6th Annual Conference on Pediatric Rehabilitation

Theme: From Critical Care to Community – Reimagining Pediatric Rehab
Date: October 12, 2025
Venue: Hotel Aadithya, Vadapalani, Chennai

The 6th edition of NCORE 2025 brought together pediatric rehabilitation professionals, intensivists, developmental pediatricians, therapists, students, and researchers under the guiding theme:
“From Critical Care to Community – Reimagining Pediatric Rehab.”

The conference re-emphasised a vital truth: recovery from NICU and PICU is not just medical survival— it is functional recovery, participation, education, and meaningful life in the community.

The event began with the Inauguration and Lamp Lighting Ceremony, followed by a powerful address by the Chief Guest, Mr. Natarajan Raman, Founder of Dream India Foundation.

Mr. Raman leads one of India’s most inspiring citizen-led movements—Dream India Foundation, a 7,000+ volunteer collective known for operating with near-zero administrative costs. The organisation supports underserved children through:

• Access to education
• Coaching, mentoring & career guidance
• Medical support
• Life skills and personal development

Mr. Natarajan Raman brought a deep social perspective to pediatric rehabilitation:

• Highlighted that children recovering from NICU/PICU often return to socio-economic challenges that directly affect long-term rehabilitation.
• Emphasised that rehabilitation extends beyond clinical care—into classrooms, homes, communities, and social systems.
• Called for stronger collaborations between medical professionals and community organisations to create holistic rehabilitation pathways.
• Shared stories of children whose educational and emotional journeys were transformed through volunteer-led support.
• Reinforced that the true measure of recovery lies in how well a child can participate, learn, grow, and envision a future.

His heartfelt address deeply resonated with the audience and set the tone for a day of learning and reflection.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Thangavelu, a respected senior pediatrician known for his advocacy for child development and community-based rehab models.

Key Highlights of the Keynote

Dr. Thangavelu’s session, titled “Reimagining Pediatric Rehabilitation: From Survival to Thriving,” provided a visionary roadmap for modern pediatric care:

• Explained how medical survival alone is no longer enough; the focus must shift to developmental, sensory, and emotional thriving.
• Discussed the ICU to community continuum, stressing the need for structured follow-up, early therapy, family empowerment, and school readiness.
• Emphasised early identification of feeding, motor, sensory, and behavioral challenges post ICU stay.
• Encouraged an interdisciplinary model where pediatricians, therapists, and families collaborate as a unified team.
• Highlighted the growing role of technology, tele-rehab, and home-based monitoring in bridging access gaps.

This keynote effectively framed the entire conference’s scientific agenda and inspired delegates to re-evaluate their roles in shaping long-term child outcomes.

. Scientific Sessions

NCORE 2025 featured a robust academic programme including:

• Early Mobilisation in PICU – Motor & Sensory Perspectives
• Positioning & Motor Development in Preterm Infants
• Early Sensory Stimulation and Play for NICU Graduates
• Swallowing & Oral Motor Difficulties After Critical Care
• Post-ICU Discharge Care – Panel Discussion on challenges and community solutions
• Interactive MDT session – FUNANZA

These sessions delivered both scientific depth and practical skills applicable in day-to-day practice.

. Scientific Paper Presentations

The conference showcased the scientific papers, selected from competitive submissions across India.
Highlights included:

• Strong clinical relevance
• Innovative methodologies
• Focus on NICU, PICU, early intervention & community rehab
• Active Q&A and valuable feedback
• Best Paper Awards presented during valedictory

. REHAB QUEST – Quiz Finals

The Quiz Finals brought immense energy and participation:

• Multi-round clinical & theory-based questions