Inspiring Obstetrician:

Dr Pratap Kumar

Born on 27^th of May 1954 to Mr. Narayan Achar, Advocate at Mangalore and Mrs. Meera Achar, Dr. Pratap Kumar is currently the professor and Head, Dept of Obgyn, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal.  He did his schooling at Mangalore and MBBS, DGO and MD from Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore and Manipal in Karnataka. His grand father Mr. K R Achar was a Member of Parliament during the tenure of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru from Mangalore constituency.

            He did his MBBS in the year of 1976 and MD in 1981. He became the Associate Professor in the year 1986 and Unit Chief in 1988. He was promoted as a Professor in the year 1990. Since 1996 he heads the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. He established and heads the Division of Reproductive Medicine at the Kasturba Hospital attached to Kasturba Medical College, Manipal.

Appointment on Academic boards and specialties:

            He was appointed as a member of the advisory committee of F.I.G.O. (Federation of International Gynecology and Obstetrics) from 2004 for three years. He was also the International advisor for Ethical issues on Ultrasound by F.I.G.O. He was honored by being appointed member of the speciality board in Obstetrics and Gynecology by National Board of Examination for a period of 3 years from 1996 and once again re-appointed for 3 years from 2001.

            He has been the Inspector for recognition of hospitals under the National Board of Examination and Examiner for the award of Postgraduate degree of Diplomate of National Board of Examinations and also the examiner for the same.

He has been on the university senate as member of Academic Senate of Manipal Academy of Higher Education. He is also The Chairman for Board of Studies in Obstetrics and Gynecology for Manipal Academy of Higher Education University. He is a recognized PhD guide in MAHE, Manipal.

He was the National Chairman of the F.O.G.S.I. Imaging Sciences Committee (Federation of Obstetrics & Gynecological Societies of India) for the year 1991 to 1995. As the National Chairman he did a tremendous job in popularizing the technology by holding ultrasound workshops and CME programmes and seminars in different parts of the country. USG really came of the age in this country through his efforts. He was elected as the National Vice President of FOGSI for the year 1999.

He has been a visiting Professor to Louis Pasteur University, Strasbourg, France for the year 2000 in the month of April. He was deputed to Melaka, Malaysia as the Head of Department in Melaka Manipal Medical College from May 2002 to July 2004. 

AWARDS

He was awarded the Best Scientific publication by the National Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology of India (FOGSI) for the year 1998 for his publication “Hyperinsulinemia and PCOD”. He received the Good teacher Award from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal for the year 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2006. He was nominated by The University Grant Commission (Govt. of India), for 1997 Indo-Belgium Cultural Exchange Programme. Under this programme he visited Dutch Speaking University at Brussels, Belgium. A 10 days period was selected between October 18–28, 1997 for working at Centre for Reproductive Medicine under Prof Devroy at Brussels, Belgium. 

He was awarded the FOGSI CORION Award in 1995 for Scientific Research on FSH Threshold Concept in Infertility. This award was given by the National Federation of Obst & Gynecol of India for services to the Federation and for contributions to research activities in the senior scientist group. The award was given at the National Congress of Obst & Gyn held at Kanpur, India In December 1995. 

He was judged Outstanding Young Person for 1991 by Jaycees of Dakshina Kannada District Manipal for the various works done for the District. 

He was also awarded The Asia Oceania Federation of Obstetrics & Gynecology “Young Gynaecologist Award” for the year 1990 – 1991 on nomination by Federation of Obstetrics & Gynecological Societies of India. This involved a sponsor to attend the Asian Conference of Obstetrics & Gynecology held at Bangkok, Thailand in February 1991. 

He was awarded a Post Doctoral Fellowship (1987) by Loma Linda University Fellowship, Loma Linda, California, USA. 

Publications:

He has contributed over 50 chapters in various books and has authored over 200 papers in various national and international journals. He has more than 400 presentations in India and abroad 

Hobbies:

He has various hobbies in which teaching is a part of work and conducts several CME programmes, Conferences etc. he also loves to play music and imparting positive thinking is his passion. He used to participate in the competitions as an undergraduate student while doing MBBS in stringed instrument category and has won several prizes for the same by playing the instrument Sitar. He learnt positive thinking by observing parents and teachers who formed an integral part of life. 

Family:

Wife: Mrs Vidya Pratap, Director of Public relations and Media communications, Manipal University. Formerly working at Business management college of T A Pai Institute, Manipal 

Daughters: Ms Deepali, a computer engineer, presently doing her MBA at Purdue University, USA after working for two years in India with Motorola and HP companies. She is a great reader of books. Ms. Deepika, 12^th Std. student is a performer of Bharatanatyam dance, draws and paints. 

