Prof Rajendra Prasad expressed a sense of pride, obligation, and humility after being conferred the Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu for his outstanding contributions to medicine and pulmonary care. He dedicated the prestigious award to the collective efforts of his teachers, colleagues, and students, who he said shaped his remarkable journey.
Early Life and Education
Born in a village in Uttar Pradesh, Prof Prasad completed his medical education from King George's Medical College (KGMU). He joined the department of tuberculosis at KGMU in 1976, marking the beginning of a distinguished career in pulmonary medicine.
Transforming Pulmonary Medicine at KGMU
At KGMU, Prof Prasad played a pivotal role in establishing pulmonary medicine as a separate specialty. He was instrumental in transforming the tuberculosis department into the pulmonary medicine department, a significant milestone in medical education and patient care.
Advanced Training and Leadership Roles
Prof Prasad, a recipient of the prestigious Dr B C Roy Award, received advanced training in pulmonary medicine, fibre-optic bronchoscopy, and lung cancer management in Japan. He later served as head of pulmonary medicine at KGMU, director of Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute in Delhi, and director of UP Rural Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Saifai.
National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme
He played a key role in the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) and helped integrate approximately 700 medical colleges into the programme, significantly expanding its reach and impact.
Research and Publications
Prof Prasad has supervised over 200 studies and published around 600 research papers, reviews, and book chapters. He has also authored 17 books related to pulmonary medicine and tuberculosis, contributing extensively to medical literature.
Awards and Recognitions
Over the years, he has received more than 80 awards and honours, including lifetime achievement awards from several national medical organisations. The Padma Shri is the latest addition to his long list of accolades.
About the Author: Vivek Singh Chauhan, a medical and civic reporter from the land of poet Shivmangal Singh Suman, has a penchant for Urdu poetry and ghazals. A 'Sapiens' advocate, he equates sugar to alcohol for its metabolic mayhem. He is a Times scribe winner, non-fiction lover, cricket player, and podcast enthusiast.
