Indian Voice Association
Report of Activities
January 2002 – ‘Voicecon 2002’
‘Voicecon 2002’ an International Conference, was organized at Deenanath Mangehskar Hospital & Research Centre, Pune, India, in January 2002. Mr.Vasant Oswal, (MB, MS, FRCS, DLO, DORL), of Middlesborough, UK, an internationally renowned Otolaryngologist, was the guest faculty.
14th February 2003 – ‘Voicecon 2003’
World renowned personalities, viz. Dr.Vasant Oswal of U.K., Dr.Jean Abitbol of France, Dr.Desmond Watson of U.K., delivered all technicalities of voice during communication, singing, speaking & arising disorders. A senior vocalist from Goa, Smt.Alka Deo Marulkar, gave a lucid picture of voice disorders in singers. Dr.Jean Abitbol advised about the care of professional voice. The seminar was attended by a large number of voice specialists and voice professionals.
Figure 1 - 'Voicecon 2003'
14th, 15th & 16th January 2005: Voiecon 2005
The 3rd International Voice Conference ‘Voicecon 2005’ was organized by Voice Disorder Clinic, Smt. Vimlabai Mutha National Institute of Laser Science and Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Research Center at Pune, India. First day was dedicated to Hands on Cadaveric Dissection Course and next two days were allotted for ‘Laryngoplastic Phonosurgery’. This included lectures on various topics, video clippings, round table discussion, panel discussion, and live surgical demonstration on Thyroplasty-1.
Renowned international and national faculty who participated in the conference were - Mr. Vasant Oswal, (MB, MS, FRCS, DLO, DORL), of Middlesborough, UK, as Chairperson, Prof. Dr. Gerhard Friedrich, M.D., of Graz, Austria as Course Conductor, Dr. Surendra Narne of Padova, Italy as guest faculty, Dr.V.Phaniendrakumar of Guntur Medical College, Lt. Col. (Dr.) W.V.B.S. Ramalingam of AFMC, Ladakh, Dr. Alok Thakar of AIIMS, New Delhi, and Dr. Jaykumar of Trivendram, Dr. Kishan Morwani and Dr. Nilkantha Apte, both of Mumbai, and Dr. Sachin Gandhi of Pune.
20 ENT surgeons participated in Hands-On Cadavaric Dissection course and 60 ENT surgeons participated in the conference. These participants came from India and Taiwan.
Figure 2 - Voicecon 2005
24th, 25th, 26th, & 27th November 2005 – Voicecon November 2005
The 4th International Voice Conference ‘Voicecon November 2005’ was organized by Indian Voice Association, Smt. Vimlabai Mutha National Institute of Laser Science, at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Research Center, Pune, India.
First day was dedicated for hands on training for Voice Therapists, in which 15 members participated. On the next two days lectures & presentations were given by various faculty members on ‘Evaluation and Management of Voice Disorders & Compromised Laryangotracheal Airway’. This included video clippings, discussion, etc. On the third day a video conferencing lecture on ‘Endoscopic Laser for Laryngeal Malignancies’ by Dr. Marc Remacle, of Belgium, an internationally renowned Otolaryngologist, was organized for the delegates. This was a new feature tried out for the first time in the conference and it was very successful. In the afternoon a live surgical demonstration was given by Dr. Sachin Gandhi who operated four cases of laser phonosurgeries, moderated by Dr.W.V.B.S.Ramalingam. The fourth day was dedicated to Hands-on Cadaveric Dissection (Thyroplasty-1), Laser Surgery, Digital Video Stroboscopy and Voice Therapy.
Renowned international and national faculty who participated in the conference were - Mr.Vasant Oswal, (MB, MS, FRCS, DLO, DORL), of Middlesbrough, UK, (who is also the Course Adviser), Dr. Avinash Deshmukh of Pune, Lt.Col. (Dr.) W.V.B.S. Ramalingam of Base Hospital (Army), New Delhi, Dr. Sachin Gandhi, ENT Laser Surgeon of Pune, Prof.Col.(Dr.)M.D.Venkatesh, of AFMC, Pune, and Col.(Dr.)P.S.Sukhtankar of Army Hospital, (R&R), New Delhi.
65 ENT surgeons, who came from various places in India, participated in the conference and of these 34 participated in the Hands-On Cadavaric Dissection.
8th, 9th April 2006 – Voicecon at Lucknow
Indian Voice Association Organized Voicecon at Nova hospital Ltd, Lucknow on 8th and 9th April, 2006. The guest faculties were Mr.Vasant Oswal, (MB, MS, FRCS, DLO, DORL), of Middlesborough, UK, an internationally renowned Otolaryngologist, Dr K.K. Handa, MS, (Asso. Prof., AIIMS, New Delhi), Dr.W.V.B.S. Ramaligam., MS (Army Hospital, New Delhi) and Dr. Sachin Gandhi, MS, (Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital & Research Centre, Pune). The conference was attended by 75 delegates from different districts of Uttar Pradesh and adjoining states (MP, Bihar, Uttaranchal and Punjab).
The scientific program on Day 1 included didactic lectures on basic laryngology; video sessions on botox therapy, thyroplasty for spasmodic dysphonia and Endoscopic Laser Surgery for Voice disorders. Prof R. N. Srivastava Memorial Oration was delivered on "Principles and Practice of Lasers in ENT" by Dr Vasant Oswal. The later half of the second session included C.M.E. on Snoring with special feature on Sleep Apnoea syndrome. The lecture was delivered by Prof. Rajendra Prasad, Head of the department of Pulmonary Medicine, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow.
