The Department of Paediatrics at Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Pimpri, Pune, in collaboration with the Maharashtra Adolescent Health Academy (MAHA-AHA), successfully hosted the First West Zone and First Maharashtra State Conference on Adolescent Health — ADOLESCON 2025 — under the theme “Empowering Adolescents: Transforming Futures.”
The two-day hybrid event brought together over 500 participants, including medical professionals, educators, parents, and postgraduate students, for multidisciplinary discussions on adolescent health and development.
Day one began with a Youth Workshop, inaugurated by Dr. A. Rekha, Dean of the college, alongside eminent guests Dr. Jayant Pandharikar and Dr. Shailaja Mane. Activities included a paediatric postgraduate workshop, a School Health Programme at Global International School for over 150 students, and Empower Yuva — an interactive youth wellness session led by Dr. Sangeeta Lodha. Parents attended Parenteening, a session on improving communication and practical parenting strategies.
Expert-led sessions covered psychosocial development, identity formation, reproductive health, mental well-being, substance abuse prevention, and special needs. Case-based learning addressed adolescent health conditions such as PCOS, while panel discussions engaged parents, adolescents, and healthcare professionals on challenges like mobile addiction and peer pressure.
Day two featured the Scientific Conference with focused talks on anxiety, depression, body image, suicide prevention, and youth perspectives in “Gen Z: Values and Views.” The event also celebrated the institution’s recognition with the IBCLC Care Award 2025–2027, making it the first hospital in India to receive this honour for two consecutive terms.
Institution leaders, including Hon’ble Dr. Bhagyashree P. Patil, Hon’ble Dr. Yashraj Patil, and Dr. Rekha Arcot, emphasized the need for early awareness, resilience building, and holistic youth education. The conference concluded with a UNICEF plenary session and youth forum highlighting non-communicable diseases and the integration of Gen Z voices into public health policy.
ADOLESCON 2025 reinforced Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College’s role as a pioneer in adolescent healthcare, advocacy, and education, driving positive change for India’s youth.