The Federation of Maharashtra State Branches of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India was constituted in 1966. The founding members were Dr. D. K. Gosavi (Miraj), Dr. D. W. Atre (Pune), Dr. Lele (Nashik) along with Dr. A. K. Kelkar and Dr. Mendgudli from Solapur. The constitution was drafted and approved. Accordingly, branches were formed in Mumbai, Pune, Nashik and Aurangabad. So also, the other cities were encouraged to form branches of their own and get affiliated to F.M.S.B.
Accordingly, it was decided to form a branch at Solapur. Those days there were only four ENT surgeons in Solapur. Dr. Kashyapi and Dr. R. M. Shah were practicing at Barshi and Karmala—taluka places of Solapur district. They were included in the Solapur branch. Dr. Mendgudli, Dr. N. K. Chandak, Dr. A. K. Kelkar, Dr. Harkut R. R. from Solapur were the office bearers.
Though it was a small number, they used to meet often and discuss their problems. In 1975, they decided to hold the State Conference of F.M.S.B at Solapur and it was conducted successfully. The number of delegates was about 150. The venue was Masonic Hall, Solapur. Senior teachers from Mumbai and Pune --- Dr. Hiranandani, Dr. K. U. Shah, Dr. B. P. Apte, Dr. N. K. Apte, Dr. P. P. Karnik were the distinguished guests.
Dr. Mahadeviah from Bangalore was the chief guest and delivered “BELL PHARMA ORATION” on “MIDDLE EAR SURGERY” in 1980. The conference was held at V. M. Medical College, Solapur in 1989 and 2010 it was held at Hotel Tripursundari, Solapur.
The number of delegates in Mentcon 2010 at Solapur attained a spike of about 500. The Solapur branch named as “Solapur ENT Association” has grown from 4 member ENT Surgeons to nearly 40-50 member ENT Surgeons now. Solapur city has two medical schools.
Dr. V. M. Medical College Solapur and Ashwini Rural Medical College, Kumbhari, Solapur. Both colleges have well equipped dept. of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery catering for poor and needy patients. Both departments are actively involved in training post graduate students in the field of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery.
Members of Solapur ENT Association are active and conduct regular CME's, Seminars, Surgical Workshops with many academic activities for PG students of both the medical colleges. There is a bright future for the new generation in the field of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery.
Presently, Solapur ENT Association has 46 ENT Surgeons. All basic and advanced ENT surgeries are performed at major ENT and Multi-specialty hospitals.
Endoscopic and microscopic skull base surgeries, complex head and neck cancer resections, and microvascular reconstruction, cosmetic surgeries including rhinoplasty are performed in the city’s major ENT Hospitals.
Solapur has become a major Medical Hub catering to patients from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, and the field of ENT/Head & Neck Surgery has made a major contribution to this.
