Annual Report of The Chandigarh Chapter of IRIA for the year 2024

The total membership strength of Chandigarh Chapter of IRIA as of now stands at 343 (EM=9, LM=243 and PLM=91). The current Executive Committee is headed by Dr. Naveen Kalra, as the President, Dr Kushaljit Singh Sodhi as President-Elect and Dr Ravinder Kaur as Immediate Past President.

The prestigious Dr Rajendra Rao CME-2024 was hosted by Chandigarh Chapter of IRIA at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh on 23-24 November 2024. The conference was well attended by the more than 230 delegates from North India including Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, UP, Haryana and New Delhi.  Organizing team of the conference included Dr Paramjeet Singh (Patron) Dr Naveen Kalra (organizing chairperson), Dr Sameer Vyas (Organizing secretary) and Dr Harish Bhujade (treasurer). The conference was inaugurated by Prof Sanjay Jain, Dean (Research) PGI, who was the Chief Guest and Dr Gurdeep Singh, President Elect IRIA who was guest of honour for the conference. Other members of central IRIA-ICRI who attended the CME were Dr Mohd Khalid (Vice President IRIA), Dr Sikander Saikh (Vice Chairperson ICRI), Dr Mahesh Prakash, (Vice Chairperson ICRI) and Dr Pankaj Sharma (newly elected secretary general of IRIA). The 12^th Annual Conference of the Chandigarh Chapter of IRIA was organized on 15^th December 2024, at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. The theme of the conference was “Basics in Imaging”.  The Organizing Chairperson of the conference was Prof. Dr Naveen Kalra, Prof. Sameer Vyas was the Organizing Secretary, and Dr. Harish Bhujade was Treasurer.

Three quarterly academic meetings were organized by the Chandigarh Chapter of IRIA during this year. First quarterly meeting of the chapter was held at Sushruta Auditorium, Command Hospital, Panchkula on 23^rd Feb 2024. It was a theme-based meeting on “Sculpting Tomorrow: The evolving Landscape of Oncology”. There were about 110 attendees for the meeting.  The second quarterly meeting of the Chapter was organized on 4^th May 2024 at Bella Vista, Panchkula. It was a theme-based meeting on “Basics of Radiology. There were about 105 attendees for the meeting. The third quarterly meeting of the Chapter was organized on 7^th September 2024 at Hotel KLG, Sector-43 Chandigarh. It was a theme-based meeting on “Women’s Imaging”. There were about 100 attendees for the meeting. In all these meetings, residents and fellows participated actively by presenting interesting cases.

Dr Naveen Kalra and Dr Ravinder Kaur were nominated for best teacher award by the Chandigarh chapter for the National IRIA teacher’s day celebration and they were honored during the teacher’s day celebration on 5^th September 2024 by Central IRIA.

I am very happy to share with you that Members of our chapter have received many national and international awards, Honorary Memberships of societies, and positions and kept the Chandigarh chapter flag high. Many of our members are in the editorial board of national and international journals.

The Chandigarh Chapter was also very active at the Raksha front and conducted activities quarterly. Dr Tulika Singh worked as convener of the Raksha initiative for the year 2024. First activity was conducted at Kansal Village, near Naya Gaon Chandigarh on 12^th March 2024. Five sewing machines with pedals were donated for setting up silai kendra for girls and women of the village in collaboration with Sankalp (NGO). Second Raksha activity was done on 8^th may 2024 at charitable school run by Piya Sharma charitable trust (PSCT), Panchkula at Valmiki Mandir, Mauli Jagran. Sports items for kids, children learning educational toys and hygiene products for their mothers were distributed. Third Raksha Activity was done on 23^rd October 2024 at Kanya Asra Kharad, home for orphan girl child. Five solar lamps and stationary materials for girls’ education purpose were donated. Fourth Raksha activity was done on 10^th December 2024 at “Samarpan” in collaboration with community foundation Panchkula at Mantri Chowk, Panchkula. Woolen caps and socks for 150 kids from nearby slum areas were distributed.

Dr Sameer Vyas
Secretary, Chandigarh Chapter of IRIA