About Authors

Sn Name About the author
1 Dr. Altaf Patel Dr Altaf Patel is currently the Director of Medicine at Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai. He was an honorary professor of medicine from 1977 to 2007. He is a medical columnist for many mainstream newspapers like The Times of India and the Mumbai Mirror and has many research publications in national and international journals. In his free time, he enjoys reading, travelling and swimming.
2 Dr. Anil Suchak  Dr Anil N Suchak is an anaesthesiologist and an intensivist. He is the medical director of Suchak Hospital, Malad.  He has been a member of IMA for the past 37 years, performing various roles from being a member of the managing committee to Vice President of Mumbai (West) to being the joint secretary. He heads the Mumbai branch of The Divine Life Society and is the trustee of a school. He formed the Indian Liver Foundation to increase awareness about liver transplantation and organ donation. Through this foundation, he has advised hundreds of patients. Being a cancer survivor and having undergone a liver transplant himself, this is his way to express his gratitude and giving back to society. He has also been the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Association of Medical Consultant.
3 Dr. Anirudh Malpani Dr Aniruddha Malpani is an IVF specialist. He founded the world’s largest free patient education library, HELP at healthlibrary.com, and has authored numerous books. He pioneered the use of innovative technology to educate infertile couples using cartoon films, comic books and e-learning. An active angel investor, Dr Malpani invests across all domains and admires entrepreneurs because they have the potential to change the world. 
4 Dr. Ashwin Rammohan Dr Ashwin Rammohan is a liver transplant surgeon and the director of Academics and Research at the Dr Rela Institute and Medical Centre, Chennai. He is also a consultant, Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation
Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai. He has over 60 international peer-reviewed publications, 50 abstracts/presentations in national and international conferences and two research theses to his credit. He is the International Surgical Advisor to the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Glasgow, UK and a faculty for the Postdoctoral fellowship in Minimal Access Surgery at Dr MGR Medical University Chennai, India.
5 C. B. Bhasker Bhasker Canagaradjou is a management consultant. He heads the business advisory services of IPSOS which is a multinational research and advisory firm in India. A management graduate from ESC Grenoble, he assists start-ups and entrepreneurs on their business strategy and for raising capital.  He is an avid reader and a fitness enthusiast. He devotes a significant amount of his time for philanthropic activities through the Debabrata Auro Foundation.
6 Dr. Dheeraj Mulchandani Dr Dheeraj Mulchandani is a practising general surgeon in Mumbai. With over 15 years of experience in the healthcare field, seven of which have been in administration, Dr Dheeraj Mulchandani believes he has a mature and responsible approach to problem-solving. He considers, careful attention to detail, effective communication and proficiency at technology as few of his best assets.  He is an active blogger and has contributed to many publications and books. He has developed a love for running and does it at least three times a week.
7 Dimple Mishra Dimple Mishra is a professional Interior Designer and Interior stylist since 1986. An active member and functionary on the managing committee of the Indian Liver Foundation; in her spare time, Dimple contributes towards the written word, she is a published writer and loves to blog about her tryst with the subtle during her fascinating travels.
8 Dr. Gabriela Casabona Dr Gabriela Casabona is a dermatologist practising in Brazil. She has dedicated the first 10 years of her career to mastering cosmetic rejuvenation of both the face and body. She spent much of the last five years in many training programmes in the US, Latin America and Europe, furthering her expertise in skin cancer surgery, Mohs surgery and honing her reconstruction skills (especially oculoplastics). Dr Casabona is presently an international speaker for Allergan Medical, Merz Medical, and also a medical consultant and speaker for Mesoestetic Spain
9 Dr. Jananee Muralidhar Dr Jananee Muralidharan is a consultant in internal medicine at St John’s Medical College, Bengaluru. She loves her family, her job and her cats, in that order.
