AKMG BLOGS

  The IndiaAI Mission, led by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), is building a robust AI ecosystem across India through a network of State and Union Territory AI Centres of Excellence, compute infrastructure, skilling programmes, and responsible AI governance frameworks.  The MeitY IndiaAI Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam (CAIK) was launched by Shri P. K. Kunhalikutty, Hon’ble Minister for Industries, IT and AI, Government of Kerala, on September 30. This launch marks a major step toward building a strong applied Artificial Intelligence ecosystem in Kerala by providing an AI Startup Studio, Garage and Powerhouse to contribute to India’s sovereign AI capabilities. See details here:  https://caik.in .  CAIK is established under the IndiaAI Mission of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, and the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Gov...

I was fortunate to spend nine extraordinary days exploring TANZANIA . This became an immersive encounter with the natural world unlike anything I had experienced before.  Our route carried us through  Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Crater, and the vast Serengeti ,  with each landscape offering a distinct character and rhythm. TARANGIRE is renowned for its large elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and the life-giving Tarangire River, which attracts wildlife when the surrounding land becomes dry.   NGORONGORO offered a completely different setting: a vast volcanic caldera whose grasslands, wetlands, and forests support a remarkable concentration of animals. The wider conservation area is also unusual because wildlife shares the landscape with MAASAI pastoralists . In Tarangire, the river corridor becomes a natural gathering place during the dry season.  Elephants browse beneath the baobabs, while zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, and...

When people ask what it is like to be a woman in interventional electrophysiology, I tell them the truth: for most of my career, I was the only one at the table. Not the only woman in the EP lab; nurses, techs, and coordinators have always been the backbone of every EP lab I have worked in, but the only woman standing in lead, with the catheters in her hands. That has changed. It has not changed enough. Cardiology remains one of the least gender-balanced fields in medicine, and the procedural subspecialties EP, interventional, structural are the narrowest part of that funnel. We are not short on talented women entering medical school. We lose them somewhere between the classroom and the lab. I have thought a lot about where that loss happens, and I no longer believe it is mostly about ability or even about ambition. It is about permission, the quiet, cumulative sense of whether a room expects you to be in it. The room does not hand you authority ... Early on, I learned that bei...

There is a strange, enduring intimacy between the Malayali and the humble Corvus splendens—the common house crow. At first glance, it isn't an obvious mascot for a diaspora. It lacks the elegance of the peacock or the ambitious stride of an eagle. We are often like the crow: quiet, self-contained, and staying out of the spotlight until the situation calls for us. But do not mistake that composure for weakness. The crow is defined by its collective spirit. Threaten a single crow, and you will not be spared. Within seconds, a solitary bird turns into a deafening, unified swarm that defends its own with relentless fury. The Malayali operates on the exact same ancient frequency. When disaster strikes or an injustice is committed, we do not wait for external armor—our strength lies in numbers, solidarity, and immediate, overwhelming community support. Our connection to this bird runs deep through our geography, language, and spiritual heritage:The crow is the vahana (vehicle) of Lord...

I keep catching myself holding on to the idea that I still read the way I used to—back in what feels like a fairy-tale past. These days, managing to flip through a few magazine pages during a rare quiet moment in the bathroom feels like a genuine luxury. Yet, if I look back at the authors who shaped me, Enid Blyton stands far above the rest. Even now, given the chance, I can completely lose myself in her stories, escaping into the English countryside alongside the Secret Seven or the Famous Five. Then there are the Amar Chitra Kathas and the many comics we all may have grown up with. And here goes my list of books in random order, not necessarily in order of favorites, both fiction and non fiction.... Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell- still remember hiding it under the pillow and reading in literal darkness while in 8th grade, I think..... Roots by Alex Haley- read over summer of 10th grade.... -Freedom at Midnight by Dominique LaPierre and Larry Col...

Onam- a harvest festival in Kerala, India, that marks the Malayali New Year. It celebrates the yearly return of the righteous Asura king to visit his beloved people. Akmg Canada celebrated the occasion with great enthusiasm- traditional drumming, pookalam( flower arrangements), folk dances and the grand Onam Sadya( traditional dishes served on a banana leaf. The Legend of King Mahabali ....... The Golden Rule: King Mahabali ruled Kerala with peace, fairness, and love. His kingdom had no poverty, crime, or sadness. The Test of Generosity: The gods felt worried by his growing power. Lord Vishnu took the form of a poor dwarf named Vamana. The Three Steps: Vamana asked for land equal to three small steps. Mahabali agreed. Vamana then grew into a giant. He covered the earth with step one and the skies with step two...... The Final Gift: For the third step, Mahabali offered his own head. Vamana pushed him down to the underworld. The Blessing: Pleased by his deep devo...

