Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu, Under the visionary leadership of Executive Director & CEO Prof. (Dr.) Shakti Kumar Gupta, the Department of Dermatology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Jammu successfully conducted its first-ever Dermatology Continuing Medical Education (CME) titled “Dermoscopy: From Theory to Practice” at the main auditorium of the Convention Centre, AIIMS Jammu.
The prestigious academic event was organized under the aegis of the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL) National Executive Committee, SIG Dermoscopy (IADVL Academy), and IADVL Jammu & Kashmir.
This milestone event marked a significant step forward in strengthening dermatology education and training in the Union Territory. The CME witnessed enthusiastic participation from dermatologists and postgraduate trainees from across Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Chandigarh, highlighting the growing academic collaboration across regions.
Prof. (Dr.) Shakti Kumar Gupta, Executive Director & CEO, AIIMS Jammu, stated that dermatology is one of the most critical pillars of modern healthcare and shared that, as per HMIS data, the Dermatology Department records the highest patient footfall at AIIMS Jammu. Calling skin “the best thing you are in,” he commended Dr. Payal Chauhan and her team for setting exemplary standards in clinical care and documentation. He noted that the CME brings some of the finest experts in dermoscopy to AIIMS Jammu and urged participants to absorb key learnings that directly enhance patient outcomes.
The scientific program featured an extensive series of high-yield lectures covering instrument basics of dermoscopy, inflammascopy, pigmentoscopy, trichoscopy in scarring and non-scarring alopecia, dermoscopy of infective lesions, infiltrative disorders and ultraviolet fluorescence dermoscopy (UVFD). The event concluded with an engaging postgraduate quiz, further enhancing learning through interactive participation.
Renowned faculty members from AIIMS Jammu, PGI Chandigarh, Punjab, AIIMS Raipur, Government Medical College Jammu and military hospital of the region shared their expertise. A particularly inspiring moment was the presence of a senior faculty member from PGI Chandigarh, who—despite a last-minute flight cancellation—undertook a long road journey to ensure academic commitment, embodying the true spirit of medical education and mentorship.
Dr. Payal Chauhan, Organising Secretary and Associate Professor heading the Department of Dermatology, along with an energetic organizing committee comprising faculty, residents and technical staff, conducted the CME. The event received strong institutional support from the AIIMS Jammu administration.
In a dedicated note on institutional growth, the department highlighted that the Dermatology Department at AIIMS Jammu has rapidly evolved into a comprehensive, state-of-the-art clinical and diagnostic center. The department now routinely offers dermoscopic evaluations, ultraviolet dermoscopy, Wood’s lamp examination, microbiological staining, patch testing, photopatch testing, skin biopsies, and dermatopathology services. Therapeutic offerings include procedures in a fully equipped minor operation theatre and advanced interventions such as Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, contributing significantly to patient care in the region.
The successful conduct of this CME reflects AIIMS Jammu’s growing role as a hub for academic excellence in dermatology in North India. With rising participation, national faculty involvement, and advanced infrastructure, the institute is poised to become a key center for dermatology education, research and patient care in the years ahead.DD
