Brief Bio-sketch of Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi

Professor, Department of Head and Surgery, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.

Deputy Director, Center for Cancer Epidemiology, Tata Cancer Centre, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India.

Officer In Charge, Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer Hospital and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

I currently serve as the –  

Secretary General of the International Federation of Head Neck Oncologic   Societies, the largest global organization with 65 national societies.   

I led the commissioning of 2 cancer hospitals in Varanasi (HBCH and MPMMCC) in record time of 12 months and mentioned in the India Book of Records.

Global Coordinator for the World Head Neck Cancer Day.

Member, Oral Cancer Task Force and Oral Cancer Foundation.

Secretary, Action Council Against Tobacco – India.

He has received numerous awards for his work including –

Excellence in Cancer Care Award, 2017

Nana Palkar Smruti Award for Excellence in Patient Care, 2017

Health Award for Excellence in Oncology, 2016

Iconic Leadership Award, World CSR Day, 2016

Sushruta Award, 2015

BMJ Award for Health Advocacy, 2014

Judy Wilkenfield Award, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, 2013

Global Cancer Ambassador, American Cancer Society, 2011

WHO Director General Award for leadership in tobacco control, 2010

Maxwell Robert Byers Award, American Head and Neck society, 2010

Outstanding young Indian Award, 2008.

I am the editor of a major Textbook of Head and Neck Surgery and Associate Editor of the International Journal of Head and Neck surgery. I have authored or co-authored more than 300 peer reviewed publications and I am an avid researcher.I have been invited as visiting professor or guest speaker at several institutions in 32 countries. 

My major focus of active research and clinical investigation is in public health, tobacco cessation, cancer prevention, early diagnosis, and working with government and regulatory agencies for prevention of cancers.

I am listed among the top 2% scientists of the world by the Stanford University as published in Plos one.

Summary of my Public Health accomplishments are –

Anti-Tobacco campaign

Conceptualized and put into action the Voice of Tobacco Victims  (VOTV)campaign (http://www.votvindia.org/)  which has become a collective force of nearly 600 cancer survivors and 300 doctors all over India involved in sensitizing key policymakers, law enforcers, and media in addition to social mobilization. VOTV was Recognized by WHO Director general as outstanding anti-tobacco campaign in 2011

My campaign was instrumental in getting Gutka (chewing tobacco product) banned all over India. According to Euro-monitor’s October 2013 study on the smokeless tobacco industry, there was 26 percent reduction in 2012. 

The VOTV campaign has huge international impact particularly in Indonesia, Philippines, Russia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.  

I was among 5 people from across the world who were nominated as speakers for the United Nations Summit on Non-Communicable diseases, New York in 2011. 

The anti-tobacco awareness video conceptualized by me is screened in every television and cinema hall in India.

I have conducted sensitization program for Members of Parliament MLA s of 4 states. 

Other activities –

Founded ‘Maharashtra Cancer Warriors’ The MCW is a group of Tata Cancer Center trained specialists who have come together for carrying out their responsibility towards the society.

Established cancer services in a specially built railway coach in Lifeline express, world’s first hospital on train. The train is offering oncology services in impoverished areas of India

Conceptualized, established andlaunched India’s first Online Oncology Tutorial that is already being employed by Government for educating government employed doctors about cancer care and control.

In the ongoing Covid pandemic, I conceptualized and ran a dedicated facility for covid positive cancer patients.