Pathfinder Awards

During IPUC2024, we had the honor of presenting the Pathfinder Awards. These prestigious awards recognize the exceptional efforts of individuals and organizations dedicated to empowering patients and significantly enhancing their quality of life.

The Winners

Ms. Vandana Gupta

Founder, V Care Foundation

Ms. Vandana Gupta

Ms. Vandana Gupta is the Founder and Chairperson of V Care Foundation which believes in empowering cancer patients and their caregivers. A Cancer survivor herself, Ms. Vandana has played a key role in mainstreaming Cancer Care. She is on the ethics committee for Breach Candy Hospital and the Indian Cancer Society. A TEDx speaker, Ms. Vandana Gupta believes that, ‘In the cancer care area the most passionate thing is that you get to know so many strong people who are holding on to each other while sailing the same boat so that they can help and cling to each other when they feel they are drowning. That feeling pushes one to do so much more for them and work along with them to cater to their needs. Every step is a new learning even after 29 years in cancer care.’

Dr. Arun Gupta

President, Delhi Medical Council

Dr. Arun Gupta

Dr. Arun Gupta is President, Delhi Medical Council. With over 30 years of experience in Pediatrics and expertise in medico-legal consultations, Dr. Gupta serves as a senior consultant at Fortis Hospital, Delhi. In his role as President of the Delhi Medical Council, Dr. Gupta has spearheaded efforts to digitize the council's operations.

Dr. Pawan Gupta

Sr. Director Surgical Oncology, Max Healthcare

Dr. Pawan Gupta

Dr. Pawan Gupta is a trusted senior surgical oncologist, social activist, and author, engaged in creating awareness and changing the way cancer is perceived in society. He is the Founder of ICanCaRe, an Innovative enterprise for Cancer Care and Rehabilitation. His philosophy is don’t just kill the disease but make people handle it in a positive manner. He wants people to take cancer, just as a chronic illness and to diminish the demonic status that cancer enjoys. For this, he launched populist campaigns such as ‘Win over Cancer’, ‘Save the Youth – Win over tobacco’, ‘Chota Daana’, ‘Catch them Early’, and ‘My Hygiene My Responsibility’.

Sister Tabitha Vazhuthalakattu

Administrator, Shanti Avedna Sadan

Sister Tabitha Vazhuthalakattu

Sister Tabitha is presently affiliated with Shanti Avedna Sadan which is India’s 1st Hospice. She has years of experience as a lab technician and as a nurse. Sister Tabitha’s mission is to serve her cancer patients with competence and love. For her selfless service to the care of Cancer patients, IPU has nominated Sister Tabitha for the Pathfinder Award.

Dr. Vijay Kumar Chennamchetty

MBBS, MD - Pulmonary Medicine, Pulmonologist

Dr. Vijay Kumar Chennamchetty

Dr. Vijay has done 6000 Bronchoscopies, 250 Rigid Bronchoscopies, 800 EBUS, 750 Lung biopsies & 800 plus Thoracoscopies so far. He is the winner of the TOI Icon of Pulmonology Award, the Excellent Covid Warrior Award & APJ Abdul Kalam Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dr. Shirish Hastak

Regional Director Neurology and Stroke and Neurocritical Care at Gleneagles Hospital, Mumbai

Dr. Shirish Hastak

Dr. Shirish Hastak has a walk chapter that conducts walks at the Mahalakshmi Racecourse first Sunday of every month for the past seven years. The walks start with a Talk on a disease condition by a guest doctor, Q&A, followed by a walk for 30-40 min. Even during Covid 19 years, he kept the talks on virtually inviting other doctors to share awareness about their specialty. He conducted more than 60 walk-with-a-doc walks wherein he has brought 50+ doctors from across all specialities including Neuro, Ortho, Cardio, Nephro, General Physicians, Nutritionists, and Speech Therapists over the past five years. As an eminent Neurologist, he has been the head of Stroke India as well.

Dr. Sanjucta Ghosh Arora

Senior ENT Consultant

Dr. Sanjucta Ghosh Arora

Having started her practice 20 years ago, she often struggled with keeping track of her patients and also medical records in OPD. But then as technology advanced, she came across this amazing application that helped her to save patients' details and prescriptions instantly on her device. This was extremely helpful as if in follow up the patient forgot the prescription or she failed to recollect their treatment regime then she could simply go to the app to retrieve all data. She strongly believes that change is the only constant. Introducing technology in medical practice is a change that will help not only medical professionals but parents too. And she thinks bringing up this technological advancement in her modest medical practice was welcomed by all her patients.

Prof. (Dr.) Jai Kishan Karahyla

Prof. & Head Respiratory Medicine, MMIMSR MM University, Ex Director at Dept. of Medical Education & Research

Prof. (Dr.) Jai Kishan Karahyla

He is an MD in Respiratory Medicine & Masters in Human Rights. He has written books as editor and co-author. He also provides free medications to poor patients through various NGOs.

Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation

The purpose of Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation is to educate, engage, empower, and create a safe space for people with diabetes while also working on diabetes awareness and advocacy in India. Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation touches the lives of more than 30,000 people living with diabetes in India.

Sumit Foundation

Sumit Foundation is an organization set up in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. It began its journey with a vision to bridge the gap between medical treatment and compassionate care. The foundation set out to create a haven of healing and empowerment to minimize the struggles of individuals and families faced while dealing with health issues. It has evolved into a trusted pillar of support, offering a range of services designed to address both the physical and emotional aspects of health and well-being. At the heart of the foundation's ethos lies a commitment to extending a lifeline to the most vulnerable, providing vital support for medical treatments and organ transplantation.

Organization for Rare Diseases India

(ORDI)

Organization for Rare Diseases India

ORDI is a national umbrella organization representing the collective voice of all patients with rare diseases in India. It envisions a better life for people with rare diseases and works with the mission to reduce inequalities and ensure that people living with rare diseases have access to the same resources as any other population. ORDI has 8250 patients associated with it with over 372 treatments facilitated to patients and 2084 advocacy interactions with policy makers.