Conference on space medicine discusses India’s innovative rural healthcare

Bengaluru: Air Marshal SP Dharkar, Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS), inaugurated the 63rd annual conference of the Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine (ISAM) at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), Bengaluru, on Thursday.

The three-day conference, themed "Collaborate for Research", showcases the Aerospace Medicine Society’s commitment to exploring new frontiers in aerospace medicine through collective efforts with associated partners while staying rooted in its origins.

In his keynote address, Air Marshal Dharkar stressed the importance of collaboration in achieving ‘Atmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) within the defence sector. He also recognised young academic achievers in aerospace medicine for their contributions to the field.

Air Marshal Rajesh Vaidya, Director General Medical Services (Air), delivered the presidential address, highlighting the Indian Air Force's various collaborative achievements in medical services.

Prestigious orations

Two key memorial orations added depth to the conference. 

Dr VR Lalithambika, Professor of Practice, Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Madras, and a distinguished scientist formerly with Isro, delivered the Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee Memorial Oration, instituted in the honour of the first Indian Chief of the Air Staff.

Her talk, "The Next Giant Leap: My Reflections on India's Human Space Flight Programme", provided insights into India’s advancements in human space exploration.

Wing Commander Karthik Kalyanram (Retd), from the Rishi Valley Rural Health Centre, shared strategies from his IAF experience in his Air Vice Marshal MM Srinagesh Memorial Oration, titled "Effective Strategies for Low-Resource Settings", explaining innovative approaches to healthcare in underserved rural areas.

Air Vice Marshal MM Srinagesh was an eminent name in Aviation Medicine and was known popularly as the father of Aviation Medicine.

Key highlights

The Jemi Harmusji Framji Manekshaw Panel hosted lectures from prominent experts, including Dr SL Vaya, Project Head at SASTRA, Rashtriya Raksha University; and Dr Hanumantray Baluragi, Director of Isro's Directorate of Human Space Programme (DHSP).

The conference also featured scientific deliberations on a range of topics, including aviation medicine, space physiology, and high-altitude medicine, bringing together experts to advance the field of aerospace medicine.