The Centre for Management of Health Services (CMHS) at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), in collaboration with MOHAN Foundation, is hosting a two-day international conference on organ donation – ‘Amplifying Voices’ – for the first time at the IIMA campus on April 3 and 4, 2026.
The conference was inaugurated by Prof. Satish Deodhar, Dean (Faculty), IIMA; Dr. Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee, MOHAN Foundation; Prof. Rajesh Chandwani and Prof. Viswanath Pingali, Co-Chairpersons of CMHS, IIMA.
The two-day conference has brought together healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, NGOs, students, and community leaders from India and across the globe to discuss innovative strategies to promote organ donation and transplantation. Supported by Tata Trusts and the Commonwealth Tribute to Life initiative, the conference emphasises the power of collective voices in saving lives.
Delivering his inaugural address, Prof. Satish Deodhar, Dean (Faculty), IIMA, said, “During our lifetime, we get multiple opportunities to share love, knowledge, and goodness. And, importantly, organ donation gives us such an opportunity even in our death! With organ donation, we light another human being’s lamp with our own. It warms my heart to see various stakeholders working for this cause and coming together at IIMA to amplify voices for organ donation.”
Delivering the welcome address, Dr. Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee, MOHAN Foundation, said, “Organ donation is not just a medical process—it is a social movement that requires awareness, empathy, and collective action. ‘Amplifying Voices’ is an effort to bring together diverse perspectives, leverage technology, and empower communities to create a sustainable impact in saving lives through organ donation.”
Sharing more insights, Prof. Rajesh Chandwani, Co-Chairperson of CMHS, IIMA, added, “The path of organ donation, from awareness to implementation, requires a systemic approach at multiple levels. We have been working to raise awareness on this vital subject through films and other modes of awareness, such as plays, comics, flyers, posters, etc. This conference – Amplifying Voices – denotes a comprehensive approach that reflects the importance of combining management science, behavioural insights, and community engagement to address complex public health challenges like organ donation. By bringing diverse stakeholders together, we hope to create scalable, sustainable models that can significantly improve awareness and participation.”
Speaking at the inaugural session, Prof. Viswanath Pingali, Co-Chairperson of CMHS, IIMA, said, “Organ donation is a crucial area in public health that requires a multidisciplinary perspective. In this context, we at CMHS are glad to host a conference like this. It is heartening to see people from several disciplines coming together to discuss and find solutions to this complex problem. I look forward to fruitful developments coming out of this event.”
The two-day conference features a dynamic mix of workshops, panel discussions, experiential activities, and keynote sessions, including international perspectives from countries such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Malaysia, which will provide valuable insights into global practices and challenges in organ donation systems.
The inaugural session was followed by a series of hands-on workshops on using artificial intelligence, social media platforms, and digital tools such as Canva to enhance organ donation awareness and transplant care. The first day sessions will explore academic approaches to increase social awareness on organ donation, behavioural change strategies, communication approaches for initiating family conversations on organ donation, and creative awareness methods through performing arts, sports, and architecture.
Prof. Rajesh Chandwani’s National Award-winning documentary film, ‘‘God, Vultures and Human”, which was directed by Mr. Rishiraj Agarwal, will also be screened during the conference. The film won the ‘Best Documentary Film Award’ for the year 2023 and is a powerful tribute to the often-overlooked role of Organ Transplant Coordinators (OTCs) in the emotionally challenging process of organ donation and transplantation in India. The event will also see a felicitation ceremony honouring organ donation champions.
The second day of the conference will focus on action-led impact, with panels on Engaging Volunteers and Measuring Impact; From Participation to Power: Catalysing Youth-Led Change; NGO and Community Voices – highlighting grassroots efforts and collaborative models; among other insightful sessions about strengthening the organ donation movement and shaping the future of organ donation in India. There will also be immersive experiences such as “An Hour in the Dark” to help participants understand blindness, followed by reflective sessions.
With its multidisciplinary approach and strong emphasis on innovation, community engagement, and global collaboration, the conference is expected to serve as a significant platform to accelerate organ donation awareness and action in India and beyond.
