetrics and Gynecology and chairperson of the Goal Basis and Kausalya Gajaraj Charitable Belief, spoke in regards to the shared lifetime of service of her dad and mom, Dr. Arcot Gajaraj and Dr. Kausalya Gajaraj. She recalled how each believed that drugs have to be rooted in compassion, entry, and dignity, and the way their work formed neighborhood well being practices in Chennai.

Panel on AI

A panel dialogue on ‘The Position of Medical doctors within the Age of Google, ChatGPT and Synthetic Intelligence’ adopted, exploring the evolving dynamics between sufferers and physicians, as medical info turns into extra extensively accessible. Audio system emphasised that whereas digital instruments may help in prognosis and studying, the clinician’s position in interpretation, continuity of care, and human connection stays central.

Wilfred Davidar, retired IAS officer and public coverage and enterprise strategist; TT Srinivasa Raghavan, retired managing director, Sundaram Finance; PV Jayasankar, head, Division of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Sundaram Medical Basis; and V. Jayanthi, senior marketing consultant in Medical Gastroenterology had been additionally current.

Attendees had been invited to scan a QR code to share private recollections, anecdotes, and pictures of Dr. Gajaraj, contributing to a collective digital tribute for his centenary yr.