Bhubaneswar, January 7: Around 1500 occupational therapists from across the country will converge at the SOA Deemed to be University here for the three-day annual conference of All India Occupational Therapists’ Association (AIOTA) which will commence on January 9.

The conference will be attended by eminent national and international speakers, academicians, clinicians, researchers and students. It will provide a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, professional networking and celebration of cultural diversity while reinforcing the vital role of Occupational Therapy in holistic healthcare and rehabilitation.

Titled OTICON-2026, the conference has been organised by the Odisha Branch of All India Occupational Therapists’ Association (OBAIOTA) and Swami Vivekananda National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research (SVNIRTAR), Olatpur.

The theme of the conference will be ‘Tradition to Technology: Embracing Cultural Diversity in Occupational Therapy’ which reflects the profession’s commitment to integrating cultural values with modern technological advancements to enhance healthcare outcomes and rehabilitation.

The inaugural ceremony of the conference on January 9 will be graced by Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Odisha’s minister for Health and Family Welfare, Parliamentary Affairs, Electronics and Information Technology, who will be the chief guest while Mr. Bibhu Prasad Tarai, MP and Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of SOA will be guests of honour.

The Pre- conference Continuing Occupational Therapy Education (COTE) program will be inaugurated the same day by Dr. Santosh Kumar Mishra, Director, Medical Education and Training, Government of Odisha.

The conference will feature a comprehensive mix of academic and cultural programs including scientific sessions by national and international experts, panel discussions, paper and poster presentations, presentations on resources, innovations and emerging trends in Occupational Therapy and exhibition by students and innovators.