National Seminar at Amrita Hospital to Focus on Post-Surgery Brain Development in Children

KOCHI:
Amrita Hospital, Kochi, will host a national seminar on “Enabling Optimal Brain Development and Cognition after Childhood Heart Surgery” on Saturday, March 28, 2026. The event is organized by ‘Project Medha’ (Neuro-Developmental and Cognitive Care Unit) under the Department of Pediatric Cardiology. Project Medha is a CSR initiative funded by Premji Invest, Bangalore, and was set up specifically to address the neuro-developmental and cognitive issues faced by children with congenital heart diseases across India.

The seminar aims to address the developmental, behavioral, and cognitive challenges faced by children who have undergone surgery for Congenital Heart Disease (CHD). It seeks to bridge the gap between clinical cardiac care and long-term neuro-developmental outcomes by providing a platform for healthcare professionals, educators, and parents to discuss early identification and intervention strategies.
Key topics include executive functions beyond IQ, standardized developmental assessments, and the “Hospital-to-School Continuum Model.” The program features an esteemed panel of experts, including Dr. Arun Singh (Former National Advisor, RBSK), Dr. Deepa Bhaskaran (Director, CDC TVM), and Dr. Jayasankara Reddy (Dean, School of Social Sciences, Christ University, Bangalore). International expertise will be represented by Prof. Kirsten Verity from the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, UK, alongside senior consultants from Amrita Hospital, including Dr. R. Krishna Kumar and Dr. Manu Raj.

The seminar is open to developmental pediatricians, clinical psychologists, therapists, nurses, special educators, and medical students. Those interested in participating can register by contacting Ms. Sonam Manoj, Organizing Secretary, at 9902422227 or 7356088172.