10 Dr. Jesse Berry Dr Jesse Berry is the Associate Director of Ocular Oncology at the USC Roski Eye Institute and Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles. She is the founder of WOO, Women in Ocular Oncology, and the meeting host for the 2019 International Society of Ocular Oncology. Her clinical expertise includes ​retinoblastoma, melanoma, ​ anterior segment, ​other ​intraocular and external tumours. ​Dr Berry enjoys travel, exploring cuisine, yoga, fashion blogging and exploring the greater Los Angeles area.
11 Dr. Kamal Mahawar Dr Kamal Mahawar works as a consultant general and bariatric surgeon at Sunderland Royal Hospital in the north east of England. He takes a significant interest in research into bariatric surgery and regularly writes on related topics. He has co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles and multiple book chapters. His book ‘The Ethical Doctor’ was published by HarperCollins in 2016.
12 Dr. Lalit Kapoor Dr Lalit Kapoor is a practising general and GI surgeon for more than 40 years. A gold medallist in surgery, he is the Medical Director of Shakuntala Memorial Hospital, Mumbai and chief surgeon at Suchak Hospital, Mumbai. He is the founding member and past president of the Association of Medical Consultants, Mumbai. Dr Kapoor is a proponent of practising medicine ethically and upholding the highest traditions of the profession. He is an author of the widely acclaimed book, Better Safe than Sorry—Medico-Legal Do’s and Son’ts. He has also held editorial positions for various publications of AMC and IMA.
13 Dr. Mitalee Shome Dr Mitalee Shome is an MPhil and PhD in English Literature with over 40 years of teaching experience in English Literature. She has taught over 12,000 students on subjects like English and business communication. She has presented around 50 papers in national and international seminars and published 17 papers in academic journals, books and magazines. Presently, apart from teaching, she imparts training in spoken English, writes and edits content for different corporates. Dr Shome has been awarded by multiple agencies for her path breaking work. She also dedicates a lot of time for philanthropic work through the Debabrata Auro Foundation
14 Dr. Mohamed Rela  Dr Mohamed Rela is a world leader in the field of liver transplantation. He is the chairman and director of the Institute of Liver Disease and Transplantation at Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai. He is also the professor of HPB and Liver Transplant Surgery, Institute of Liver Studies at Kings College Hospital, London. In a career spanning three decades, he has performed over 4,000 liver transplant surgeries around the world and has more than 600 publications to his credit. A team led by him performed a successful liver transplantation for a five-day-old girl, giving him an entry into the Guinness Book of Records in 2000. In his non-surgical time, Dr Rela delves into Tamil literature and renaissance art.
15 Dr. Nitin Kadam Dr Nitin Kadam is a paediatrician and a professor of paediatrics. He is the Medical Director of MGM’s New Bombay Hospital, Vashi and a trustee of the MGM Trust. MGM Trust runs medical colleges and hospitals with over 2000 beds in the state of Maharashtra and has treated 21 billion patients since its inception in the eighties. He has more than 60 publications in national and international journals. He has received several prestigious awards for his contribution to healthcare as well as for development of hi-tech affordable and quality healthcare and bringing it within the reach of the masses. Humble to the core, he strongly believes that the blessings of innumerable underprivileged patients are the force behind the success and sustainability of their hospitals. He is also a keen sportsman, writer, reader and a patron of fine arts.
16 Dr. Olithselvan With over 20 years of experience as a hepatologist, Dr A. Olithselvan is currently practising at Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru. He is credited with establishing the first liver transplant centre in western Tamil Nadu. He is an expert in dealing with cases related to liver transplantation evaluation and post-liver transplant care; cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease; acute liver failure; and jaundice evaluation and treatment. Dr Olithselvan is a member of General Medical Council, UK; Royal College of Physicians, UK; International Liver Transplantation Society; and Indian National Association for Study of the Liver. His passion is to offer the best treatment in the most cost-effective manner in India. This emanates from his observations that these treatments are highly expensive overseas. 
