The Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India held their 8th Annual National Convention on 17th and 18th October 2003 at Hubli. It was organized by KLES’ College of Pharmacy, Hubli, with the theme `Self Regulation and Professional Standards in Pharmaceutical Education’ at C Lite, BVB College of Engg. & Tech., Hubli.

More than 1000 delegates from all over the country participated in the convention.

Dr R Chandrashekhara, vice-chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka, Bangalore, was the chief guest.

Prabhakar B Kore, MLC, chairman, Board of Management, KLE Society, Belgaum, Dr B Suresh, president, Pharmacy Council of India and principal, JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty, Dr M Khajapeer, VC, Karnatak University, Dharwad, prof. MI Savadatti, former VC, Mangalore University, Dr RS Gaud, president, APTI, advisor, AICTE, New Delhi spoke on the occasion.

A number of deliberations were held in eight scientific sessions, Dr SB Bhise, Dr B Suresh, Prof. SB Gokhale, Dr N Udupa, Dr KPR Choudhary, Dr M Vimala Devi, Dr RS Gaud, and other eminent professionals took part in the panel discussion related to regulatory issues for D Pharm, B Pharm, M Pharm and PhD programmes during the scientific sessions.

Dr Ashok S Shettar, principal, BVB College of Engg. & Tech., Hubli delivered the KLE Oration Lecture.

For the first time the convention was opened to post-graduate students of pharmacy. A poster session of scientific research papers and advances in pharmacy education was also held.

Dr VI Hukkeri, chairman, LOC, welcomed the convention and Dr BG Nagavi, joint secretary, APTI, proposed vote of thanks.

Various awards for Excellence in Pharmacy Teaching Profession were given in the convention, as follows:

APTI – Bhojraj Panjamool- Life Time Achievement Award, 2003.

Dr E Venkata Rao, visiting professor and consultant, former head, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andhra University, Vishakapatnam.

Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (IPER)’s Principal of the Year, 2003.

Dr D Satyanarayana, principal, NGSM Institute of Pharm. Sciences, Mangalore.

Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University – BVP’s Pharmacy Teacher of the Year, 2003.

Dr KPR Chowdhary, head, Dept. of Pharm. Sciences, Andhra University, Waltair & Dr NK Jain, HS Gaur Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar (MP).

APTI – Young Pharmacy Teacher of the Year, 2003.

Dr Shyamala Bhaskaran, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Bangalore.

APTI – Smt. Kamalaben Vavia Memorial Award for Essay writing Competition, 2003.

Sadhana Shahi

Dr SB Gokhale, Shirpur was honoured for his commendable services to the pharmacy profession.

Shri. CR Mahendra Setty, KLES’ College of Pharmacy, Bangalore was honoured as Best Pharmacy Teacher as recommended by APTI – Karnataka State Branch.

Dr AN Mishra, has been honoured for bagging the best TAPTEC project by AICTE for the year 2002-2003.

Dr Kanchan Kohli was honoured for bagging the best R&D project by AICTE for the year 2002-2003.

Dr RL Nicore Award in Pharmaceutics to Prof. PK Kulkarni & Dr BG Nagavi “Spherical Crystallization” - A review article in IJPE.

IJPE Award to Prof. NM Mahesh “Different approaches to control animal experiments” in IJPE.

Prof. BM. Mithal Memorial Award in Pharmaceutical Education to Dr DK Madia for the article “A Poster presentation an alternative to the traditional classroom lecture” in IJPE.

Late IN Hukkeri Memorial Award for Elocution Competition, 2003. “Death Penalty - is it a remedy against spurious drugs?” to Laila Fatima Ali Asghar.