As an invited faculty to the Manipal Surgical Oncology Conference last week, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. The energy, academic rigor, and collegiality on display were truly impressive.

What stood out most was the young and dynamic Department of Surgical Oncology at Kasturba Medical College, led by Dr Naveen Kumar and Dr Nawaz Usman. Their commitment to building a strong clinical service alongside an excellent MCh Surgical Oncology training program is evident – and admirable. Spending time with them reminded me vividly of my own early days of establishing the Department of Surgical Oncology at St. John’s Medical College Hospital two decades ago. Along with the inevitable challenges and deeply satisfying triumphs that come with building something meaningful from the ground up.

Having transitioned from a purely academic hospital to a corporate setup, I do sometimes miss the unique atmosphere that academic institutions offer – the constant questioning, teaching, and shared ownership of growth. That said, I consider myself fortunate to be part of an institution which, despite being a corporate hospital, actively invests in training, with a DrNB Surgical Oncology program as well as robotic and MIS fellowship programs for qualified surgical oncologists. Opportunities like these help keep the academic spirit alive while delivering high-quality clinical care.

So the icing on the cake at MASOCON 2026 was seeing our robotic and MIS surgical oncology fellow, Dr Guru Bharadwaj, win the 2nd prize for his video presentation showcasing our department’s work in robotic surgery. A proud moment for the entire team and a testament to the quality of work being done.

Congratulations to the organizers and trainees – MASOCON 2026 was a memorable and enriching experience.