Subject:- XVI Annual Conference of GAPIO held on 14–15 February 2026 at Indore.

The 16th annual conference of the Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), held February 14–15, 2026 at Brilliant Convention Centre, Indore, was a resounding success.

Indore witnessed one of Central India’s most significant international medical gatherings as the conferene concluded successfully on 15 February 2026 at The Brilliant Convention Centre. The two-day conference, held on 14–15 February, brought together more than 480 delegates, including eminent physicians, academicians, researchers, policymakers, and healthcare innovators from across India and abroad.

Centred on the theme “Advance Healthcare: Addressing the Future of Global Health Challenges,” the conference focused on forward-looking strategies to anticipate emerging global health issues, integrate technological innovation, and redefine modern healthcare delivery systems. GAPIO, representing over 1.5 million physicians of Indian origin across 59 countries, once again demonstrated its global leadership in fostering academic exchange and international collaboration.

The scientific conclave on the opening day featured comprehensive sessions spanning Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Endocrinology, Obesity and Vaccination, Urology, Hepatology, Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement, and Integrative Healthcare. More than 50 distinguished national and international faculty members presented cutting-edge research, minimally invasive advancements, preventive strategies and multidisciplinary approaches, generating rich academic discussions and knowledge sharing among participants.

The evening’s Gala Dinner and Healthcare Awards Ceremony celebrated excellence in medicine and leadership. The awards were presented by Mr. Shankar Lalwani, Member of Parliament, Indore, who graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Honours were conferred across ten distinguished categories, recognising outstanding clinicians, innovators, young achievers, and global contributors whose dedication continues to elevate standards of patient care.

On the second day, parallel specialty summits in Nutrition and Physiotherapy highlighted the growing importance of preventive and rehabilitative care. The Nutrition Summit was graced by Ms. Santosh Yadav, National Adventure Award (1994) and Padma Shri (2000) awardee and the first woman in the world to climb Mount Everest twice, who attended as Chief Guest. Drawing parallels between physical endurance and preventive health, she underscored the importance of discipline, resilience and holistic well-being in achieving both personal and public health milestones. The Nutrition Summit explored longevity science, obesity management, pediatric and renal nutrition, neuro-nutrition, and lifestyle strategies in the GLP-1 era, while the Physiotherapy Summit focused on technology-driven therapeutic models, pelvic floor health and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.

Reflecting on the conference’s impact, Dr Anupam Sibal, Past President of GAPIO, remarked that the organisation continues to serve as a powerful global bridge connecting Indian-origin physicians across continents to collectively shape the future of healthcare. He emphasised that the Indore conference symbolised the strength of academic diplomacy and collaborative excellence.

Newly elected President Dr Sudhir Parikh stated that GAPIO’s vision is to further expand global partnerships, mentor young clinicians, and champion innovation-driven healthcare reforms that can benefit both India and the international community. He reiterated that the momentum generated in Indore would translate into tangible global health initiatives in the coming year.

Immediate Past President Dr Nandakumar Jairam highlighted the importance of continuity in leadership and the sustained commitment of GAPIO toward ethical practice, academic excellence and policy advocacy. He noted that the scale and quality of participation reflected the growing influence of the organisation worldwide.

Vice President Dr Rohini Sridhar underscored the increasing role of multidisciplinary collaboration, especially in preventive healthcare domains such as nutrition and physiotherapy, stating that integrated care models represent the future of sustainable healthcare systems.

Secretary General Dr Abhijat Sheth lauded the overwhelming delegate response and meticulous organisation, affirming that GAPIO 2026 set new benchmarks in academic programming, global participation and strategic dialogue.

Receiving an impressive overall rating, the conference reflected exceptional academic quality and organisational excellence. With strong participation and global representation, GAPIO 2026 has firmly positioned Indore as an emerging hub of international medical thought leadership and reaffirmed its commitment to improving health worldwide through innovation, collaboration and excellence.

Awards at the GAPIO Conference:

The GAPIO Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred on Dr Rajesh Vyas from USA.

Dr. Prathap C Reddy Philanthropy Award was presented to Dr. Ravikant Singh, founding directors of NGO – “Doctors for You (DFY)”.

The following awards were given in the Distinguished Clinician category:

  • Dr I A Modi Award was presented to Dr . C V Harinarayan, Director, Institute of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Thyroid and Osteoporosis Disorders, Sakra World Hospitals, Bangalore, Karnataka..
  • GAPIO Surgical Excellence Award was presented to Dr. Vinay Kumar Kapoor, Surgical Gastroenterology (GI &HPB Surgery), Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Hospital (MGMCH), Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences & Technology (MGUMST), Jaipur.
  • GAPIO Excellence in Diagnostics Award was presented to Dr. Subhash Chandra Parija, Tropical Medicine and Microbiology, National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), New Delhi..
  • GAPIO Excellence in Radiology/ Radiation Therapy Award was presented to Dr. Ravi Kapoor, Radio-Diagnosis, Director, City X-Ray & Scan Clinic Pvt. Ltd., Delhi.

The following awards were given in the Young Clinician category

  • Dr I A Modi Award was presented to Dr. Rimesh Pal, Endocrinologist, PGIMER, Chandigarh.
  • GAPIO Surgical Excellence Award was presented to Dr. Robinson George, Professor & Chief; Department of General & Laparoscopic Surgery – Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Tiruvalla, Kerala, India.
  • GAPIO Excellence in Diagnostics Award was presented to Dr. Shilpa Rao, Neuro Pathology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS).
  • GAPIO Excellence in Radiology/ Radiation Therapy Award was presented to Dr Rajat Jain, Consultant & Head Department of Radio Diagnosis, Shree Aggarsain International Hospital, New Delhi. Director – Doctors for You (DFY).

Glimpses of the conference are given below: