"Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love” - Mother Teresa
RMD and its vision
"We add life to days, not
days to life!"
If a woman thinks, she can, she
will! If a woman is pushed with
discipline that hurts, she will emerge as a phoenix – with fire to light up the
world and the whole sky!
A woman who had seen life in its
raw form, its true colours, who had seen both glory of a silver spoon and at
the same time, need to stir the toughest soups of life with a strong spatula,
she becomes a strong force – be it in the role of a daughter, sister, mother or
a professional. And when that profession
is filled with empathy, care and skill, emerges a doctor with compassion.
When she was challenged on why
she needs education being a girl, she said she will choose the toughest
one! Medical Profession to conquer!
When she was challenged by her
own father, she went head on and created an empire in his name making him
proud!
When she saw pain, she knew her future
is to serve the mankind in geriatric and palliative care!
When she saw men and meanderings,
she found gender is just another ignorable aspect, but what matters is who you
are as a human being!
Today, RMD is a brand in health
care and Dr. Republica Sridhar is a brand herself! A name synonymous to care and
compassion.
When people see geriatric care
and palliative care as pain, misery and sadness, she embraces it with a smile,
hope and positivity to keep the final days of one’s life pain-free -both
physically and emotionally!
2025 had been a cruel year for
her personally, and had it been any other woman, would have spent in grief and
withdrawal. But she chose the
opposite. To work relentlessly and with
more force and purpose. Few days after
passing of actor-husband Sridhar, she chose to let the organization go ahead
and open the RMD Academy of Health as planned.
She went ahead to start the Uthukottai project – a specialized cancer
hospital in the region. She went ahead
with the call of duty.
In private, with her close family
and friends, she exploded in tears and pain.
But that did not deter her from her mission and purpose she had in
hand. The end result is Geripalcon 2026…a
conference with difference. A well-executed,
a well-organized and well-articulated conference with enriching insights in the
field of healthcare, focusing on Geriatric, Oncology and Palliative care.
Dear Dr. Republica…. Salute to you
my brave lady! I am honored and
privileged to know you, and be part of your inner circle!
GERIPALCON 2026
GERIPALCON is India’s
premier conference dedicated to advancing Geriatrics, Oncology, and Palliative
Care. It bought together doctors, healthcare professionals, researchers, and
policymakers to share insights, innovations, and best practices for improving
senior care and quality of life.
The 2 days conference focused on
advancing Geriatrics, Oncology, and Palliative Care through meaningful
knowledge exchange and collaborative learning. The conference highlighted the
latest innovations in elder wellness, cancer care, and palliative solutions,
along with workshops and case studies on long-term care and dementia
management. It also showcased emerging digital health and AI-driven
technologies designed to transform senior and palliative care. GERIPALCON
continues to shape the future of compassionate, progressive, and globally
connected healthcare.
I was part of the GERIPALCON
group -however, as I am currently working in Dubai, I was feeling little sad
that I m missing out being there. So
much of planning, so much organizing, arrangements, so many contacts, networking,
patronage, collaboration of hospitals, medical institutions, companies and corporates,
event managers, hotels, doctors and above all the dedicated staff of RMD, its
well-wishers, family and friends.
One woman at the helm of everything
working round the clock, instructing, leading by example and pushing her team
every hour of the last 3 months and I was witnessing all this silently in the WhatsApp
group! Suddenly 2 days before the
conference, I get a voice note, saying that I should be the online panellist to
talk about AI in healthcare. Though I accepted
it immediately, I was wondering, how this is going to work in such a lively in
person conference and me being a virtual panellist. But she said, you just be there! And I did!
Happy I could and share my insights, though I still miss being there
enjoying the adrenaline of meeting so many healthcare professionals and hearing
them in person! But the joy of being
part of something that is so special, is always cherished. Thank you team RMD and such a brilliant
conference and thank you for making me a tiny part of it!
Hats off to Dr Gauthaman, Immaneul, J.S.Shekhar, Anbu, Logeshwari, Rajesh, Vadivel, Neela, Sushil, Rathi, team of doctors and staff of RMD for the best of the best you have given for this conference. RMD is stronger and growing only because of your dedication and commitment. Keep the energies flowing!
My inputs on “AI in Healthcare - From Diagnostics to Therapeutics, with a Focus on Geriatric and Palliative Care.”
Current status
- Healthcare
systems are under pressure from aging populations, chronic diseases, and
caregiver shortages.
- Geriatric
and palliative care demand continuity, personalization, and
compassion in areas where AI can act as a strong enabler.
- AI
is not about replacing doctors or caregivers, but about supporting
better, faster, and more humane decisions.
AI in Early Diagnostics for the Elderly
- Predictive
analytics can identify risks such as falls, cognitive decline, cardiac
events, and frailty before clinical deterioration occurs.
- AI-assisted
imaging and pattern recognition improve accuracy in diagnosing age-related
diseases like dementia, cancer, and osteoporosis.
- Continuous
monitoring through wearables and home devices enables early
intervention and reduced hospital admissions.
AI-Enabled Personalized Therapeutics
- Elderly
patients often have multiple comorbidities; AI helps design individualized
treatment pathways.
- AI
can optimize medication plans, reduce polypharmacy risks, and flag adverse
drug interactions.
- Treatment
decisions become more data-driven while remaining clinician-led.
Transforming Geriatric Care Delivery
- Remote
patient monitoring allows seniors to age safely at home.
- AI
tools can support caregivers by predicting care needs and alerting
healthcare teams proactively.
- Improved
coordination between doctors, nurses, family members, and care
institutions.
AI in Palliative and End-of-Life Care
- AI
can help anticipate pain, discomfort, and symptom escalation allowing
timely and compassionate intervention.
- Emotional
and psychological support tools can complement human care for patients and
families.
- Focus
shifts from “curing” to comfort, dignity, and quality of life.
Human Touch and Ethical Responsibility
- AI
must be explainable, transparent, and bias-free especially when serving
vulnerable populations.
- Human
judgment, empathy, and ethical decision-making remain central.
- AI
should amplify compassion, not automate suffering.
Data, Privacy, and Trust
- Strong
governance is needed to protect sensitive health data of elderly patients.
- Consent,
security, and accountability must be built into every AI solution.
- Trust
will determine adoption more than technology.
Accessibility and Inclusion
- AI
solutions must be affordable and easy to use, not widening the digital
divide.
- Design
should consider low digital literacy among seniors.
- Community-based
and NGO-driven models can play a crucial role.
Future Outlook
- AI
will increasingly move from hospital-centric care to home-centric
and community-based care.
- Integration
with public health systems, elder-care ecosystems, and social services is
critical.
- The
future of healthcare is predictive, personalized, and deeply
humane.
Closing Thought
“In geriatric and palliative care, AI’s greatest success
will not be measured by algorithms but by how gently and respectfully it
supports the final chapters of human life.”
With the increasing health care needs, elderly care being
the need and necessity of caregivers in the world of nuclear families and many
elders living on own, palliative and geriatric care needs more attention,
support and compassion. We need more of
Dr. Re’s around and to create the magic of peaceful life in the last leg of
life!
God bless team RMD!!!
Gallery of Few pictures of the Conference!
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