On December 17, 2025, MOHAN Foundation conducted a Workshop and Panel Discussion on Organ Donation in collaboration with Lion’s Club at ISAME 2025, Ahmedabad, with the objective of creating deeper awareness and encouraging meaningful conversations around organ donation. Around 80 participants attended the workshop, which included healthcare professionals, service organization members, and members of the public.
The workshop began with an awareness session by Dr. Sunil Shroff, Senior Consultant Urologist and Transplant Surgeon, Founder and Managing Trustee of MOHAN Foundation. Dr. Shroff highlighted the importance of organ donation in saving lives and emphasized why India urgently needs to improve donation rates. He explained the types of death, what organs can be donated, and clarified common misconceptions. To make the concept relatable, he shared the story of Lord Ganesha’s first head transplant, drawing parallels between ancient wisdom and modern medical science.
Following the awareness session, a panel discussion was conducted and hosted by Ms. Jaya Jayram, focusing on real-life impact and community engagement.
Ms. Jaya opened the session with the message, “Today, we will hear from three people who are alive because someone they never met chose to donate organs.”
The panel featured:
Priyank Dikshit, Heart Transplant Recipient
Harsha Gilder, Lung Transplant Recipient (2 years post-transplant)
Dipti Shah, Kidney Transplant Recipient
The recipients shared their journeys, speaking about life before transplant, fears during organ failure, the moment they received the call for transplantation, and how the gift of organs transformed their daily lives. They concluded with heartfelt messages encouraging people to discuss organ donation with their families and support the cause. Ms. Jaya closed the session by acknowledging donor families, stating that their courage during moments of deep loss makes second chances possible.
The second panel focused on awareness, challenges, and action, particularly the role of service organizations in promoting organ donation. The distinguished panelists included:
Dr. Sunil Shroff
Dr. Pratik Manek, U N Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research
Dr. Sonal Dalal, Sterling Hospitals, Ahmedabad
Lt Gen (Dr.) Velu Nair, Apollo Hospital, Ahmedabad
Mr. Nikhil Vyas, KD Hospital, Ahmedabad
Ms. Bhavna Chhabria, CEO, Shatayu Foundation
The discussion covered challenges such as low donation rates, myths, trust issues, family consent, and gaps in organ retrieval, especially in Tier-2 cities. Panelists emphasized the importance of early family discussions, community awareness, education in schools and colleges, and the critical role of trust-building through service organizations.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Jaya highlighted that the session was not about statistics but about lives saved through awareness, compassion, and timely decisions. She also thanked Mr. Rajesh Agarwal for supporting. The workshop concluded with a strong message that organ donation begins at home, through conversations and informed choices, and that each individual has the power to be the reason someone lives.
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