The contribution of Uttar Pradesh in the field of advancements in medical science and research work received national recognition when three eminent doctors from the state capital were conferred the prestigious Dr BC Roy Award. The names were declared by Medical Council of India.
Prof. Rakesh Kapoor, Director of Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) and Prof. ML Bhatt, Vice-Chancellor of King George Medical University (KGMU), have been awarded in the ‘eminent medical teacher’ category, while Dr Deepak Agarwal, President of UP state Chapter of Indian Society of Gastroenterology has been awarded for his contribution in the field of gastroenterology in the category ‘to recognise the best talents in development of specialties in different branches in medicine.’
Prof. Kapoor, who is the recipient of the fourth highest civilian award, Padma Shri, for his outstanding contribution to medical sciences, is also an alumnus of the prestigious KGMU. He won the prestigious Hewett Medal in graduation. A gold medalist in masters in general surgery, Prof. Kapoor joined PGIMER Chandigarh for super speciality in urology. In 1988, he became a faculty at SGPGI Lucknow.
Female urology was a neglected subspecialty before Prof. Kapoor took up this area. He has achieved many milestones in his career as a surgeon and a teacher. He has even developed some unique techniques to address the urological problems in women. Vaginoplasty, wherein a vagina is created from a section of the small intestine to help woman born without ovaries to lead a normal sexual life, is perhaps the most remarkable. During his career as a Urologist, he has pioneered many techniques in female urology and reconstructive urology. He has provided due importance to various other sub-specialities of urology making his institute as one of the most sought after in teaching, training and treatment.
Prof. Kapoor’s consistent efforts were reflected in the development of urological advancement including renal transplant and its various sub – specialities. He is being credited to put the SGPGIMS at the top of the public-funded institution, performing largest kidney transplant programme in Uttar Pradesh. Academically, Prof. Kapoor has maintained a steady advancement in academics throughout his professional career and has published more than 232 papers in various national and international journals besides contributing chapters in books.
Sharing his vision with Tehelka, Prof. Kapoor said, “Now, I wish to develop this Institute with limited financial resources as a centre of imminence in emergency medicine, renal transplant, robotic surgery and liver transplant to ensure that the institute remains at the cutting edge of advancements in the medical science of 21st century.”
Showing his gratitude for being conferred upon B.C. Roy Award, he said, “It will encourage me to do more for my patients as well as students.”
As an alumnus of King George Medical College, Lucknow, Dr Deepak Kumar Agarwal outshined as a meritorious scholar achieving a gold medal for his remarkable performance as MD student. Earlier, he completed MBBS as the best student, best resident and best researcher. Thereafter, he joined Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute, Lucknow, to complete his Doctorate in Medicine (D.M. Gastroenterology). He pursued an academic career in hepatobiliary and pancreatic area and developed it as sub-speciality. Apart from starting a dedicated clinic, all interventional procedures including diagnostic and therapeutic Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were also evolved.
In India, for the first time in 1990, Endoscopic Ultrasonography (EUS), assessment of hepato-biliary-pancreatic areas and biliary and pancreatic lithotripsy and diagnostic tools for predicting gallstone composition in vivo were introduced at SGPIMS. Dr Agarwal was instrumental in developing all these procedures. His clinical research work resulted in around 50 publications, the majority of them in the international reputed journals with high impact factor. He was recently awarded Fellowship of Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, the United Kingdom in 2017.
Dr Agarwal started the first gastroenterology centre in Uttar Pradesh in 2006 providing all the facilities both basic and advance (Fibro scan, Endoscopic Ultrasound, Endoscopy and ERCP, Capsule Endoscopy, etc.) under one roof. Over 25 years of practice, he has treated half a million patients and trained many budding gastroenterologists. He is an inspirational force behind the running of the charity, Gastro Care Medical Research Foundation, which organises several free medical health camps in Lucknow and its adjoining rural areas.
Talking to Tehelka, Dr Agarwal expressed, “I feel pleasure for being rewarded for my humble efforts for the society. I am planning in a big way as a part of charitable activities to organise medical awareness programmes and work for public health issues. I have a plan to organise workshops to train about 600 medical professionals every year from all over Uttar Pradesh to abreast them with the latest diagnostic technologies to identify and attend biliary and gastroenterological ailments.”
Vice-Chancellor of King George Medical University (KGMU) Prof. ML Bhatt too is an alumnus of KGMU and got Dr BC Roy Award for his pioneering medical research for developing original biomarkers for testing cancers of oral, breast, and urinary bladder. While talking with media, he said, “I share this award with my teachers
and students.”
After graduating from KGMU, Prof Bhatt joined the Indian Army’s medical corps under the Short Service Commission as a Captain in the Army Medical Corps (Indian Army) for five years from 1984-1989 under Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services, New Delhi.
Prof Bhatt participated in “Operation Meghdoot” launched by the Indian Army in 1984 to retain the Siachen Glacier. Later, Prof Bhatt did his masters in radiotherapy and started teaching. He served as KGMU medical superintendent in 2006-07. He was appointed its vice-chancellor in 2017.
Earlier, he was working as a senior research fellow under Indian Council of Medical Research in a project entitled, “Integrated and Comprehensive Maternal & Child Health Care: District Model,” in the department of Pediatrics, K G Medical College, Lucknow. He was the superintendent of Dr. R. M. L. Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, Lucknow. Prof Bhatt has worked as the head, department of radiation oncology in the hospital.
BC Roy Award
Bidhan Chandra Roy Award was instituted in 1962 in memory of BC Roy by Medical Council of India. The Award is being given annually in each of the following categories: Statesmanship of the highest order in India, Medical man-cum-statesman, Eminent Medical Person, Eminent person in Philosophy, Eminent person in Science and Eminent person in Arts. The award is being presented by the President of India in New Delhi on July 1, on the occasions of National Doctors’ Day.
BC Roy Award is considered as the highest medical honour in the country. The award to eminent medical teachers includes 15,000 and a medal for each awardee. The selections are made by a managing committee appointed under the Medical Council of India. MCI also presents BC Roy Award in medical research, development of new branches of study, and outstanding work in socio-medical relief categories.
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