The Sitaram Jaipuria Foundation has honoured leading medical professionals from across India with awards totalling Rs 90 lakh at the third edition of its Medical & Healthcare Excellence Awards, held in New Delhi to mark the birth centenary of its founder, the late Shri Sitaram Jaipuria. The awards, presented across multiple categories, recognise outstanding contributions in clinical care, research, rural healthcare, mental health, and cardiometabolic disease management, reinforcing the foundation’s focus on advancing patient care and celebrating medical excellence.
The awards ceremony formed the highlight of a day-long SJF Scientific Symposium and Awards Program built around the theme “Obesity, Diabetes, and Other Cardiometabolic Diseases.” The event brought together eminent doctors, researchers, and healthcare leaders for scientific discussions and knowledge sharing, before culminating in the felicitation of this year’s awardees. Hosted by the Sitaram Jaipuria Foundation and chaired by Ashok Jaipuria, Chairman, SJF and Chairman & Managing Director, Cosmo First Ltd., the gathering underscored the growing need to recognise and support clinicians and researchers who are driving change within India’s healthcare ecosystem.
Instituted to honour exceptional achievements in medicine and healthcare, the awards span areas such as clinical practice, medical research, rural healthcare delivery, public health leadership, mental health, and specialised treatment. This year’s edition continued that tradition, highlighting individuals whose work has improved access to care, strengthened health systems, and advanced understanding of complex conditions. The initiative, which commemorates the humanitarian legacy of Shri Sitaram Jaipuria, reflects the foundation’s sustained commitment to acknowledging those who have devoted their careers to patient welfare and medical progress.
At the top of the honours list, Prof. (Dr) Vinod K. Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog and former Professor and Head of Paediatrics at AIIMS, New Delhi, received the Rs 50 lakh Excellence in Medicine and Healthcare Award. His recognition signals the foundation’s emphasis on leadership that bridges policy, academia, and clinical practice. The Emerging Young Leader in Medicine and Healthcare Award, carrying a prize of Rs 10 lakh, was conferred on Dr Sahajal Dhooria, Additional Professor in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at PGIMER, Chandigarh, acknowledging his growing impact in respiratory medicine.
Rural healthcare leadership emerged as a strong focus area, with two doctors sharing the Rs 10 lakh Exemplary Leadership in Rural Medicine and Healthcare Award. Dr Himmatrao Saluba Bawaskar, Medical Director of Bawaskar Hospital & Clinical Research Centre in Mahad, Maharashtra, and Dr Sadanand Dagadu Raut, Consultant Physician and Director of Vighnahar Nursing Home in Narayangaon, Maharashtra, were recognised for their sustained work in underserved settings. Their recognition highlights the critical role of frontline clinicians in delivering quality care beyond metropolitan centres.
The foundation also spotlighted women’s health and mental health through the Smt. Gayatri Jaipuria Women’s Medicine and Healthcare Excellence Award, worth Rs 10 lakh, presented to Dr Thara Rangaswamy, Co-founder and Vice-chairperson of the Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF), Chennai. Her work in mental health care and research reflects the growing priority accorded to neuropsychiatric conditions within the broader healthcare landscape. In addition, the Shri Ashwini Kumar Award for Healthcare Excellence in Diabetes and Obesity Care, also carrying Rs 10 lakh, was awarded to Dr V. Mohan, Chairman of Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre and the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, recognising his leadership in tackling the rising burden of diabetes and related metabolic disorders.
Speaking at the event, Ashok Jaipuria said the awards are guided by his father’s humanitarian values and aim to honour doctors who consistently place patients at the centre of their work. “Guided by the humanitarian values of my father, Shri Sitaram Jaipuria, we are glad to recognize the extraordinary contributions of members of the medical community. The doctors being felicitated today have dedicated their lives to advancing healthcare and improving the lives of countless individuals. Their sheer commitment, compassion, and pursuit of excellence truly reflect the noble spirit of the medical profession,” he said. He added that through these awards, the foundation seeks to express “sincere appreciation to these healthcare professionals who tirelessly serve the society, often placing the well-being of others above their own,” describing the recognition as both a tribute and a reminder that their service is deeply respected and acknowledged.
The third edition attracted 476 entries and 233 applications, indicating strong interest from across the medical fraternity and a broad base of potential awardees. The programme also featured a special session titled “Celebrating Excellence: Featuring Previous Edition Awardees,” during which earlier winners, including Prof. (Dr) Raman Krishna Kumar, Dr Ashish Satav, Prof. (Dr) Jeyaraj Durai Pandian, and Prof. (Dr) Pratibha Singhi, reflected on their journeys, shared insights on evolving challenges, and discussed opportunities in Indian healthcare. By pairing scientific dialogue with recognition of individual achievement, the Sitaram Jaipuria Foundation’s Medical & Healthcare Excellence Awards continue to position themselves as a platform that both honours past contributions and encourages future innovation in medicine.
