Dr Haroon Hussain honored for his academic contributions in field of geriatric
Agra: Dr Haroon Hussain, leading physician at KMC Hospital Mangaluru, and academician, highlighted the growing importance of geriatric medicine in India as the country steadily moves towards an ageing population. He was speaking as a faculty member at GSICON 2025, the national annual conference of the Geriatric Society of India, held in Agra from December 12 to 14.
The conference brought together geriatricians, physicians and researchers from across the country to deliberate on emerging challenges and innovations in elderly healthcare. During his address, Dr Haroon stressed that geriatric medicine goes beyond treating individual diseases and instead adopts a holistic approach focused on preserving functional independence, improving quality of life and preventing disability among older adults.
Speaking on the role of communication in medical practice, Dr Haroon placed special emphasis on the sensitive task of breaking bad news, particularly in the care of elderly patients. He noted that while advances in diagnostics and treatment have transformed modern medicine, empathetic and respectful communication remains central to patient trust and healing. For older adults, who often face multiple illnesses along with emotional and social vulnerabilities, clear and compassionate communication can significantly improve treatment adherence and overall health outcomes, he said.
Dr Haroon also pointed out that rising life expectancy, changing family structures and the growing burden of chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and dementia have made structured geriatric care a priority in India. He said organised geriatric services can reduce avoidable hospital admissions, lower healthcare costs and provide crucial support to families and caregivers, while easing pressure on the healthcare system.
He further observed that strengthening geriatric care has broader social implications, including promoting healthy ageing, reinforcing respect for senior citizens and encouraging the development of age-friendly hospitals and communities. Investing in geriatrics, he said, reflects a society’s commitment to recognising the contributions of its elderly population and ensuring dignity in later life.
In recognition of his academic contributions to the field of geriatrics, Dr Haroon was honoured during the inaugural ceremony of the conference. The event was attended by Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay, Padma Shri awardee Prof. Dr D. K. Hazra, Dr Prashant Gupta, Dr O. P. Sharma and other senior members of the Geriatric Society of India and the GSICON 2025 organising committee. Dr O. P. Sharma, Secretary General of the Geriatric Society of India, was also acknowledged for his role in advancing geriatric medicine across the country.
Concluding his address, Dr Haroon said the future of healthcare lies not only in clinical expertise and technology but equally in compassion, communication and human connection. He noted that as India moves towards an ageing society, geriatric medicine has the potential to play a transformative role in healthcare delivery and in shaping attitudes towards elderly care.
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Andhra to be developed as knowledge, creator economy hub: CM Naidu
New Delhi/Amaravati (PTI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said the state is taking steps to transform itself into a knowledge and creator economy hub with a strong focus on artificial intelligence and quantum technology.
He noted that Andhra Pradesh has abundant tech-driven youth and the government is formulating plans to train them in futuristic technologies with support from global technology firms.
"Our goal is to transform Andhra Pradesh into a knowledge hub by focusing on AI, quantum computing, data centres, drone cities and space cities. The youth will remain our biggest asset over the next 25 years, and we seek global partnerships to scale up the creator economy," said Naidu during his interactions at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi.
Naidu, who participated in the summit in the national capital, also held meetings with several global technology leaders and industrialists to explore collaborations in artificial intelligence, clean energy and innovation ecosystems.
He met Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, Autodesk AI Head Mike Haley, Aramco India Director Abdul Rehman AiThukair, LEGO Education Vice President Tom Hall, Aadhaar Founder and CTO Srikanth Nadhamuni, Khosla Ventures Managing Partner Vinod Khosla and others at the AP Pavilion.
The chief minister also held discussions with Saudi Aramco representatives on clean energy projects, including solar initiatives, and invited the company to expand operations in Andhra Pradesh, stating that the state is highly suitable for green energy production.
He sought support from NVIDIA Vice President Callista Redmond for establishing AI Living Labs and proposed partnerships through the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub to promote youth innovation, including collaborations with IIT Tirupati and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati under the Andhra Pradesh Future Innovation and Research for Science and Technology (AP FIRST) initiative.
Naidu urged Autodesk leadership to support the development of Global Capability Centres in design engineering and requested the establishment of an Innovation Academy in Amaravati aligned with quantum technology, besides proposing AI and robotics learning labs in partnership with LEGO Education.
He also discussed AI-driven smart governance solutions with Quantela Inc Chairman Sridhar Gadhi, while World Bank Group Digital AI Regional Director Mahesh Uttamchandani met Naidu on the sidelines of the summit.
Following the meetings, Naidu visited various exhibition stalls at the summit, including those of NVIDIA, Tata, Intel and Microsoft, and reviewed AI applications across agriculture, healthcare and industry.
