SKIMS Medical College inaugurates Debate Club, hosts discussion on AI, medicine
Srinagar, Oct 10: In a significant move to promote intellectual and academic discourse, SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, inaugurated its Debate Club, with an engaging inaugural debate on the topic “In the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Will Doctors Become Redundant?” The event saw enthusiastic participation, thought-provoking arguments, and an impressive display of oratory skills from the students.
The programme began with a welcome address by Sahil Farooq, Academic Secretary of the CASS Union, who introduced the audience to the vision and objectives behind forming the Debate Club. Dr Beenish Mushtaq, Faculty In-Charge of the club, emphasised the importance of fostering a debating culture in medical education to enhance critical thinking, clarity of communication, and ethical reasoning.
Principal of SKIMS Medical College, Dr Fazlul Qadir Parray, lauded the initiative and commended the students for their enthusiasm. He highlighted the vital role of communication and dialogue in the medical profession, noting that the ability to reason, persuade, and listen empathetically is as essential to a doctor’s practice as clinical skill. He urged students to engage with contemporary issues beyond textbooks to become well-rounded professionals prepared for the evolving landscape of medicine.
The debate followed a modified Cambridge format, with Mustaqeem Afaq serving as chairperson and Adiba Farooq as timekeeper. The proposition team—Hibba Ishaq, Mohammad Izhaan Rather, and Asra Sohail—argued in favour of the motion, while the opposition team—Hamad Wani, Lubab Zehra, and Krishna Sahu—presented compelling counterarguments.
The panel of judges—Dr Shams-ul-Bari (Department of Surgery), Dr Afiya Shafi (Professor and Head, Department of Pathology), and Dr Yasmeen Jan (Department of Community Medicine)—evaluated speakers on content, clarity, delivery, and rebuttal. After an intellectually charged session, the opposition emerged victorious, with Lubab Zehra adjudged the best speaker of the competition.
The audience actively participated during the interactive session, posing insightful questions that further enriched the debate. Associate Dean Professor Ajaz A. Rather, in his address, underscored the importance of empathy in clinical practice and cautioned against the growing detachment seen in modern medical care, reminding students that compassion remains central to the art of healing.
The event concluded with a felicitation ceremony, where Principal Dr. Fazlul Qadir Parray, Associate Dean Dr Ajaz A. Rather, and Dr Ashfaq A. Bhat (Head, Department of Community Medicine) presented certificates to all participants.