The Day 2 of the conference included live surgical demonstration on variety of cases. The surgeries performed were Thyroplasty Type-1; Laser Cordectomy for immobile cord; Laser and cold instrument excision of angiomatous polyp and Laser excision of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. The delegates enjoyed the interacting with the guest faculties during the lectures, panel discussion and live surgical demonstration. The Organizing Secretary was Dr. Rakesh Srivastava (Lucknow).
25th August 2002 – ‘Vocal Hygiene and Voice Culture’
The subject of this one-day seminar itself was a new concept, not heard till then by a common man before. The participants were stalwarts and very well known personalities in their fields, viz. Pt. Bhimsenji Joshi, Hon.Scientist Dr.Vasantrao Gowarikar, Pt.Satyadeo Dubey, Dr.Ashok Ranade, Sheriff of Mumbai - Hon.Shri.Kiran Shantaram, Shri.Bhaskar Chandavarkar, Dr.Jabbar Patel, Shri.Dilip Prabhavalkar, Shri.Amol Palekar. It was really a unique and amazing experience to have seen & heard all these dignitaries at one time on one stage. Everybody, who attended the seminar, enjoyed it as if one enjoys a classic musical concert.
Figure 3 - 'Vocal Hygiene and Voice Culture'
20th October 2002 - Dr. Shriram Lagoo’s presentation on ‘Vachic Abhinaya’
Noted theatre personality Dr. Shriram Lagoo, who is a senior ENT Surgeon too, conducted a very live interactive session of 2 hours. It was based on his book ‘Vachik Abhinaya’ published in Marathi language. He also answered queries from the audience related to voice culture.
December 2002 – ‘Laser 2002'
An International Conference ‘Laser 2002', was held at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Research Centre, Pune, in December 2002. Mr.Vasant Oswal, (MB, MS, FRCS, DLO, DORL) (Middlesborough, UK), Dr.Marc Remacle, MD (Belgium), Dr.Harry Moseley (UK) were the guest faculties.
18th August 2003 : ‘Website Inauguration’ and ‘Mazee Swar Sadhana’
Mr.Anant Dikshit, Editor of Daily Sakal Pune, inaugurated the website of Voice Clinic. Dr.Dhananjay Kelkar, Medical Director of Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Research Centre, presided over the function. Dr.Sachin Gandhi explained the technical details given in the website – www.voicelaser.com.
After launching the website, a panel discussion on “Mazee Swar Sadhana” started, which gripped the learned audience right from the beginning. Eminent actor Dr.Girish Oak, Vocalists Mrs.Arati Anklikar-Tikekar & Mr.Sanjeev Abhyankar, and renowned compeer, Mr.Sudhir Gadgil, participated as panelists, sharing their experiences. Dr.Sanjeev Mangrulkar interviewed them with pertinent questions about their career. Mr.Anand Deshmukh compered the programme on behalf of Indian Voice Association. Around 200 members attended the programme.
28th November 2003 - “Endonasal Endoscopic Approach to Eustachian Tube Surgery”
A pre-conference course titled “Endonasal Endoscopic Approach to Eustachian Tube Surgery”, was conducted by Dr.Oskar Kujawski from Geneva, Switzerland, the first of its kind held in India.
29th, 30th November 2003 - ‘JOINT INTERNATIONAL ENT UPDATE 2003'
The International Academy of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (IAO–HNS) met with the Indian Association of Laser Surgery and Medicine (IALSM), at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune, India. Dr. Ashok Kolaskar, Vice Chancellor of the University of Pune, inaugurated the event.
Several members of the Academy from all over the world participated and contributed to the scientific programme of the conference, viz. Mr.Vasant Oswal, (MB, MS, FRCS, DLO, DORL) (Middlesborough, UK), Dr.O.Kujawaski (Switzerland), Dr.Pekka Karma (Finland), Dr.S.Ageeva (Russia), Dr. F.J. Stucker (USA), Dr.Y.Kamami (France), Dr.M.Jakobowitz (France), Dr.Bert Schmelzer (Belgium), Dr.Hesham Negm (Egypt). Also leading otolaryngologists from all over India attended and presented papers of high scientific content.
A special musical programme “Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh” showing the rich song and dance culture in Indian films over the last few decades was also organized for the entertainment of the faculty and delegates. Both the events created a lot of interest and were well attended by about 100 delegates from all over India.
22nd August 2004: Special Workshop for Comperes by Shri Ameen Sayani
A special workshop titled “Voice Care for Comperes” was organized at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, Pune, India. It was a half day programme which included lectures, question-answer session with India’s most popular, senior, radio announcer, Shri Ameen Sayani, and Pune’s renowned ENT Laser Surgeon, Dr. Sachin Gandhi. This was followed by audiologist’s audio-video demonstration. More than 300 participants including compeers in various media and voice professionals attended the workshop. Various topics on voice care, such as ‘Measures for Voice Culture’, ‘Difficulties and Precautions in case of Voice Problems’, ‘Significance of Voice Hygiene and Voice Culture for Comperes and Voice Professionals’, ‘Impressive Use of Voice for Compering’, were discussed.
11th January 2005 - ‘Single Shot Laser Stapedotomy Course’
‘Single Shot Laser Stapedotomy Course’, was conducted jointly with A.O.I., Pune on 11th January 2005. Faculty - Mr.Vasant Oswal, (MB, MS, FRCS, DLO, DORL) (Middlesborough, UK), Dr.Sergije Jovanovic (Belrlin).