We are pleased to share the scientific poster presentations showcased at the 47th AKMG Convention in New Jersey. Our presenters shared valuable clinical insights, research findings, and quality improvement initiatives across various disciplines. Presented Topics & Authors : Dr. Anna Carin Sunil: Title: Hidden in Plain Sight: Endometriosis Presenting as Bowel Obstruction. Dr.Hala Majeed: Title: Sar-’coy’-dosis: A Non-Caseating Drama. Dr.Akhtar Zamil Sirajudeen: Title: Mapping the Broken Clock: Quantifying Operational Delays and Their Independent Impact on Patient Satisfaction in a High-Volume Tertiary Emergency Department — A Quality Improvement Study from Kerala, India. Dr. Navya Mathew: Title: Real-World Impact of Mismatch Repair (MMR) Immunohistochemistry (IHC) in Solid Tumors: A Retrospective Analysis from a Tertiary Center in India. This academic track was organized under the leadership of Dr. Elizabeth Mammen-Prasad (AKMG Presiden...

As we came to the conclusion of this wonderful 47th AKMG Convention, my heart is filled with gratitude. What we have experienced over these past few days did not happen because of one person. It happened because of an extraordinary AKMG family that came together with commitment, friendship, generosity, and teamwork. As Convention Chair, it is my privilege to recognize the many people who worked behind the scenes to make this convention possible. First, I would like to thank Dr. Iyer and the entire Souvenir Committee for their tremendous effort in putting together our beautiful convention souvenir. A special thank-you also to everyone who contributed articles, messages, advertisements, and memories to make it so meaningful. To Dr. Neena Kumar, Smitha Haridas, and the entire Entertainment Committee, along with Dr.Nasim Shajahan, Judith and Dr.Manju Nayar as Emcees,and Dr. Thompson Chemplavil leading Anthakshari,thank you for bringing energy, excitement, music, and celebration to ou...

Thank you Dr.Elizabeth Mammen Prasad, Dr.Joseph Prasad, Dr.Rekha Menon, Dr.Liza Protasis and Dr.Bikram Kabir for making the AKMG New Jersey convention a memorable one after all the heart aches of planning and getting it off the ground. I want to thank all the writers, with a propensity to express themselves a big thank you for making the literary forum a big success. Thank you to the audience for the wonderful feedback that we at the literary forum received. Truly a place where medicine and minds meet, a place where art and science meet. Thank you Dr Venkat Iyer who is one of the founders of AKMG for your valuable input. His book on Lifestyle medicine is an eyeopener. This important topic was never taught to us during our residency or fellowship. So thank you for your book. Dr. Thomas Payapilli spoke from his book about Healthy Habits for lifelong wellness and explained how he came off the BP medicines with time restricted eating and many other habits. Dr. Charl...

We are thrilled to share the successful inauguration of the new AKMG Canada leadership team with an initiative close to our hearts: a holiday toy drive to bring joy and support to children and families in need this holiday season. In a wonderful demonstration of our commitment to community service, AKMG Canada partnered with the renowned CP24 CHUM Christmas Wish Toy Drive. This collaboration marks a fantastic start for our newly appointed leadership, showcasing their dedication to making a tangible difference right from the outset. This inaugural event was spearheaded by our dynamic new executive team: President: Dr. Iqbal Vadakkayil Secretary: Dr. Sumesh Murali Treasurer: Dr. Ajoi Vincent Under their guidance, the AKMG Canada family rallied together with incredible enthusiasm and generosity. Thanks to the overwhelming support and kind contributions from our members and the community, we were able to collect a fantastic total of 80 toys! Each toy represents a spark of ho...

Good morning AKMG Family! We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. As we close out the year, the AKMG Georgia Chapter is excited to share major progress on our 5th Annual Holiday Food Drive campaign! Including cash and check donations, our 2025 Holiday Food Drive has raised an impressive $5,077.00 and is still growing!This generous amount will translate into 15,231 nutritious meals provided by the Atlanta Community Food Bank for our neighbors in need. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has donated thus far—your support makes a tangible difference in our community.We were also proud to have our current president, Dr. Elizabeth Mammen Prasad, kick off the 2025 giving season as our first donor! The need for food security remains high, and AKMG Georgia is committed to continuous support. Over the last four years, the AKMG Georgia Chapter has helped provide over 80,000 meals to the hungry and homeless in and around Atlanta. We are especially proud o...

📰 Exciting News: A New Chapter for Trivandrum Medical College! It is with immense enthusiasm and great hope that I share some truly spectacular news regarding the future growth of our beloved alma mater, Trivandrum Medical College (TMC). 🌟 Launching a Grand Initiative We are on the cusp of launching a grand initiative intended to propel TMC into its next phase of spectacular growth. The goal is ambitious: to explore a formal tie-up with the Mayo Clinic to revamp TMC as a world-class Centre of Excellence. We are committed to doing whatever it takes to reach that goal. 🤝 Global Preventive Oncology Summit & Distinguished Guests A pivotal event in this journey will be the Global Preventive Oncology (GPO) Summit being held in Thiruvananthapuram from January 16th to 18th. We are incredibly honored to welcome two distinguished guests from the global healthcare community for this summit: Dr. Prathibha Varkey, President of Mayo Health Systems, will be joining us. Dr. Varkey is a daug...