OARC Update & Community Work
OARC is a clinical practice first — but it’s also the driving force behind a broader effort to improve rheumatology care and awareness across Odisha, through the Odisha Arthritis & Rheumatology Foundation Trust (OARFT), founded by Dr. Jyoti Ranjan Parida in 2021.
OARC Update — a national conference, now in its fifth year
Every year, OARFT organizes OARC Update, a national-level medical conference held in Bhubaneswar in partnership with the Indian Rheumatology Association, bringing national and international faculty together to share the latest advances in rheumatology and related fields.
- OARC Update V (2026) — “Connecting Density and Destiny in Osteoporosis,” held August 9, 2026 at Mayfair Convention Center, Bhubaneswar, in partnership with the Indian Rheumatology Association, Odisha Endocrine Society, and Odisha Orthopaedic Association. Around 300 delegates attended, including specialists in rheumatology, endocrinology, orthopaedics, and general medicine. Dr. Jyoti Ranjan Parida served as Organizing Secretary.
- “Breathing Deep into Lung Rheumatology” (2024) — a national conference on the rheumatology-pulmonology interface, attended by approximately 250 medical professionals.
- “Catching the Eye in Rheumatology” (2023) — held in partnership with the Odisha State Ophthalmological Society and the Association of Physicians of India (Odisha branch), addressing the rheumatology-ophthalmology interface.
These conferences reflect OARC’s role not just in patient care, but in continuing medical education for physicians and specialists across Odisha and beyond. Full details on upcoming editions are available at oarft.com.
Community & philanthropic work
OARFT also runs programs that make rheumatology care accessible to patients who couldn’t otherwise afford it:
- One Rupee Arthritis Clinic — held on the first Thursday of every month, offering specialist rheumatology consultations to economically disadvantaged patients for a nominal fee of ₹1.
- Full-cost treatment sponsorship — OARFT has covered complete treatment costs, including medication and diagnostics, for patients unable to afford care.
- Awareness programs — OARFT organizes public awareness events around World Arthritis Day, World Lupus Day, World Ankylosing Spondylitis Day, and National Bone and Joint Day, including walkathons and educational sessions for the public.
Learn more about OARFT’s full range of initiatives at oarft.com.