Chandigarh:
At the 29th Annual Conference of the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India (NZ-AROI) held at Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, Dr. Rakesh Kapoor, Professor& Head (Unit-II), Department of Radiotherapy & Oncology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, delivered the prestigious B.D. Gupta Oration in honour of Prof. (Dr.) Braham Dutt Gupta, the founding Head of Radiotherapy at PGIMER and a pioneer in establishing brachytherapy services in India.
In his address, Dr. Kapoor reflected on Dr. Gupta’s visionary contributions, including the early development of structured radiation oncology training, indigenous brachytherapy advancements, and the establishment of systematic treatment practices that positioned PGIMER among the leading cancer care centres in the country. Archival clinical material and historical treatment protocols were highlighted to showcase the rich legacy and precision-driven foundations laid at PGI.
During the oration, Dr. Kapoor also presented his talk titled “Reintegrating Brachytherapy: A Strategic Shift in Modern Radiation Oncology Practice.” He emphasized that despite significant technological progress in external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy remains indispensable for certain cancers due to its precision, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness, particularly in a resource-sensitive healthcare environment. He highlighted the need to reintegrate brachytherapy training, infrastructure, and clinical adoption in India, supported by modern advances including image guidance, AI-assisted planning, personalized applicators, and improved workflow systems.
A proud moment for the department came as Dr. Shilpa Kaushal, Brachytherapy Fellow at PGIMER, secured first prize in the oral presentation category for her innovative work titled “In-house prototype development of a rectal brachytherapy applicator using artificial intelligence and 3D printing.” The project, conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Kapoor and Dr Arun Oinam (Medical Physist), reflects PGIMER’s leadership in innovation and clinical excellence in brachytherapy. Dr. Swapnil, Junior Resident in the Department of Radiotherapy & Oncology won the third prize for her presentation titled “Evaluating acute toxicity and quality of life in extended field radiotherapy versus pelvic radiotherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer with positive pelvic nodes.”
The oration and academic achievement in an annual conference further highlights PGIMER’s commitment to advancing precision-based cancer care, bridging tradition with technology, and fostering the next generation of oncology innovators.
