Though healthcare is mainly a male-dominated sector, there are many women who have made a huge difference. While some have earned their name in leading positions in healthcare companies and hospitals, others have toiled at the grassroots level and made a social impact. This Women's Day, we'd like to honour 15 such women for their extraordinary contribution to the healthcare industry (in alphabetical order).
Dr B R Lakshmi
Director and founder of MDCRC (Molecular Diagnostics, Counseling, Care and Research Center), Dr B R Lakshmi bought with her an amazing 8 years of experience in the field of public health, 7 years of notable achievements in biotechnology, and a strong passion to serve the community. She was also awarded the Young Woman Scientist Award by the Talwar Research Foundation in the year 1994.
Dr Kamini Rao
Women's issues still remain neglected in India, a country where dignity and modesty is first. Dr Kamini Rao seems to have realised this, and has been catering to different issues of fertility and gynecology for over 33 years. The chairperson and medical director of BACC (Bangalore Assisted Conception Center), Dr Kamini was credited for the birth of India's first SIFT baby. She has also managed to set up south India's first semen bank.
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Dr Nandini Mundkur
Dr Nandini Mundkur is one of the few developmental pediatricians in India, and has carried out commendable pioneering work in the field of detection of early developmental disorders. As the director of International Children's Peace Council, she is one of the few women born in a traditional Indian household, to have progressed to such an amazing extent. She has also bagged several awards and recognition for her achievements in the field.
Dr Nandita Shah
From the list of homeopathic achievers, Dr Nandita Shah is an evident personality. She was lucky enough to be born and brought up in a family of homeopaths which further boosted her ingrained quality of natural healing. She had the opportunity to work with several known personalities including Dr Rajan Sankaran and late Sarabhai Kapadia. She heads SHARAN (Sanctuary for Health and Reconnection to Animals and Nature) and aims to reverse diabetes by means of a vegan diet.
Dr Sunita Maheshwari
Dr Sunita Maheshwari is a renowned pediatric cardiologist and a major healthcare innovator and is one of the select few who summoned up the courage to return to India for its betterment and development after studying in one of the world's most sought after universities-The Yale University. She is also the co-founder of Teleradiology solutions, a healthcare outsourcing company. For this amazing contribution to healthcare, she was listed among the top 20 women achievers in healthcare in the year 2009.
Dr Swati Piramal
One of India's leading industrialists, Swati Piramal's focus lies mainly in matters of public health and innovation. Being the vice-chairperson of Piramal healthcare, she has actively launched different public health campaigns against malaria, tuberculosis, epilepsy, polio and osteoporosis. Nominated for the list of India's 25 most powerful women 8 times, she is truly an achiever we are proud to have.
Dr V Shanta
With a family of Nobel Laureates, Dr V Shanta managed to stand out and expand her horizons in the field of medicine. With a clear vision in mind, she grew up with the aim of becoming a doctor, which she did, accompanied by numerous other achievements to her basket of fame. She is a prominent cancer specialist and is the chairperson of the Adyar Cancer Institute in Chennai. During the course of her career, she has also bagged several awards including the Magsaysay award and the Padmashree award.
Dr Yangerlemla
Principal director of health and family welfare, Dr K Yangerlemla is one of the two women to have filed their nominations for the Nagaland Assembly elections 2013. She also recently inaugurated the newborn stabilisation unit at IMDH in Mokokchung this year.
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Jyotsna Dhawan
Senior scientist at the Center for Cell and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Jyotsna Dhawan has made a generous contribution to the field of life sciences, particularly muscle stem cells, striving hard to modulate their regenerative power.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw
Managing director and chairperson of Biocon Limited, Kiran is a renowned entrepreneur. Her numerous achievements managed to get her to Forbes list of 100 most powerful women. Her work in this sector has bagged her numerous awards, including the Padma Bhushan and the Padmashree awards. Starting with the seed capital of only 10,000 INR, she managed to get Biocon to a $1 million company, ranking 20th in the leading biotechnology companies in the world.
Naini Setalvad
Naini Setalvad is proud to proclaim her strength and extraordinary achievement in losing 100 extra kilos of her weight. Naini sets an example for obese people from all around the world, and urges them to follow healthy living for the betterment of their lives. At 160 kilos in the year 1996, she went a long and painful journey of weight loss, and finally managed to get to the healthy 60 kilos she is today.
Paushali Bal
A research scientist at the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric diseases, Paushali Bal strongly voices her opinion regarding the lack of female power among research fields. For her, being a woman shouldn't hamper the progress and put an end to the career of an individual. For her outstanding work in research, she was awarded the Shanti Sawarup Bhatnagar prize.
Rohini Nilekani
Journalist and a committed social worker, Rohini's determination in eliminating poverty from India is clearly evident by her generous contribution of a whopping $37.5 million to Arghyam, a foundation that strives to help the rural areas of India get better access to water and sanitation facilities. She also chairs the Akshara Foundation that aims at providing proper elementary education for children.
Rujuta Diwekar
Bagging the 'Nutrition Award' from the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Rujuta Diwekar is the most sought-after Mumbai-based nutrition expert. She has also penned down two books on nutrition and food, both of which are on the bestselling list for 4 years now. With a handful of awards to her credit, she is one woman we are proud to have.
Sangita Reddy
Sangita Reddy, the executive director-operations at Apollo Hospitals and the head of Apollo Philanthropy, which encompasses SAHI( Save a Child's Heart Initiative), CURE and Billions Hearts Beating Foundation, has worked for over 20 years in the healthcare sector, blooming flowers of hope every way she passes. Her contribution to the healthcare industry is commendable.
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