Values of life to be remembered:

Three “C”s: Character, Commitment and Confidence.  We should have a good character and we should be committed to our work, family and friends. Whatever we do should be with great confidence. These are the basics of the success.

Dr. Usha Krishna (Mumbai)

Dr. Usha Krishna was born in Mumbai in a family of educationists. Her father was a pioneer in education, educated in London in 1920’s. He setup the first co-educational school with tremendous importance to art, music and extra curricular activities. Her mother was one of the first few ladies to go abroad in 1930s to learn child psychology and Montessori education. Dr. Usha Krishna therefore had an ideal environment to study as well as have all round growth in various facets. She paid great deal of attention to music and dancing along with her medical studies and even today she is very much interested in performing arts and paintings. She was a trustee of New Era School trust which has been now been passed on to a very capable resourceful group. 

She has married to Mr. G Ramakrishna to an Industrial Engineer and Management Consultant. He has been a source of great strength and helped and inspired her to work. Her son Anand Krishna an Industrial Engineer and MBA married to Sonali who is MBA and CFA. They work in USA and have two daughters. Her daughter Dr. Amala Mahadevan and her husband Dr. L Mahadevan are in academic fields after their PhDs in Stanford University are now professors in Boston University and Harvard University respectively.  They have a daughter and a son doing very well in USA, but regularly come to India to learn a lot. The family has been a great source of joy. 

After her post graduation, she was trained in High Risk Pregnancy problems abroad and joined KEM hospital as Asst. Hon. and later she was Hon. Prof. in KEM hospital and GS Medical College. She was extremely interested in teaching and was in-charge of Dr. N A Purandare Ob/Gyn. research centre. She is a post graduate teacher and examiner for MD, DGO, DNB, PhD.   She has conducted many teaching programmes for the Universities, ICMR, College of Surgeons and Physicians, ICOG.  She is reviewer of several journals. She is very grateful to her mentors such as Dr. B N Purandare, Dr. V N Purandare, Dr. Banoo Coyaji, Prof. U K Sheth, Prof. Ranjit Roy Chaudhury, Dr. Mrs. Fernandes, Father Fuster and many other well wishers and colleagues who inspired her to do the medical, operative, research work, as well as community welfare. There is much more to be done in every field yet.

She had WHO grants, especially on projects related to fertility control. She was on the Prostaglandin task force and was closely associated with work of WHO Fertility control projects and as well as projects of Indian Council of Medical Research.   She was the Chairperson of the FOGSI Committee of Adolescent Problems and Clinical Research and later the President of FOGSI and Mumbai Ob/Gyn. Society.  She was a member of expert committee for clinical research and Family Welfare at Ministry of Health, Government of India. She is a chairperson of scientific advisory committee – Reproductive Health; ICMR She is also a member of advisory council, Population Foundation of India and on scientific advisory committee of National Institute for Research in Reproduction, ICMR, Sir H. N. Hospital, Breach Candy Hospital and KEM Hospital, Pune.  She was on FIGO expert advisory panel on Maternal & Perinatal Healthcare. She was the Chairperson on Ethics committee of National Institute of Research in Reproductive Health and now chairs ethics committee of Tata Memorial Hospital. 

She is greatly interested in setting up medical clinics of excellent quality. As a medical & welfare advisor of Larsen & Toubro, she has set up number of centers which have received recognition from BMC & BCC, Mother Teresa award etc. She is a trustee of L & T Charitable trust. 

Dr. Usha Krishna is closely associated with FPAI for more than a decade. She is the President of FPAI, Mumbai branch and now also the President of FPA India. She is the Vice Chairperson of the medical advisory committee. She has organized conferences and seminars on the subjects related to ob/gyn, family welfare and community health. Her professional work is related to clinical work, academics and research as well as publication of scientific material. She actively works for India Sponsorship Committee which runs by Balgram – Children’s Village for orphan children. The institution has a school upto 10^th standard and vocational training institute. 

She has edited of books on Pregnancy at Risk, Safe Motherhood, The Adolescent Girl and Maternal Mortality and High Risk Pregnancy.  She has 152 publications in professional journals, 20 chapters in books and has started FOGSI Focus, an educational publication of FOGSI  and contributed 10 to 11 of them.  She is the series editor of “Obstetrics and Gynecology in Perspective” of Orient Longman.  She has been invited to speak at several conferences and universities. 

She is keen to reach knowledge and she is highly motivated to spread the message to achieve the excellence and high performance through team work. She is involved in many activities from patient care, teaching as well as social welfare and cultural activities.  

Her sincere work is been appreciated and has received awards such as- 

• FIGO (International Federation) award for Out Standing Contribution to Women’s Health, 

• FOGSI award for Life Achievement Award

• MOGS award for Dr B N Purandare Award

• AOFOG Fellowship Award

• Dr V V Puri Award 

She hopes to continue her mission to spread happiness through health.