Education

EDUCATION

Schooling happened in some of the most picturesque places of India. Her father would get posted to Union territories as part of his job. Delhi was the base station, but deputations to Union territories were a regular feature after 2 years of stay in Delhi. Five years in Convent Schools in Mizoram and as many years in Port Blair were the most memorable. These places instilled the values of sharing, caring and empathy and a strong desire to chase the dream of becoming a doctor.

In 1987, the first step to realising the dream of becoming a doctor was achieved, with the entry into the only all girls’ medical college in the country and possibly the world: Lady Hardinge Medical College. Four and a half years of MBBS and 1 year of internship opened the doors to the next level of academics

Internship sealed the idea that the next level of specialisation should happen in a clinical subject, which was both challenging and patient-centric. The challenge was in picking up a subject that was still not the most comfortable for lady doctors- General Surgery!

In 1994, baby steps were taken towards becoming a surgeon at the prestigious Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital. Three years of rigorous training and a successful passing out exam culminated in a post-graduate degree of Masters in Surgery.

Three years thence were dedicated to honing the skills of a surgeon working as a Senior Resident in the Department of General Surgery at Lok Nayak Hospital.

There was more to do and between 2000 -01, she became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

In 2001, she joined Apollo Hospital as a Senior Registrar in the Department of Surgical Oncology. There was born love for Surgical Oncology and the motivation to subspecialise in Breast Cancer Surgery

In 2003, this thought landed her a fellowship in the Breast Unit of the largest Cancer Centre in the UK, the Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK. A year-long fellowship consolidated the commitment to the subject of Breast Cancer and fine-tuned the multi-disciplinary handling of each case of breast cancer in an individualised manner.

On her return from the UK in 2004, she joined Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, New Delhi, as a Consultant and put to good use the surgical expertise gained in London. Five years in this busy stand-alone cancer hospital added invaluable experience.

She joined Max Cancer Centre as Senior Consultant in Surgical Oncology in 2009 and divided her time equally between various centres in the Max Group and strived diligently to give shape to the Max Breast Cancer services and make it one of the most sought after comprehensive services in this part of the country and beyond.

She is an expert at performing the entire range of surgeries for breast cancer including modified radical mastectomies, breast conservation surgeries, mastectomies with immediate breast reconstruction, excision of stereotactically localized impalpable lesions, vacuum-assisted lumpectomies etc.

She was instrumental in introducing Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy as the standard procedure for axilla in early breast cancer and also pioneered Oncoplastic Breast Surgeries at Max Hospitals.


ACADEMIC AND BEYOND- HIGHLIGHTS

  • Program Director, Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Max Hospital, Patparganj and Vaishali
  • Monthly breast support group meetings aimed at addressing patient-specific issues and encouraging much-needed support and encouragement among patients. She is also the Co-founder of Bliss Foundation, which is actively engaged in creating breast and cervical cancer awareness, hand-holding patients through treatment and also assisting their treatment in whatever way possible.
  • Weekly dedicated breast tumour board meetings with Breast cancer centric Surgical, Medical and Radiation oncologists, breast radiologists, breast pathologists, geneticists and psychologists in attendance
  • Monthly Breast Oncology Research Forum meetings to initiate research, discuss projects and encourage publication amongst like-minded peers.
  • Principal Investigator, Hospital-based Cancer Registry Program, Max Hospital Patparganj
  • Indian Faculty, MCh Oncoplasty, University of East Anglia
  • Lead, National Steering Committee, India- EUBREAST sponsored multicentric, AXSANA trial

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Academics and Other extracurricular activities, Articles, Awards