Dr. Shantha gets Magsaysay Award

Dr.V.Shanta , Chairman  of the Cancer Institute (WIA) Chennai , presented 2005 Ramon Magsaysay Award.


Dr.V.Shanta was born in a distinguished scientific family of India in Chennai. Her immediate grand uncle and uncle were both Noble Laureates. She graduated (M.B.B.S.) in 1949, D.G.O. in 1952 and M.D, in Obstetrics & Gynecology in 1955. In April 1955, she joined the fledgling Cancer Institute, established in 1954 by the Womens’ Indian Association Cancer Relief Fund, as its Resident Medical Officer in preference to the Asst. Surgeon’s Post in the Women & Children’s Hospital, Madras, to which she had been selected by the Madras Public Service Commission.

Her entire medical life over 50 years has been dedicated to the mission of organising care of Cancer patients, the study of the disease, its prevention and control, the generation of specialists and scientists in different aspects of Oncologic Sciences. She has played an important role along with Dr. Krishnamurthi in the development of the Cancer Institute (WIA) from a cottage hospital of 12 beds to a major comprehensive Cancer Centre of national and international stature. She has played a pioneering role in all the achievements of the Institute. The very concept of oncology and multi disciplinary approach to cancer care was pioneered and introduced by the Cancer Institute when none existed. She was responsible for the recognition and practice of Medical Oncology as a specialty and the creation of a separate medical oncology division at the Cancer Institute (WIA), the first one of its kind in the country. It took years of persuasion to get the Medical Council of India to accept “Oncology” as a specialty. The first super specialty course in surgical and medical oncology in India was introduced at the Institute in 1984. Another landmark achievement was the establishment of the first ever Cancer Control Programme in India at Kanchipuram with support from NORAD & WHO in 1969. Dr. Shanta was designated Principle Responsible Officer of the project by WHO.


She was on WHO Advisory Committee on Cancer till March 2005. She was also Convener of the State Advisory Board on Cancer. She has been Chairman of the INDO-US Collaborative Group on Lymphoid Neoplasias (Indian Chapter), member of many ICMR Committees, member of the ICMR Task Force on Registries and member of the Syndicate of the Anna University. She was President of the Indian Society of Oncology (88-90), President of the Asian & Pacific Federation of Organisations for cancer control (97-99) and President of the 15th Asian & Pacific Cancer Conference (1999). She has participated in a number of Scientific International Collaborative Programmes.

Apart from 32 awards from public and official organisations for her contribution to the advances in management and control of Cancer, she was the recipient of the national award Padma Shri in 1986. She was elected Hon. Member of the International Association of Cancer Registry (IARC) in 1997 for her contribution to development of registries in India. She was conferred the D.Sc (honoris causa) of the Shri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh for her outstanding contribution in the field of medicine in 1998 and D.Sc (honoris causa) of the Tamil Nadu Dr.MGR University for the year 2002.

She is also recipient of the award instituted by the International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research, Brussels, of the Nazli-Gad-El-Mawla Award for outstanding contribution to cancer control by an individual from a resource poor country in 2002.

She is the recipient of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service 2005 and Padma Bhushan in 2006.

She has published over 95 papers in national and international journals, contributed chapters in Oncology books, delivered many prestigious orations and participated in many international and national conferences.

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AWARDS:
1986
PADMA SHRI
2006
PADMA BHUSHAN
1997
IARC Award – Work for Development of Registries in India
1998
D.Sc. Shri Venkateswara University – Contribution in the field of Medicine
2002
D.Sc Tamil Nadu Dr.M.G.R.Medical University
2002
INCTR Award – Cancer Control in a resource poor country
2005
Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service
ACADEMIC & AWARDS:
1973 Raja Ravi Sher Singh of Kalsia Memorial Award of the ICMR for

original work on Cancer.

1982 Ambo - Dr.Pasupati Nath Wahi Cancer Award for contribution

to the Cancer Control Programme in India.

1984 The First “Sir Dorab Tata Oration” Award.

1984 The “Dr.Suboth Mitra Oration” Award.

1987 Dr.A.Ramdass Memorial Oration.

1987 Shantabai Satwalkam Memorial Oration.

1987 Dr.N.Subhadra Devi Memorial Endowment Lecture Instituted by

Indian Medical Association.

1988 Dr.Kamal Vurnar Memorial Oration Instituted by the Independent

Medical Practioners Association of India.

1991 Smt.Vimala Shah Award of Banaras Hindu University for

outstanding work in Cancer.

1991 Dr.Jones Memorial Oration (Women Doctors Association of

Tamil Nadu & Pondicherry)

1993 Oration of the Obstetrics & Gynaecological Society of Southern

India.

