Media Release
Udupi, Jul 9: The Manipal College of Nursing (MCON), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India in collaboration with the faculty of nursing, University of New Brunswick (UNB), Canada, inaugurated the Manipal International Conference on 'Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in Health: Envisioning a future of global collaboration for education, research & practice' on July 8, at Dr TMA Pai Auditorium, KMC, Manipal.
Dr Judith A Noronha, dean, MCON, and organising chairperson of the conference, welcomed the gathering and introduced the chief guest, Lt Gen (Dr) MD Venkatesh, vice chancellor, MAHE. In his inaugural address, Dr Venkatesh emphasised the power of multidisciplinary collaboration in breaking barriers within healthcare systems. He reflected on the visionary contributions of Dr TMA Pai in advancing quality education at affordable costs and appreciated Manipal’s alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in promoting equity and inclusivity. He also lauded the impactful and longstanding partnership between MCON and UNB.
Dr Lorna Butler, dean, faculty of nursing, UNB, Canada, and co-chairperson of the conference, highlighted the need for culturally responsive and inclusive health systems across international borders, emphasising the global perspective on nursing.
Dr Linu Sara George, professor and head, department of fundamentals of nursing, MCON, and convener of the conference, presented an overview of the conference, outlining its focus on global partnerships and inclusive approaches to health education, practice, and research.
The inauguration ceremony included a floral tribute to Dr TMA Pai, founder of MAHE, and traditional lamp lighting by the dignitaries. Dr Radhika R Pai, assistant professor, department of fundamentals of nursing, MCON, and co-convener of the conference, proposed the vote of thanks.
The conference was preceded by a pre-conference workshop on mixed methods research on July 7. Following the inauguration, plenary sessions by national and international speakers commenced, along with scientific paper and poster presentations. The two-day conference has attracted 230 participants from across India and abroad, and will continue with academic presentations, oration lectures, deliberations focused on integrating EDI principles into healthcare education, research, and practice.
The conference was in line with the third, fourth, fifth, tenth and 17th sustainable development goals proposed by the United Nations, which are 'Good health and well-being', 'Quality education', 'Gender equality', 'Reduced inequalities' and 'Partnership for goals' respectively.
As part of the ongoing Manipal International Conference on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in Health, an insightful oration lecture in memory of late Dr Aparna Bhaduri was delivered by Dr Anice George, professor and head, research and collaboration, and former dean, Manipal College of Nursing (MCON), MAHE. The lecture, titled 'Promoting diversity and inclusion in healthcare education, research, and practice', was moderated by Dr Vishnu Renjith, lecturer and programme director, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Dr George emphasised that diversity and inclusion are critical to modern healthcare systems, spanning education, training, research, and clinical practice. “Diversity is not merely an ideal but an inclusive pathway that ensures all individuals feel welcomed, irrespective of their background, race, gender, or beliefs,” she said.
She highlighted that promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) brings fresh ideas and perspectives, improves patient satisfaction and outcomes, and fosters an equitable and supportive workforce. DEI can also reduce healthcare disparities, enhance career satisfaction among healthcare professionals, and improve the quality and validity of research by reducing bias.
Addressing challenges such as unconscious bias, cultural misunderstandings, language barriers, and stereotyping, Dr George outlined practical strategies to foster inclusivity. These included adopting DEI as part of organisational identity, recruiting and retaining diverse staff, conducting regular training, engaging meaningfully with communities, and integrating DEI into curricula to prepare graduates for inclusive care.
Dr George emphasised the importance of embracing diverse cultural practices to enrich learning experiences. She concluded by stressing the need for a multi-pronged and proactive approach to embed inclusiveness into organisational culture and policies, thereby making healthcare education, research, and practice equitable, impactful, and future-ready.
The oration session was in line with the third, fourth, fifth, tenth and 17th sustainable development goals proposed by the United Nations, which are 'Good health and well-being', 'Quality education', 'Gender equality', 'Reduced inequalities' and 'Partnership for goals' respectively.