In the year 2004, as a young surgeon doing my surgical oncology residency training, I was asked to make a scientific presentation. We had recently operated on a series of patients with cancer of the gall bladder, and my task was to present what we had done, along with a discussion of recent scientific literature on gall bladder cancer. The forum was an informal group – a small gathering of surgeons, surgical gastroenterologists and surgical oncologists. Common to all the members was a keen interest in the field of gastrointestinal surgery – to learn from each other, to engage in scientific debate (sometimes heated!), and to keep themselves updated. My teachers and mentors – Dr K V Ashok Kumar, Dr M Vijaya Kumar, Dr Ramachandra C and Dr Rajashekar Nayak – were at the forefront of the group.

The first meeting was a resounding success. There were two papers in addition to mine, and the scientific session lasted for well over two hours on a Wednesday evening. Afterwards, it was decided that the group – the “Bangalore Surgical Gastroenterology Group” should meet on a fixed day – the last Wednesday of alternate months. The format remained the same – three or four scientific presentations (with a couple of back-up papers in case we had extra time) – each of about 15 minutes followed by 10 minutes of discussion on the topic presented.

Amazingly, over more than 20 years, the group meetings have continued – promptly on the last Wednesday of alternate months. Still an intensely focused and enriching scientific session among like-minded surgeons. Between 30 and 50 surgeons attend the bi-monthly forum – the only criterion for entry is an academic interest in the subject!

Quite a few of the founding members are still active in the group today, not least the dynamic and extremely well-updated Dr K V Ashok Kumar, the organizing chairman since inception. Among the senior-most surgeons in Bangalore (and no-doubt the most well-dressed – always in a suit and tie!), Dr Ashok Kumar makes it a point to be present before time, ensures the meeting starts sharp at 7.30 pm, and moderates the session with his keen scientific temper and quick wit.

Over the years, I have made it a point to try and attend this meeting as frequently as possible, and every now and then, make my own academic contributions. Last Wednesday, my colleague Dr Khyati Melanta, surgical oncologist, presented our work with robotic three-field esophagectomy (see picture below).

I count myself lucky to be among the many surgeons who have benefited from being part of this group – scientifically, temperamentally and professionally – a group founded with, and continued to be led by, a singular vision.

In picture above – Dr Khyati Melanta (standing) on the left in discussion with Dr Ashok Kumar (standing on the right)

In picture above – an informal chat before start of scientific session – from left to right Dr Raghavendra Babu, surgical gastroenterologist, Dr K Ventakachala, surgical oncologist, Dr K V Ashok Kumar, surgical gastroenterologist, myself, Dr Jagannath Dixit, surgical oncologist and Dr L N Mohan, professor of surgery.

The topics for last Wednesday’s meeting