Founder’s Message

Dear Friends and all members of POPMA
My warm greetings to all!!

I hope this letter on behalf of POPMA finds everyone in happy spirits.
First of all, I would like to express my gratitude towards all the oral pathologists who have shown faith in me by acknowledging my work and also by becoming esteemed members of POPMA.

I want to inform you that I may be the founder president of this association which is a legal formality and obligation to lead POPMA because I initiated the process of POPMA’s creation but no such hierarchical discrimination will be there in our association pertaining to association’s working and decisions. I want this association should be free of politics and the major emphasis will be on uniting and empowering oral pathologists by making them competent in the subject and creating more opportunities for them to lead a decent life. I will work as the State Representative of Haryana on behalf of POPMA. All esteemed members are equal and POPMA will seek every member’s suggestions and feedback. Everything related to POPMA; (be it documents, accounts, and working model of the association) will be transparent and easily accessible to all the members of POPMA. The jurisdiction and area of operation of POPMA is extended to all over India as we have members from more than 8 different Indian states and resolution about this has been passed by POPMA. Members from different states who have become life members will be given charge as state representatives to address the problems/issues faced by oral pathologists of that particular state.

For the formation of POPMA, 7 founder members were required and the rest will be life and ordinary members. We have a capping of 500 members in total which includes 250 life members and 243 ordinary members. I also want to convey that numbers in any association do matter but, in this association, I am really interested to make members who are actually enthusiastic and specialty oral pathology practice-oriented professionals (be it institutional or private practice).

In POPMA, we will have professionals from different health science specialties (general pathology, general microbiology, clinical biochemistry, general radiology, oral radiology, biotechnology, basic medical sciences, healthcare administration, veterinary sciences etc.) who support oral pathology and microbiology as a unique medical/dental entity. This will definitely help us in creating awareness to the core conventional medical fraternity, health care sector and public at large.

My brief vision and road map with POPMA to proceed further:

  • Acquiring competency through training and education:

For making MDS oral pathology as one of the requisite qualifications for authorized signatory of laboratory reports, we all need to become more competent and confident in our subject. There are two major hindrances; which majority of oral pathologists feel that many aspects of oral pathology which are actually very important to sustain in the practice of the subject; are not taught in the colleges during our postgraduation. Many freshly passed oral pathologists do not have enough exposure to pathology diagnostic set up/lab. For this, I will give my colleagues; the opportunity to visit my place and labs for observer ship/any kind of training in the allied aspects of oral pathology (be it hematology, serology, clinical biochemistry, immunoassay, clinical pathology, microbiology, FNAC etc.). When as an individual, I can practice other allied aspects of oral and general pathology; why cannot all other oral pathologists’ practice (provided they really want to practice the specialty).
I will also guide them regarding setting up a diagnostic lab. For this, we also need to change our mindset and have to think beyond the conventional aspects of the subject.

On the association level, an academy is also being created with the name of Academy of Oral Pathology & Laboratory Medicine (AOPLM) which will work under the banner of POPMA. The trainings and guidance will be free of cost for POPMA life members. POPMA members will be my first priority but simultaneously, no one will be denied of this opportunity. The travel, boarding, lodging and food expenses will be from the side of candidate. For more functioning of academy (AOPLM), I have already designed the course curriculum and an academic committee will be formed for the same soon.

  • Creating awareness about oral pathology to government agencies, legislative bodies and public at large:

POPMA will write letters regarding our branch of oral pathology and its signatory status and also about creating more career opportunities to the following:

  • Prime Minister of India
  • Health Minister of India
  • Different Govt. bodies (Dental Council Of India/National Dental Commission)
  • Ministry of Health and Family welfare (MOHFW)
  • All The Cancer Centers In India
  • to all the major corporate labs/diagnostic centres in India (Dr Lal Path Labs, Metropolis Health care Ltd, Agilus Diagnostics, Abott Diagnostics etc)
  • ICMR
  • Clinical Establishment Act committee
  • NABL & NABH

POPMA will also write to DCI for making necessary amendments in our current DCI MDS oral pathology curriculum. Initially, the association will give try through means of writing letters to them and later on to achieve our goal, we will make representations to various government and legislative bodies. After some span of time, we will organize short educational events either online or offline mode on association level.

I do not know what and how the outcome will come, but I will try my level best with utmost sincerity, honesty, hard work and dedication to fight for the rights as well as to safeguard the interests of all oral pathology fraternity.

I request all the members and fellow oral pathologists to motivate your friends and colleagues as well as postgraduates to become a life member of our prestigious association who are actually willing to practice the specialty of Oral Pathology and Microbiology.

“Dreams Don’t Work Until You Do”
With this quote, I again thank you so much all for your support.

DR. BHUVAN NAGPAL
BDS, MDS, PGT(HNOP), MSc, MBA, PGDMLS, CLQMS, LL.B, PhD (Honoris Causa), FPFA (USA)
(Notified by Govt. Of India & NABL Approved Signatory for Lab Reports)
LAB. DIRECTOR & SR. CONSULTANT
TOHANA MANGLAM DIAGNOSTICS
KAINCHI CHOWK, CHANDIGARH ROAD, TOHANA, DIST. FATEHABAD - 125120
(AN NABL ACCREDITED MEDICAL LABORATORY)
DIRECTOR & SR. ORAL PATHOLOGIST
CENTRE FOR ORAL PATHOLOGY & MAXILLOFACIAL DIAGNOSTICS (COPMD)
Email: dr.bhuvannagpal@gmail.com
Website: www.drbhuvannagpal.com
www.tohanamanglamdiagnostics.com
www.copmd.drbhuvannagpal.com