Dr. AShok Panagariya Professor Emeritus Neurology (Padma Shri awardee – 2014)
Highlights
One of the Leading Clinician in Neurology in India
Known for quick diagnosis, analysis and Holistic Management.
Enjoys taking challenges on unresolved issues, out of box thinks in bringing new solutions.
Dr. Panagariya is a multifaceted personality with a great blend of academics, research, leadership qualities and huge philanthropic outlook. Time and again he has proved to be a visionary, whether it was the development of neurological sciences or in the areas of research or in handling social and Administrative responsibilities.
Born in Jaipur on 22nd August 1950. He is in Practice since 1967 and still not out.
Career in Neurology Care:
Dr. Panagariya was first to acquire the DM-Neurology in the state and became the pioneer in this super-specialty in early 80s. Dr. Panagariya apart from establishing himself as a clinical neurologist of repute in North India also took charge in developing the super-specialty for postgraduate training. With his effort SMS Medical College become a postgraduate DM Neurology provider since 1998-99 and simultaneously associated himself with a rural epilepsy clinic where as a part of his social responsibility, he used to visit once in a month. After about 10 years, the rural epilepsy in Gulabpura in Ajmer District of Rajasthan, the number of epileptics, grew from around 10 to 10000. This was a unique successful modal of a partnership with a local NGO which not only helped the individuals in distress suffering with a superstitious disease like epilepsy but also created huge awareness. Dr. Panagariya also used this opportunity for social rehabilitation by asking the family members not to indulge in Alcohol, Smoking and grow one plant each in the name of their epileptic child. Dr. Panagariya has nearly 35 years of teaching experience and has been a professor for more than 15 years. He is a teacher of repute and a keen researcher.
Dr. Panagariya who remained President of Indian Academy of Neurology, the largest National Body of Neurologists in India. Prior to this he served as an executive for 6 years. He led to the development of policy change by pushing postgraduate CME Training programmes in Neurology in India conbined with public awareness shows.
Dr Panagariya has extrinsically contributed to International and national academic programmes. He has been the only Indian editor in the prestigious “Year Book of Neurology and Neurosurgery” published from Miami (USA).
Apart from this, he is a very prominent clinical neurologist who has a huge patient base perhaps one of the larger in the country. He is consulted by people from all over India especially the affluent non-resident Rajasthanis and NRI from Rajasthan. Patients from all adjacent States of UP/MP/Haryana/Punjab/ Delhi/Himachal come for consultations.
Career in Research and Publication:
Academic & Research work
- Published around one hundred research papers in various international and national journals.
- Author of a chapter on ‘Parasitic Infections of nervous system in prestigious Bradley’s Book on Clinical Neurology published from Florida, USA.
- Assoc. Editor, Year Book of Neurology and Neurosurgery, 2007 to till date published by Mosby, an imprint of Elsevier, Philadelphia.
- Contributed a Chapter on Central Vertigo & Vestibular Rehabilitation in Elsevier Monograph on Vertigo for Clinicians.
- Delivered orations/chaired many National & International Conferences and contributed chapters to Text Book of Medicine in India/Annual Reviews in Neurology.
- Referee to prestigious International Journal of Neurosciences/ British Medical Journal
Dr. Panagariya has published around one hundred research papers in various international and national journals. He is the author of a chapter on ‘Parasitic Infections of the Nervous system’ in the prestigious Bradley’s Book on Clinical Neurology published from Florida, USA. He is the Associate Editor of the, Year Book of Neurology and Neurosurgery, from 2007 till date, published by Mosby, an imprint of Elsevier, Philadelphia. He has delivered many orations and chaired many national & international conferences and contributed chapters to the text Books of Medicine, API and Annual Reviews in Neurology, in India. He was recently inducted as referee to the prestigious International Journal of Neurosciences. During his tenure as Senior Professor & Head of the Neurology he contributed to research and his work on Prestigious British Medical Journal, Neuro-mytonia, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, Stroke, Epilepsy and many other subjects has been highly rated. He has also remained Locum Consultant in England and was invited by Mount Sinai, NY and Ann Arbor Detroit as a visiting Professor.
Career in Administration and Innovation
His organizing skills were brought to the fore when he build SMS Medical College academically and research wise. Thus SMS is amongst top three choices for Postgraduate training in India and SMS is probably the only Medical College where Advanced Basic Sciences Laboratory like the Stem Cell, Real-time PCR, Immunohaematology Lab. and now the Genetics Lab. have been established. The Institute got a boost when Dean, Weil Cornell University during his 3 day visit in February 2010 applauded the comprehensive growth and achievements of the Institute. This led to a Cornell-SMS academic partnership. In his pursuit for excellence in neurology in the state of Rajasthan with an impact on North India, he was instrumental in creating a fully fledged department, which was fully equipped, man and machine wise and ultimately got the super-specialty in the neurology started with the approval of the Medical Council of India. For his outstanding clinical academic and development work along with developing support systems for rural epileptic, he was awarded the prestigious B C Roy Award by the President of India.
In a unique model of public private partnership Dr. Panagariya created the postgraduate, Pre-PG partnerships for facilitating the training of the undergraduates at a subsidized rate at the SMS Medical College. This resulted in the significant increase in the number of Pre-PG students clearing the national level examinations. Dr. Panagariya also undertook another public private partnership, which helped the availability of costly investigations like MRI, CT Scan at subsidized rates for common man and providing grossly subsidized treatment options for cancer with the installation of linear accelerator.
The other developments like the Bone Marrow transplant, IVF facilities for infertility cases and specialized areas for Thalassemics made the institute one of the first in the whole country. Dr. Panagariya was also appointed as Vice Chancellor of the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences where he undertook decisions for improvising the quality of medical education in the State.
On his superannuation, the Government of Rajasthan has honoured him by making the Member of State Planning Board. Presently he is looking after the policy planning and is an advisor to the Government of Rajasthan on health, Medical Education and other relevant issues. As Member of Planning Board, government of Rajasthan, he is the chairman of working group on health issues, is the group also has planned innovations in Rural, Urban Health Issues, Quality Medical Care and Controlling Blindness in Rajasthan.
Rural Services in Epilepsy
Dr. Panagariya has a rural background and being the first to acquire the qualification in Neurology in the State of Rajasthan took up the cause for managing and creating social awareness about neurological illness, ridden with superstitions and ignorance. He initiated, possibly the First Rural Epilepsy Clinic in the Country at a small place Gulabpura about 100 kilometers away from the city capital with the help of an small NGO with some religious background. The epilepsy clinic started with a very small number and rose to attract about ten thousand epileptics, some of them from different parts of the country. It was a complete free treatment including the investigations and those who got cured were asked to meet new comers to build up confidence amongst the epileptic patients in general. Public awareness programmes were periodically conducted all across the State. Apart from epilepsy, diseases like stroke, parkinsons, dementia were also discussed out.