Pune: The Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, hosted the highly anticipated IMPACT 2024 conference and workshop from September 20 to 22.
Organized by the Medical Journal Armed Forces India (MJAFI), one of India's oldest and most respected multi-specialty medical research journals, the event celebrated the journal's 80th anniversary.
MJAFI, with a global reputation and a cite score of 3.4, has evolved into a leading journal attracting high-quality research from across the world.
The conference was inaugurated by Lt. Gen. Sandeep Thareja, SM, VSM**, Director and Commandant of AFMC. In his keynote address, Lt. Gen. Thareja highlighted the critical role of medical writing and peer review, especially in light of new regulations that mandate a minimum number of publications for academic and teaching positions.
He further emphasized the need for the medical community to embrace digital platforms and modernize its approach to publishing in this evolving era. Maj. Gen. Giriraj Singh, Dean and Deputy Commandant of AFMC, was also in attendance, adding gravitas to the occasion.
The event featured a host of distinguished speakers, including some of India's top medical professionals:
Dr. Sanjay Mehandale, Director of Research, PD Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai
Dr. Sanjay Pai, Consultant Pathologist and Director, World Association of Medical Editors
Dr. Prathap Tharyan, Adjunct Professor, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Christian Medical College, Vellore
Dr. Shoibal Mukherjee, Director of Medical Research, Medanta Hospitals
Maj. Gen. J. Debnath, Commandant, Command Hospital (Central Command)
Maj. Gen. Manas Chatterjee, VSM, Additional DGAFMS E&S
The three-day event offered attendees interactive sessions addressing key contemporary issues in medical publishing. Led by esteemed faculty, these sessions covered vital topics, including medical writing techniques, peer review processes, study design, and biostatistics.
The event also focused on modern challenges faced by the medical publishing world, such as plagiarism and the rise of predatory journals.
Around 60 participants from across the country attended the event, ranging from budding authors and reviewers to seasoned editors, all keen to contribute to the future of medical research and publishing.