Harvard Medical International, Wockhardt honour five doctors

Gayatri Krishnan
17 February 2003

Mumbai: As a hallmark commemoration of medical excellence, Wockhardt and Harvard Medical International (HMI) have instituted India’s first-of-its-kind Medical Excellence Awards to honour outstanding doctors in our country.

Five leading doctors were honoured with these prestigious awards by the dean of Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA, Dr Joseph Boyd Martin, at a ceremony to “celebrate the art of medical excellence,” in the presence of more than a 1,000 doctors and top dignitaries at the Jamshed Bhabha Auditorium, NCPA, Mumbai.

“It is a matter of great honour for all of us in India that the dean of Harvard Medical School has come to India to present the lifetime achievement awards to India’s greatest medical practitioners in five key specialities,” said Habil Khorakiwala, Wockhardt chairman.

“In India, we have awards to honour writers, artistes, soldiers, industrialists and film stars. But our outstanding doctors need to be recognised on a global scale through such awards for their relentless dedication, commitment, innovation and excellence in medical services rendered to society. Indian medical practitioners are among the world’s best. The awardees for the lifetime achievement awards selected by HMI are indeed the most respected medical icons in our country,” he added.

The recipients of the Wockhardt Medical Excellence Awards organised by HMI for their path-breaking lifetime achievement are India’s leading medical professionals are: Dr S Padmavati (in cardiology); Dr Noshir Wadia (in neurology); Dr Prafulla Desai (in oncology); Dr N Gopinath (in cardiac surgery); Dr Sam G P Moses (in diabetology).

These doctors have made an immense contribution in the diagnosis and treatment of some of the life-threatening diseases and disorders and have played a pioneering role in raising the standards of medical and surgical practice. The award-winners have also been great teachers, whose students are among the leading physicians and surgeons in many parts of the world.