Assam down town University marked the beginning of the two-day 12th Annual National Conference of the All India Association of Medical Social Work Professionals (AIAMSWP), organised by the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences. The conference brought together medical social work professionals, academicians, healthcare practitioners, researchers and students from across the country to engage in meaningful dialogue on the evolving role of medical social work in healthcare.

The inaugural session was graced by Prof. Ashok Puranik, Executive Director, AIIMS Guwahati, as the Chief Guest, and Prof. Sonia Pereira Deuri, Professor & Head, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, LGBRIMH, Tezpur, as the Guest of Honour. Prof. N. C. Talukdar, Vice-Chancellor, Assam down town University, also addressed the gathering and highlighted the importance of academic and professional collaboration in strengthening healthcare education, research and practice.

The session was chaired by Ms. Gariasi Dutta, Resident Trustee, down town charity trust; Chairperson, down town group Schools; Psychological Counsellor and Mindfulness Practitioner. The program also featured addresses by Sh. Raghavendra Kumar Rai, General Secretary, AIAMSWP; Sh. Akhilesh Kumar Tripathi, Vice President, AIAMSWP; and Dr. Udayan Baruah, Medical Superintendent, down town Hospital, Guwahati.

Organised by the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, Assam down town University, in collaboration with down town Hospital, Guwahati, and supported by ICSSR-NERC, the conference is centred on the theme, “Medical Social Work as a Catalyst for Viksit Bharat: Integrating Indigenous Knowledge, Ethics and Holistic Healthcare.”

The inaugural program also featured the Distinguished Scientists Lecture Series, along with the release of the Conference Souvenir and the AIAMSWP Newsletter.

With symposiums, panel discussions, technical sessions, and paper and poster presentations scheduled throughout the conference, the event provides a platform for diverse perspectives on mental health, psychosocial care, professional ethics, indigenous knowledge and holistic healthcare. It also creates opportunities for professionals, academicians and researchers to exchange experiences, share insights and strengthen collaborations towards a more inclusive and holistic approach to healthcare.