National Pathology Day is observed annually on 13th April, the birth anniversary of Dr. V. R. Khanolkar to honour his extraordinary contribution to Pathology and medical research in
India. It highlights the indispensable role of Pathology in clinical medicine, medical education and public health.
The Department of Pathology, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, organized a series of events to commemorate the National Pathology Day 2026 under the leadership of
Prof Sabina Khan, HOD Pathology. The theme of the event was “The Silent Diagnostician: Pathology Speaks” and was conducted in two phases with competitive events conducted on
13th April followed by a Guest lecture on 16th April. It was designed to promote academic engagement, creativity, and awareness of the evolving role of pathology in medicine. The
programme brought together multiple competitive and interactive activities for students and trainees, with a clear emphasis on pathology, diagnostics, and the growing role of Artificial
intelligence in medical science.
The programme included six major components: Scientific Poster Presentation, Essay Writing Competition, Art Competition, Pathology Meme Competition, Surprise
Roaming Quiz and a Guest Lecture. These activities were planned to involve undergraduate students, postgraduate students and senior residents thereby ensuring broad
participation across different learner groups.
The Scientific Poster Presentation Competition was conducted on 13th April in undergraduate and postgraduate categories and was organized on the theme “Artificial Intelligence in
Medicine: Transforming Diagnosis and Patient Care.” Participants were asked to prepare posters covering the role or application of Artificial intelligence in a specific field, along with
its advantages, limitations, conclusions, and references. It aligned closely with the broader academic focus of the event and highlighted the relevance of AI in present-day diagnostics.
The competition received enthusiastic participation, with around 30 posters presented by undergraduate students and residents from various departments.
The Art Competition, titled “The Patho-Picasso Challenge,” invited participants to create original hand-drawn or painted artwork inspired by Pathology. It included art work based on
microscopic patterns, disease processes, pathology-related work, cellular structures, and diagnostic themes. The Essay Writing Competition, titled “Artificial Intelligence in Medical
Science: Boon or Bane?”, required participants to discuss the benefits, challenges, and ethical considerations of AI. Entries were judged on originality, clarity of argument, scientific
understanding, and critical thinking. These two competitions added interpretive and analytical dimensions to the event, allowing participants to engage with pathology beyond routine classroom formats. The department received 13 paintings and 19 essays for evaluation.
The Pathology Meme Competition, titled “The Meme-stain Chronicles,” invited students to design educational or humorous memes related to pathology, diagnostic concepts, common
student experiences in pathology learning. This competition saw particularly enthusiastic participation, with a total of 45 entries. In addition, a Surprise Roaming Quiz was
conducted as a short informal activity during the event, in which faculty members approached students with quick pathology-related questions on slides, laboratory diagnostics, and general
pathology concepts, with prizes awarded for correct answers. These activities added an interactive and accessible dimension to the proceedings.
A Guest Lecture titled “The Augmented Pathologist: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Telepathology” was also organized on 16 April 2026 and delivered by Dr. Nadeem
Tanveer, Professor, Department of Pathology, University College of Medical Sciences and Research. It was attended by faculty members, postgraduate & undergraduate students. Dr.
Tanveer’s address provided a scholarly foundation for the event’s central theme, elaborating on how AI and telepathology are redefining the scope and practice of diagnostic pathology in
the twenty-first century.The lecture was followed by a short award ceremony during which the winners of the various competitions held on 13th April were felicitated by HOD Pathology, MS and Dean HIMSR to encourage the students.
National Pathology Day 2026 witnessed enthusiastic participation from students across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The range of competitive formats, spanning science, art, writing and digital media reflected the department’s commitment to holistic academic engagement and to fostering a culture of inquiry at the intersection of pathology and emerging technologies
The Department of Pathology, HIMSR expresses its gratitude to Dr. Nadeem Tanveer for his illuminating guest lecture, to all the faculty members who served as judges and evaluators,
and to the talented students whose creativity and enthusiasm made this event a success. The event reaffirmed pathology’s vital but often understated role in modern medicine, giving
voice to “The Silent Diagnostician.”
