Major Somesh M Kaul Awarded Dr BK Mathur Gold Medal at GERICON 2025 for Digital Health Literacy Research
During the 22nd Annual Conference of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics (GERICON 2025), which took place at the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) Pune from November 13 to 15, 2025, Maj Somesh M Kaul, a postgraduate resident in the Department of Community Medicine at AFMC Pune, delivered a remarkable presentation that earned him the esteemed Dr BK Mathur Gold Medal for Best Oral Paper Presentation.
The award was given in recognition of Maj Kaul’s research paper, “Prevalence and Barriers to Digital Health Literacy among the Elderly in an Urban Setting of Western Maharashtra.” The study investigated the increasing digital gap impacting senior citizens and the obstacles they face when accessing digital healthcare services. It illuminated crucial factors affecting digital interaction among older adults and provided valuable recommendations for enhancing digital health inclusion for India’s elderly population.
This accolade underscores the high research standards, robust academic guidance, and culture of excellence that characterize the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) and AFMC Pune. Maj Kaul’s accomplishment further enriches the institution’s distinguished tradition of making significant contributions to public health and geriatric medicine research.
