EMCON 2026 – International Emergency Medicine Conference in Mumbai

The 28th National Conference of the Society for Emergency Medicine India (SEMI), branded EMCON 2026, was held in Powai, Mumbai from October 30 to November 1, 2026. The three‑day event attracted more than 2,000 delegates, 300 national faculty members and over 50 international faculty members.

Theme and Leadership

The conference theme was “Innovation, Collaboration and Excellence in Emergency Medicine”, with the guiding philosophy that “Excellence in Emergency Medicine comes from excellence in resuscitation.” The organising team was led by Dr Sandeep Gore, Organising Chairman, and Dr Nitin Jagasia, Organising Secretary. Scientific leadership comprised Scientific Chair Dr Shrinath Kumar, and Scientific Co‑chairs Dr Rajadurai and Dr Shweta Tyagi.

International Participation and Endorsements

The inaugural ceremony featured senior international leaders: Dr Ian Higginson, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (UK); Dr Pauline Convocar, President of the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM); Dr Julina Md Noor, President of the World Interactive Network Focused on Critical Ultrasound (WINFOCUS); and Dr L. Anthony Cirillo, President of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), who delivered the inaugural address. The conference received formal endorsements from IFEM, ACEP and the Asian Society for Emergency Medicine (ASEM).

Distinguished Guests

Key Indian healthcare leaders attended as guests of honour: Dr Abhijat Sheth, Chairman of the National Medical Commission (NMC) (Chief Guest); Dr Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, Managing Director & CEO of Fortis Healthcare; Dr Arunesh Punetha, Regional Director of Apollo Hospitals; Dr K. Hariprasad, Founder Member of SEMI; Dr S. Narayani, Director‑Regional Operations, Fortis Hospitals Mumbai; Dr Bishnu Panigrahi, Head‑MSOG, Fortis Healthcare; Dr Kiran Shingote, CEO, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai; and Ms Rinku Mavani, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital, Mulund.

Scientific Programme

The scientific agenda comprised six parallel workshop tracks, 60 themed sessions, and live simulation theatres. A hallmark of the conference were three live educational demonstrations of advanced resuscitative techniques:

1. Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR) performed in the Emergency Department, showcasing extracorporeal life‑support capabilities.

2. Perimortem Caesarean Section, illustrating decisive intervention during maternal cardiac arrest.

3. Resuscitative Thoracotomy, demonstrating a time‑critical procedure for traumatic cardiac arrest.

These demonstrations were highlighted as signature educational experiences aimed at translating complex, high‑stakes resuscitation concepts into practical learning.

Leadership Change in SEMI

During the conference, Dr Sandeep Gore was elected National President of SEMI for the 2026‑2028 term, succeeding Dr Sowjanya Shree Patibandla. In his inaugural presidential address, Dr Gore declared that “Emergency Medicine is a resuscitative specialty, and Emergency Medicine physicians must be masters of resuscitation,” and asserted that “India will lead global Emergency Medicine.” He outlined a vision centred on strengthening clinical excellence, advanced resuscitation capabilities, education, professional leadership and international collaboration.

Emergency Medicine Anthem

The conference also launched the Emergency Medicine Anthem, written by Dr Gore and registered as original intellectual property with the Copyright Office, Government of India. The anthem, celebrating the courage and mission of emergency physicians, received enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Supporting Teams and Committees

Dr Imron Subhan, Executive Chair of SEMI, and Dr Saravana Kumar, Executive Co‑Chair, were acknowledged for their contributions. The research committee, led by Dr Sowjanya Shree Patibandla with members Dr Nilu Sunil, Dr Harshita Sridhar and Dr Priyanka M., supported the conference’s academic and research initiatives. The organising and scientific teams, volunteers, faculty, delegates and institutional partners collectively ensured successful execution of an event of this scale.

Overall Significance

EMCON 2026 was portrayed as more than a conference – a movement reinforcing the identity, standards and future trajectory of Emergency Medicine in India, positioning the specialty for greater global influence.

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