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Awarded for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Medicine
On the eve of Republic Day, the central government has announced the Padma Awards, among which KGMU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sonia Nityanand will be honored with the Padma Shri Award. This recognition is for her exceptional work in the field of medicine. Upon receiving the award, she expressed her gratitude to the government and stated that it serves as motivation to strive for even greater achievements.
A Rare Honor for One Family
Dr. Sonia Nityanand expressed that her name being announced for the Padma Shri Award is a matter of immense pride. She emphasized that this honor is not only a personal achievement but also a source of joy and pride for KGMU and Lucknow as a whole. She noted that her father, the late Dr. Nityanand, had also been awarded the Padma Shri, making it a remarkable occurrence for two members of the same family to receive this prestigious recognition. She reaffirmed her commitment to continually work towards providing the best possible medical services for patients and thanked Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel for their support.
Serving as VC of KGMU
Dr. Sonia Nityanand, daughter of the late Dr. Nityanand, who was the pioneer of the contraceptive pill “Saheli,” has previously served as Professor and Head of the Hematology and Stem Cell Research Center at Sanjay Gandhi PGI. She was also appointed as the Director of the Lohia Institute before being appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of KGMU by the Governor. Currently, she continues to serve in this role. Over the years, she has received numerous accolades, including the Young Scientist Award from the Indian National Science Academy in 1990, the Dr. J.C. Patel and B.C. Mehta Awards, the Dr. N.N. Gupta Gold Medal, and the National Bioscience Career Award, among others.
Distinguished Carrier
Professor Sonia was born on September 6, 1962. She completed her MBBS in 1986 and her MD in Medicine from KGMU Lucknow in 1989. She has been awarded the Chancellor’s Medal for the best medical student and a gold medal for the best MD student.
Professor Sonia is the first female bone marrow transplant specialist in the country. She obtained her PhD from the Immunology-Hematology section of the Department of Medicine at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden in 1997, which is known for awarding the Nobel Prize. Upon receiving the Padma Shri award, she stated that her father, Dr. Nitya Anand, has been her idol and inspired her commitment to her country. This honor will motivate her to contribute even more to her nation.
The Medical Bulletin
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