CONFERRING TOP MEDICAL HONOURS
The Indian Medical Association awarded the best doctors of the country, at a recent event
Eminent doctors of the country were honoured at a glittering ceremony, organised by Indian Medical Association (IMA), in the Capital, recently. Dr Hrishikesh D Pai was honoured with the Doctor of the Year Award and Dr Rishma Dhillon Pai was accorded the Woman Empowerment Award. The awards were presented at the Centenary Celebrations of Medical Conferences in India. The awards were announced earlier on the Doctor’s Day celebrations held in July this year.
Both doctors, often affectionately dubbed the “power couple of the medical fraternity”, are successful professionals in their own right and have long contributed to several social initiatives. Dr Hrishikesh Pai is well-known for his work in the field of family planning and community services. He is the secretary general of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI). He is also the director, IVF and Infertility at Fortis La Femme Delhi/NCR. Dr Rishma Dhillon Pai is a consultant gynaecologist at the Jaslok and Lilavati Hospitals, two of the best known and reputed hospitals in Mumbai. She is the President of the FOGSI.
Speaking about the award, Dr Hrishikesh Pai said, “I am extremely happy and grateful to receive this award from the IMA, which is one of the leading associations in the country working towards the betterment of the medical fraternity, medical students, and the community at large. This award is, thus, an encouragement for me to push myself to continue working for the community with the knowledge I possess and is definitely a landmark recognition in my career.”
Accepting her award, Dr Rishma Dhillon Pai, president, FOGSI said, “It is an honor to receive the Woman Empowerment Award from IMA.”
Padma Shri Awardee Dr Shashank Joshi received Doctor of the Decade Award 2016. He is the president of the Indian Academy of Diabetology(IAD) and the past president of the Association of Physicians of India(API) and the Research Society for the study of diabetes in India (RSSDI). He said, “I thank IMA for this honour.”
Padma Shri Dr K K Aggarwal, National President IMA, said, “The medical fraternity is at a crossroads today. While on the one hand, this award ceremony is being held to honour those who are consistently striving to uphold the integrity of the medical profession, on the other, the fact that many issues still remain unaddressed, such as the increasing violence against doctors, cannot be ignored. These awards are an encouragement for all concerned to continue working towards restoring the nobility of this profession.”