1993 Dr.Narendran Memorial Oration (Association of Surgeons

of India, Karnataka Chapter)

1993 Metlepalam Penumatchavari Endowment of the Andhra

University “Cancer an Overview”.

1995 Shrien Mehtaji Oration (Indian Academy of Cytologists)

1995 K.L.Gupta Memorial Oration (Association of the Clinical

Bio-chemists of India at Bangalore)

1995 Manorama Sapru Oration (Hematology & Blood Transfusion

Association of India)

1997 Elected Hon. Member – International Association of Cancer

Registries (IARC)

1998 Hon. Doctor of Sciences of the Shri Venkateswara University,

Tripati, Andhra Pradesh.

2000 Science City – “Millenium Lifetime Achievement Awards” for Women Scientists: 2000

2002 D.Sc (honoris causa) of the Tamil Nadu Dr.MGR University, Tamil Nadu

2002 Nazli-Gad-El-Mawla Award of the International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research – Outstanding Contribution to Cancer Control in a country with limited resource

2005 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service 2005

2005 Harish Chandra Bajoria Memorial Oration – Rajiv Gandhi Institute and Research Centre, Delhi

2005 22nd Convocation Address – Bharatidasan University, Tiruchirapalli

2006 41st Annual Convocation Address-Bangalore University, Karnataka

2006 5 Decades of Cancer Care 1955-2005 – XIVth Stree Chithirai Tirunal Memorial Lecture

2006 5 Decades of Cancer Control- Kothari Memorial Oration- Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Jaipur

2006 Evolution of Therapeutic Oncology-1955-2005-Dr.ENB Sharma Memorial Lecture, Dept. of Surgery, Andhra Medical College, Visakapatnam

2006 5 Decades of Medical Oncology 1955-2005-Dr.T.B.Patel Oration, Ahmedabad

2006 Containing Cancer-5 Decades at the Cancer Institute (WIA) – Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences-Dr.(Mrs.) Kanta Foundation Day Lecture 2006

2006 Evolution of Oncology as a Super Speciality Dr.K.R.R. Mohan Rao Endowment Lecture-NTR Health Science University, Andhra Pradesh

2007 KVT Endowment Lecture at Government General Hospital, Chennai – “Evolution of

2007 Presentation at the International Advisory Panel on National Rural Health Mission organized by Government of India, New Delhi – “Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer in a Rural Setting”Therapeutic Oncology : 1955 -2007”

2007 Guest Lecture at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, New Delhi - “Ovarian Cancer”

2007 Mrs.Durgabai Deshmukh Memorial Oration, Andhra Mahila Sabha, Chennai – “Cancer in Women”

2007 Dr.Lalitha Kameswaran Felicitation Committee Endowment Oration, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai – “Female Breast Cancer”

2007 Presentation at International Health Care Leadership Summit, Madras Medical Mission, Chennai – “Five Decades of Cancer Care at Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai : A Public Voluntary Charitable Institution”

2007 Women Achiever’s Award – Modern Medicare
OTHERS:
1983 For the sake of Honour Award – Rotary Club of Salem

1984 Rajyalakshmi Venkanna Chowdary Award for Public Service.

1985 The Title “Shastra Vaidhya Shastra Vibooshani” Award Lioness District Assembly

1987 Madras Telugu Academy Ugadi Telugu Award

1987 For the sake of Honour Award Rotary Club of Madras

1997 Louis Marchesi Fellow of the Round Table Foundation

1998 Shree Ratna Award – International Women’s Day - 8.3.98

2002 Sadguru Gnanananda Award

2002 Guild of Service (Central-Award in recognition of contribution in the field of medicine

2002 With Compassion not for Consideration Award-Lions Club International

2003 Cosmo Award-For eminent and distinguished citizen of the country

2003 Kamaraj Centenary Award for contribution to Cancer

2004 Distinguished Citizen Award by Hamsadhwani (18.8.2004)

2004 Late Sri Muthusamy Naidu Memorial Award-Coimbatore (22.8.2004)

2004 Rotary Vocational Excellence award for the Centennial Year

2004 Vocational Excellence Award- Selfless & outstanding contribution to society in combating cancer Rotary Club of Perungudi

2005 Bahai Rose of Ridven Community Service Award

2005 Bharathi Award by Vanavil Cultural Centre

2005 Champion of Humanity Award by Hindustan Chamber of Commerce

2006 Baroda Sun Award – Bank of Baroda, Mumbai

2008 “Life Time Achievement Award”-Lions Club of Madras, Teynampet

2008 “Makkal Award” for Best Doctor - Makkal TV

2010 Life Time Achievement Award, Madras Medical College (28.2.10)

2010 Life Time Achievement Award, Madras University (8.3.10)

2010 Arivukkalanjiam Woman Award 2010 (8.3.10)

2010 Life Time Achievement Award – Medicine (Mega TV-8.3.10)