At the 22nd Annual Conference of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics (GERICON 2025), held at the Armed Forces Medical College (#AFMC) Pune from 13–15 November 2025, Maj Somesh M Kaul, PG Resident in the Department of Community Medicine, AFMC Pune, delivered an exceptional presentation that earned him the prestigious Dr BK Mathur Gold Medal for Best Oral Paper Presentation.
Maj Kaul’s award-winning research paper, titled “Prevalence and Barriers to Digital Health Literacy among the Elderly in an Urban Setting of Western Maharashtra,” examined the growing digital divide affecting senior citizens and the challenges they face in accessing digital healthcare platforms. His study highlighted key factors influencing digital engagement among the elderly and offered valuable insights for strengthening digital health inclusion in India’s ageing population.
The recognition reflects the exemplary research standards, strong academic mentorship and culture of excellence that define the Armed Forces Medical Services (#AFMS) and AFMC Pune. Maj Kaul’s achievement adds to the institution’s proud legacy of contributing high-impact research to public health and geriatric medicine.
