UCMS Professor Dr Satendra Singh conferred National Annual Award for Medical Humanities 2023

New Delhi: Dr Satendra Singh, Director Professor of Physiology, University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) & GTB Hospital and a prominent disability justice advocate and human rights defender received the fifth 'National Annual Award for Medical Humanities 2023' on 16th December 2023, in a graceful ceremony at UCMS.

The National Annual Award for Medical Humanities has been initiated by Dr Apoorva Pauranik, ex-professor of Neurology at M.G.M. Medical College, Indore and also Director of Pauranik Academy of Medical Education at Indore.

The motive behind the award is to increase awareness about the need for inclusion and promotion of the subjects of humanities during medical education at undergraduate and post-graduate level and also later during practice, teaching and research.

The committee comprises esteemed experts and professionals in both medical and humanities domains, including Prof. Sunil K. Pandya, a Neurosurgeon at Jaslok Hospital and the founding editor of the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics. Each year, only one person is selected based on their recognized work in the area and its impact on advancing the integration of medical and humanities disciplines.

The purpose of the award is to recognize how one individual can transform healthcare through humanistic approaches, inspiring and encouraging healthcare professionals and scholars to embrace the intersection of medicine and humanities. This holistic approach encompasses not only scientific aspects but also ethical, social, cultural, and emotional dimensions. The humanities award for Dr Satendra Singh carries a prize of Rs. Fifty Thousand along with a plaque of honor.

Dr. Satendra Singh, leading the Health Humanities Group at UCMS, has spearheaded transformative initiatives, including the establishment of the first Humanities journal tailored for the Asian cultural context. His advocacy efforts have successfully integrated disability rights into the medical curriculum in India, promoting inclusivity. Dr. Singh's commitment extends globally, leveraging lived experiences and innovative tools from humanities to enhance training in the Global South.

Notably, he has been a driving force in banning unnecessary surgeries on intersex children in non-emergency situations in Delhi, emphasizing ethical healthcare practices. Furthermore, Dr Singh has actively championed reasonable accommodation for learners with disabilities in health education, training, and practice, fostering a more accessible and inclusive healthcare environment. His leadership underscores cross-movement solidarity, intertwining human rights with patient care, creating a lasting impact in the field.

While explaining the rationale behind establishing this award, Dr Apoorva Pauranik expressed that arts and sciences are like the two wheels of a chariot, both being necessary. He underscored that humanities should not be confused with humanity. The former provides a broad-angle lens perception of the human and social context of illness and disease, with the voice of a patient often better and more beautifully captured in fiction than a case report.

Dr HK Chopra, a senior cardiologist at Moolchand Hospital, New Delhi, served as the guest of honor and discussed wellness, integrating cardiology, neurology, and humanities using a quantum approach. Prof Piyush Gupta, Principal of UCMS, and Dr Ashmita M Rathore, Medical Director of GTB Hospital, presented the award and emphasized the fostering environment at UCMS & GTBH, highlighting how the institute pioneered this movement in India.

This year, the organizers chose to present the award at the host institution of the awardee. The previous awardees include Dr. Mario Vaz (Ethicist) in 2019, followed by Dr. Upreet Dhaliwal (Poet), Dr. Narayana Krishnappa (Lifestyle Medicine Specialist), and Dr. Radha Ramaswamy (Theatre of the Oppressed proponent) in 2022.