17 Dr. Pradeep Chowbey Dr Pradeep Chowbey has pushed the envelope in laparoscopic surgery in India. Currently, Executive Vice Chairperson of Max Healthcare, he established the Minimal Access and Bariatric Surgery Center at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi in 1996. It was the first-of-its-kind minimal access and bariatric surgery centre in Asia. Dr Chowbey has had the honour of operating on Shri K.R. Narayanan former President of India and His Holiness Dalai Lama for laparoscopic gall bladder surgery. With over 72000 surgeries to his credit he is featured in the Guinness Book of Records 1997 and Limca Book of Records 2000–2017 (consecutive years) as the first endoscopic surgeon performing most number of minimal access surgeries. He has authored more than 200 clinical publications and several book chapters. He has also been at the helm of many national and international surgical societies as their president. In 2002, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri. 
18 Pragya Prasun Singh Pragya Singh is an acid attack survivor turned activist and social worker who has been fighting for providing relief and rehabilitation to her fellow acid attack and burn survivors for the past six years now. She is the founder and secretary of Atijeevan Foundation, an NGO that apart from facilitating free of cost surgeries also provides avenues for income generation to several acid-attack and burn survivors by training them to create handicraft products. She has been coordinating with eminent doctors and hospitals from across the country for medical advice and treatment. A postgraduate in fashion management, she is the recipient of several Indian and international awards and accolades for her exemplary work in the field of social welfare. 
19 Dr. Rajas Deshpande Dr Rajas Deshpande is the Director Neurology at Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune, India. He is a member of the international high IQ society and the author of the book, The Doctor Gene: What Everyone Must Know about Doctors. He is an acclaimed doctor and a prolific author.
20 Dr. Rajiv Palvia Dr Rajeev N. Palvia is a gold medallist in surgery from Mumbai University. He is trained in bariatric (weight loss) surgery and minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopy and endoscopy). Dr Palvia has attended and presented papers in various national and international conferences. He is attached to various corporate hospitals in Navi Mumbai and is the Head of Department of Surgery at Yerala College, Kharghar.
21 Dr. Ravi Wankhedkar Dr Ravi Wankhedkar is a professor of surgery at SBH Government Medical College, Dhule. He is a practising general and anorectal surgeon with over 30 years of experience. He was the national president of IMA from 2017 to 2018. He is the National Chair of the UNESCO BIOETHICS programme and is the National Chairman of IMA Accreditation Council. He was awarded the Teacher of the Decade in 1999 and has received multiple other awards. In his free time, he enjoys trekking and farming.
22 Dr. Reina Khadilkar Dr Reina Khadilkar works as a professor in surgery at Dr DY Patil Medical College in Pune. A gold medallist in surgery, she is specialised in laparoscopic surgery, upper GI endoscopy and perianal surgery. She is passionate about teaching surgery and guiding postgraduate students in surgery. She is also a published author and blogger. She is the author of two books—Oh! To Be a Lady Surgeon and At the End of the Day: Essays from Life
23 Dr. Rinky Kapoor Dr Rinky Kapoor is a renowned dermatologist and is the Director and Co-founder of The Esthetic Clinics, which have multiple centres all over India. A fellow from the Stanford Medical School, US, and National Skin Centre, Singapore, Dr Kapoor has won many awards from multiple agencies, in the field of dermatology. Dr Kapoor has many international research publications in the field of Cosmetic Dermatology and a US patent for the invention of the revolutionary QR678 hair growth factor formulation. Besides academics, Dr Kapoor dedicates a lot of time to philanthropic activities for the betterment of society through the Debabrata Auro Foundation
24 Dr. Rohit Shetty Dr Rohit Shetty is the Vice Chairman and corneal and refractive surgeon at Narayana Nethralaya Eye Institute, Bengaluru. He obtained an FRCS from Glasgow, Scotland in the UK in 2006. Dr Shetty has introduced cutting edge technology at the institute and is spearheading treatment for challenging eye disorders. He has close to 200 publications in peer-reviewed journals. He has presented his research work at numerous prestigious international conferences across the world. He defended his PhD from Maastricht University, Netherlands. He was awarded the prestigious Col. Rangachari award in 2015.
