Tag: Goa Doctors

National

Three Medical Residents from Healthway Hospitals Goa Shine at APICON 2026

rencygomes02

Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Panaji, February 2026: Three medical residents from Healthway Hospitals have brought laurels to Goa by securing fifth place in the APICON Quiz at the 81st Annual Conference of the Association of Physicians of India — APICON 2026 — held in Patna.


The residents — Dr Dhruv Bawania, Dr Ankit Nair and Dr Pritesh Vaishnav — are currently pursuing their DNB Medicine at Healthway Hospitals. Representing Goa, they competed against 48 teams from leading medical colleges across the country.

APICON is one of India’s largest national gatherings of physicians and internal medicine specialists, with nearly 10,000 delegates in attendance. The conference featured academic sessions, workshops and the highly competitive National Medical Quiz.

At the quiz, the Goa team secured a spot among the top finalists and clinched fifth position, following IPGMER & SSKM, Kolkata (1st), Madras Medical College & Stanley Medical College, Chennai (2nd), KMC Manipal (3rd) and NIMS Hyderabad (4th).

The efforts of Dr Dhruv Bawania and Dr Ankit Nair were particularly noteworthy as they were the only first-year DNB Medicine residents competing at the national level. The team was also applauded for being the only participants to correctly answer one of the most challenging questions in the quiz.

This achievement adds to the team’s consistent academic record. They were previously selected for the zonal round in Mumbai for the national quiz at IRACON 2025 and qualified for the semifinal round of the National Medical Quiz at the RSSDI Conference 2025.

The team was felicitated by Dr Kamlesh Tewary, President of APICON 2026 and former Dean of the Indian College of Physicians.

Speaking about the achievement, Dr Vijay Naik, Head of the Medicine Department at Healthway Hospitals, said the accomplishment marks a significant milestone for both the institution and the state, especially considering that the hospital’s DNB programme was established only three years ago.

Healthway Hospitals has been conducting the three-year DNB (Diplomate of National Board) Medicine programme, which awards a qualification equivalent to an MD in India. The national recognition of its residents has further strengthened Goa’s standing among the country’s established medical institutions.

Health

Dr. Sairaj Phaldessai Appointed as Collaborator in Rural Health by The University of Tokyo

Tanisha Cardozo

In a remarkable development that brings pride to Goa and the Indian medical fraternity, Dr. Sairaj Phaldessai has been appointed as a Collaborator in Rural Health by The University of Tokyo. As part of this prestigious role, Dr. Phaldessai will present papers focused on rural healthcare in India, contributing to global medical discourse and research.

A graduate of Goa Medical College, Dr. Phaldessai is the son of the late Dr. Satish Phaldessai, a respected name in rural medicine. His appointment not only carries forward a legacy of service but also signals a growing international recognition of the work being done in India’s rural healthcare sector.

Through this collaboration, Dr. Phaldessai will bring insights into the challenges faced by rural communities in accessing healthcare—ranging from infrastructure and outreach to cultural and socioeconomic factors. Equally, his work will highlight the innovative grassroots solutions being implemented in Indian villages and semi-urban areas to address these barriers.

This appointment also marks a significant milestone in Dr. Phaldessai’s career, establishing him as a thought leader in rural health and a representative voice from Goa on the global medical stage. His contributions are expected to foster deeper academic exchange between India and Japan, while strengthening the bridge between traditional practices and modern healthcare frameworks.

As Goa continues to make its mark in various professional arenas, Dr. Phaldessai’s recognition underscores the global impact local leaders can have when dedication meets opportunity. His journey serves as an inspiration for young medical professionals committed to healthcare accessibility and innovation.

Health Scope

Gallbladder Stone Disease: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention Explained by Dr. Vardhan S Bhobe

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Written by Dr. Vardhan S Bhobe, MS General Surgery, FIAGES, FAIS, General and Laparoscopic Surgeon

Gallbladder stone disease, or cholelithiasis, refers to the formation of gallstones—solid stones formed mainly from cholesterol or bilirubin—within the gallbladder. It is a common condition affecting up to 10–15% of the adult population, with higher prevalence in women, multiparity, individuals over 40, obese individuals, and those with a sedentary lifestyle or certain ethnic backgrounds (e.g., Native Americans).

Gallstones are broadly classified into cholesterol stones (most common in Western countries) and pigment stones (more common in Asia and in patients with hemolytic disorders or chronic infections). Cholesterol stones form due to bile supersaturation with cholesterol, gallbladder hypomotility, and mucus hypersecretion, which facilitates stone nucleation and growth.

Most gallstones are asymptomatic, discovered incidentally on imaging. However, symptomatic cholelithiasis can lead to biliary colic, characterized by sudden, intense, right upper quadrant or epigastric pain that may radiate to the right shoulder or back. This pain typically follows 2 hours after a fatty meal and may last from 30 minutes to several hours.

Complications of gallstone disease include:

  • Acute cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation)
  • Choledocholithiasis (stones in the common bile duct)
  • Cholangitis (bile duct infection)
  • Gallstone pancreatitis
  • Gallbladder empyema or perforation

Diagnosis is usually made via ultrasonography, which is highly sensitive and specific for detecting gallstones. Additional imaging like MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography) or ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) may be necessary for suspected ductal stones or complications.

Management depends on symptoms and complications:

  • Asymptomatic gallstones typically do not require treatment.
  • Symptomatic gallstones or complicated cases warrant laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the gold standard treatment. Laparoscopic Surgery is painless, cosmetic due to minimal cuts, bloodless, without stitches, often daycare with a quick recovery and fast return to work.
  • Non-surgical options, like oral bile acid dissolution therapy (ursodeoxycholic acid) or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, are mostly ineffective.
  • In high-risk surgical patients, percutaneous drainage or endoscopic interventions may be considered, to tide over an emergency.

Prevention includes weight control, dietary modifications (low-fat, high-fiber diets), and physical activity. Rapid weight loss should be avoided, as it increases the risk of stone formation. Top of Form

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