Prof Russell Franco D'Souza conferred NBEMS Presidential Medal of Merit
Prof. Russell Franco D'Souza
New Delhi: Professor Russell Franco D’Souza, an internationally renowned psychiatrist, academician and bioethicist, was conferred the NBEMS Presidential Medal of Merit during the 23rd convocation ceremony of the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). The ceremony was held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, on May 23, 2026.
The award was presented by the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, in recognition of Professor D’Souza’s contribution to psychiatry, bioethics education, medical research, and global academic leadership. His work in advancing interdisciplinary learning and promoting global standards in medical and health professions education has been widely acknowledged in academic circles.
Professor D’Souza currently serves as Chair of the UNESCO Global Chair and Network for Medical, Health Professions and Bioethics Education in Melbourne, Australia. He is also Dean and Professor of Organisational Psychological Medicine at the International Institute of Organisational Psychological Medicine (IIOPM), which operates campuses across Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Since 2011, he has also served as Chair and Head of the Asia-Pacific Division of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics at the University of Haifa.
Originally from India, Professor D’Souza completed his MBBS and MD in Chest Diseases from Madras Medical College under the University of Madras. He later moved to Australia, where he pursued advanced specialist qualifications in psychological medicine, medical administration, health service management and international bioethics education.
Professor D’Souza has also made significant contributions to academic publishing and medical literature. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of "Global Bioethics Enquiry", the indexed international journal of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics, and is the founding managing editor of the "Asian Journal of Psychiatry".
With more than 100 peer-reviewed research publications and several internationally recognised textbooks to his credit, Professor D’Souza is widely regarded for his contribution to psychiatry, medical ethics, healthcare leadership and bioethics education.
The NBEMS Presidential Medal of Merit recognised his longstanding efforts in advancing ethical medical education and fostering international collaboration in healthcare and research.
The convocation ceremony was attended by senior dignitaries, including Ms Punya Salila Srivastava, Dr. Abhijat Seth, Union Health Minister Shri J.P. Nadda, and Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy.