25 Dr. S. Natarajan Professor Dr Sundaram Natarajan is the CMD of Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital which is one of Mumbai’s leading eye hospitals. A third-generation ophthalmologist, he has been elected as the president of All India Opthalmological Society (AIOS) in February 2019. He is considered an authority in Vitreo Retinal Surgery in the world and is keenly involved in academics and research for prevention of blindness.  He was conferred with the Padma Shri for his achievements in the field of medicine. 
26 Dr. Samiran Nundy Dr Samiran Nundy, a medical undergraduate from Cambridge and Guy’s Hospital London and trained in medicine and later in surgery at Guy’s, Addenbrooke’s Cambridge, the Hammersmith and the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He has taught at the Universities of Cambridge, London and Harvard and returned to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 1975 where he eventually became professor and Head of the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery.  He started the Surgical Gastroenterology and Liver Transplantation Department at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, in 1996. He then retired as the Dean of the Ganga Ram Institute for Postgraduate Medical Education and Research. A prolific writer, Dr Nundy has written 37 books and 236 research papers. He has been on the editorial board of 24 journals which include the British Medical Journal and the Bhutan Health Journal. He also helped in lobbying for and drafting the Transplantation of Human Organs Act 1995.
27 Dr. Sheetal Amte Dr Sheetal Amte is a public health expert, disability specialist and social entrepreneur. She is the Chief Executive Officer and board member of a non-profit organisation, Maharogi Sewa Samiti, Warora, which focuses on helping people disadvantaged by leprosy. In 2016, Amte was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. She was also selected as a United Nations Innovation Ambassador and an advisor to i4P (Innovations for Peace). 
28 Shivendra Kapoor                                                              
Shivendra Kapoor is an instrumentation engineer by profession and a writer at heart. He has published many short stories, educational and technical articles in reputed publications in India and abroad. He has a deep interest in spirituality.
29 Dr. Stuti Khare Shukla Dr Stuti Khare Shukla is a dermatologist who has been involved in a number of campaigns against female foeticides and child abuse. She is also a fitness enthusiast and a trained Kathak dancer. Dr Stuti was a Fellow at The Esthetic Clinics, when she assisted her preceptor Dr Shome in writing this chapter.
30 Dr. Subramania Iyer Dr Subramania Iyer had higher surgical training in head and neck surgery and plastic surgery from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Medical College Calicut and various centres in the UK. He initiated the plastic surgery and head and neck surgery departments at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Kochi. He has trained over 400 surgeons in microvascular head and neck reconstruction so far. He led the team that carried out the first two double hand transplants/double forearm/upper arm transplants in South Asia. His team has won the best surgical team of South Asia in 2015 awarded by the BMJ.
31 Dr. Suresh Pandey and Dr. Vidushi Sharma Dr Suresh K. Pandey is an internationally renowned ophthalmologist and director of SuVi Eye Institute and Lasik Laser Centre, Kota, Rajasthan. Dr Pandey completed ophthalmology training from PGIMER, Chandigarh, and worked in the US and Australia for seven years. He and his spouse, Dr Vidushi Sharma, returned to India in 2006 and established SuVi Eye Institute in Kota in 2006. Dr Pandey is the recipient of ‘Achievement Award’ from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. 
32 Dr. Tejal Lathia Dr Tejal Lathia is a consultant endocrinologist trained at TN Medical College, Mumbai Central, Mumbai. She has worked as a senior registrar and then as an Assistant Professor at TN Medical College after completion of her residency. She has completed her MBBS and MD (Medicine) from MGIMS, Sewagram, Wardha. She is currently associated as a consultant with Apollo, Fortis and MGM hospitals in Navi Mumbai. She is a very good speaker and has multiple publications to her credit.
  Dr. Vijay Agarwal Dr Vijay Agarwal is the Director and HOD of Paediatric Cardiac Surgery at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon. He operates almost 450–500 cases annually of which 30 to 40% are neonates. He has done pioneering work in the use of 3D printing in assisting planning of complex congenital surgery. Amongst other recognition, Dr Vijay Agarwal has been felicitated recently by the chief minister and the Government of Kerala during the National Heart Transplant Conference (2016) for his outstanding contribution in paediatric heart transplant.
