On March 7, 2025, MOHAN Foundation, in collaboration with AIIMS Rishikesh and SOTTO Uttarakhand, organized a one-day Continuing Medical Education (CME) on deceased organ donation and retrieval at the CPD Hall, AIIMS Rishikesh.

The workshop was attended by around 60 participants including key stakeholders from AIIMS Rishikesh such as surgeons, residents, transplant coordinators, nursing staff, and eye bank personnel.

Prof. Deepak Gupta interacting with the participants

At the workshop, Professor Samiran Nundy (President, AIIMS Rishikesh) shared insights to strengthen AIIMS Rishikesh’s organ donation program, while Professor Meenu Singh (Executive Director, AIIMS Rishikesh) highlighted the institute’s first successful deceased organ retrieval.

Ms. Pallavi Kumar explaining the basic concepts of organ donation

Ms. Pallavi Kumar (Executive Director, MOHAN Foundation) spoke on “A to Z of Organ Donation,” providing a comprehensive overview of the organ donation process.

Dr. Deepak Gupta (Professor of Neurosurgery, AIIMS New Delhi) presented the session; focusing on brain death certification and donor management. He also shared insights into how AIIMS Delhi established and managed its deceased donation program.

Dr. Atul Kumar Singh (Professor of Anaesthesiology, Doon Medical College & Nodal Officer, SOTTO Uttarakhand) explained the role of SOTTO Uttarakhand in organ donation.

Mr. Sanchit Arora (Project Leader, MOHAN Foundation, stationed at AIIMS Rishikesh), focused on public awareness initiatives and whole-body donation.

Discussions covered donor stability, accurate brain death testing in complex cases, ethical issues around ventilator withdrawal, rising organ donations in Uttarakhand, physician training, family concerns, the concept of decoupling, SOTTO's role in organ allocation, and its public awareness efforts.

Dr. Rohit Gupta (Nodal Officer, Organ Transplant, AIIMS Rishikesh) concluded the workshop by emphasizing continued collaboration, training, and public awareness to strengthen the organ donation program.