Dr Priti Adani Announces Healthcare Infrastructure Expansion and Research Push at AIHER Convocation
2,320 Graduands Honoured at 17th Convocation in Wardha; University Plans Stronger Super-Specialty Services and Centres of Excellence
Wardha, Maharashtra, October 17, 2026: Adani Institute of Higher Education and Research (AIHER), a Deemed to be University, marked its 17th ceremonial convocation with a renewed commitment to quality education, affordable healthcare, advanced clinical research and community service. Addressing the graduating students, Dr Priti Adani, Chancellor of the University, outlined an ambitious roadmap for strengthening healthcare infrastructure and expanding research capabilities, with a particular focus on the institution’s Wardha and Nagpur campuses.
The convocation celebrated 2,320 graduands, including 123 PhD scholars and 83 medal winners, recognising their academic achievements and the contributions of their families, faculty members, clinicians and university staff.
The ceremony was attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis as the Chief Guest, Dr Abhijat Sheth, Chairperson of the National Medical Commission, and Dr Pankaj Bhoyar, Minister of State in the Government of Maharashtra and Guardian Minister of Wardha and Bhandara districts.
Honorary Degrees Mark a Historic Occasion
The convocation was particularly significant as the first ceremony held under the institution’s new name, Adani Institute of Higher Education and Research. Dr Priti Adani described the occasion as historic, noting that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was conferred the institution’s first honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) degree under the AIHER name.
Dr Abhijat Sheth was also conferred an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degree in recognition of his contributions to healthcare and medical education.
Paying tribute to the late Shri Dattaji Meghe, the University’s Founder Chancellor, Dr Adani acknowledged his vision and decades of contribution towards expanding educational opportunities and making healthcare more accessible, particularly for rural and underserved communities. She also recognised the role of Shri Sagar Meghe, Shri Sameer Meghe and the university team in carrying forward this legacy.
Two-Year Roadmap for Healthcare and Clinical Research
A key announcement in Dr Adani’s address was the institution’s commitment to enhancing hospital infrastructure over the next two years. The proposed improvements will focus on modern medical equipment, advanced clinical research facilities and stronger super-specialty services at the Wardha and Nagpur campuses.
The University also plans to develop a roadmap for applied research and establish centres of excellence. Its research priorities will include disease prevention, early diagnosis, affordable treatment and improvements in maternal and child health.
The proposed initiatives reflect an emphasis on connecting academic research with practical healthcare requirements and the needs of local communities.
Dr Adani further outlined a broader vision of developing campuses across India to extend access to quality education, research and affordable healthcare. While each campus is expected to address regional requirements, Wardha and Nagpur will remain central to the institution’s development strategy.
‘Seva Hi Sadhana Hai’: Service at the Heart of Education
Emphasising the philosophy of “Seva hi sadhana hai”—service as a path of devotion—Dr Adani said that education and healthcare must be guided by compassion and a commitment to improving lives.
She highlighted the importance of teachers supporting students who face difficulties, nurses protecting patients’ dignity, researchers seeking solutions to human suffering and healthcare teams reaching communities in need.
The coming together of the institution and the Adani Foundation, she noted, represents a shared commitment to service. The Foundation’s work across education, healthcare, nutrition, livelihoods and community development is expected to support the institution’s next phase of growth.
Sustainable Development and Inclusive Growth
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals will guide the University’s priorities in health, education, gender equality and inclusion, according to Dr Adani. Preventive healthcare, community outreach, support for disadvantaged students and responsible resource utilisation were identified as important areas for ensuring that institutional progress benefits those who need it most.
Her address also placed responsibility on the graduating students to uphold professional integrity, empathy and lifelong learning. She urged them to respect every individual’s dignity, listen carefully, evaluate evidence and use artificial intelligence and emerging technologies responsibly.
Emphasising the human dimension of healthcare, Dr Adani reminded the graduands that patients may not always remember technical explanations, but they will remember whether they felt heard and treated with compassion.
Building an Institution People Can Trust
Concluding her address, Dr Adani invited faculty members, students, alumni and institutional partners to share responsibility for the University’s future. She expressed the aspiration to build an institution that India can be proud of, that earns international respect and that people trust for knowledge and care.
The 17th convocation thus marked not only an academic milestone for thousands of graduates but also an articulation of AIHER’s future priorities in healthcare infrastructure, applied research, inclusive education and community service.
As the new graduates embark on their professional journeys, the message of the occasion was clear: academic achievement carries a responsibility to serve society, and knowledge finds its greatest purpose when it improves human lives.
By Suman Munshi
Chief Editor, IBG NEWS