33 Dr. V. Mohan Dr V. Mohan is the Chairman and Chief of Diabetology at Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai In South India which is a WHO Collaborating Centre for Noncommunicable Diseases Prevention and Control and IDF Centre of Excellence in Diabetes
Care. He is also the president and director of the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation which is an ICMR Centre for Advanced Research on Diabetes. He is deeply passionate about research and has published over 1,120 papers in peer-reviewed journals and received over 160 awards. He was awarded the Dr B.C. Roy National Award by the Medical Council of India and Dr B. R. Ambedkar Centenary Award from the ICMR. He is also the first Indian to be conferred with the prestigious Harold Rifkin Distinguished International Service in the Cause of Diabetes Award by the American Diabetes Association for his pioneering work in the field of diabetes. In 2012, the Government of India conferred the prestigious Padma Shri on him.
34 Dr. Vandana Jain Dr Vandana Jain is a cornea, cataract and refractive surgeon and the Founder-Managing Director of the multi-speciality Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute in Navi Mumbai. She completed her post-graduation in ophthalmology from Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi University, India and was awarded the University Gold Medal for the best student. She has specialized in Cornea and Anterior Segment at L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad where she won the Best Fellow award. Dr Jain also did a fellowship (FICO) from the MEEI, Harvard medical school, USA and completed her MBA from Stanford Business School, USA. She is the co-founder of a medical device business Clear Ear Inc running successfully in California and a Health tech start-up called Wondrx. She is the trustee of the NGO—One Vision Health and Research Foundation. She is the recipient of the Incredible Journey Award and Women Achievers Award. She is passionate about fitness and in her free time she travels and reads
35 Dr. Wolfgang Gubisch Dr Wolfgang Gubisch started plastic surgery in 1974. From 2010 – 2012 he was the president of the German Association of Aesthetic Surgeons and board member of the German Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (DGPRÄC). He holds the gold medal of the All India Rhinology Society for special achievements in rhinosurgery. He has written more than 170 scientific publications and has produced six educational films. He is the medical director of the clinic of facial plastic surgery at Marien hospital, Böheimstr, Stuttgart, Germany.
36 Dr. Yusuf Matcheswalla Dr Yusuf A. Matcheswalla is a Consultant Psychiatrist and an honorary Professor at Sir JJ Group Hospital and heads the Department of Psychiatry, Unit 2, at GT Hospital, Mumbai. He is also associated with Gleneagles Global Hospital, Mumbai. With an experience of more than 30 years, Dr Matcheswalla is an expert in forensic psychiatry, de-addiction psychiatry, general psychiatry and emergency psychiatry. He has many awards to his name, including Lifetime Achievement Award by the Government of Maharashtra for his services at GT Hospital as well as the Dr CL Zhaveri Oration Award. 
37 Dr. Marcus Ranney Dr Marcus Ranney completed his bachelors of science and medical degrees from University College Medical School, London. His research expeditions have led him climbing the sides of Everest, skiing in the Arctic and the European Alps. After practising clinical medicine in London, in 2011, he made the transition to Mumbai where he has worked in the healthcare and life sciences industry as a strategic advisor and venture capitalist. Marcus is currently General Manager of Thrive Global in India, a US-based behaviour change technology and media company. As a futurist, his current research is focused on what the future of health and society will look like in 2030.

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About DAF

 

The DAF Foundation NGO was started in the memory of (Late) Dr. Debabrata Shome, a humanitarian extraordinaire and visionary. India has seen tremendous progress over the years in all aspects. Despite this, a vast majority of Indians still live below the poverty line and are not able to fulfil their basic needs for survival. Gender discrimination is prevalent in all social strata and access to good healthcare is wanting. The reasons for this state of India are plenty.

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Address: Debabrata Auro Foundation, Shraddha Building No.3, Asha Nagar, Thakur Complex, Kandivali (East), Mumbai, 400101.

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