specialist and the Chairperson of Adyar Cancer Institute
, Chennai
. Her career which spans over 50 years has been dedicated to organising care for cancer patients, and intensive research in the prevention and cure of the disease. Her work has been widely acknowledged with several awards including the Magsaysay Award
, and Padma Shri
.
She has been associated with Adyar Cancer Institute since 1955, and has held several key positions, including its Director between 1980-1997.
"If we have grown, it is because of the grace of God, and our faith in our mission,".
"The journey has been long. I don't see an end to it, simply because our work is never ending. What we have done is very little. There is much more to do. The journey has been arduous, with bricks and stones and occasional flowers strewn in between, but we continue…"
"When the sick approach the gates of the Institute, weak in body and spirit, and full of fear, there is only one response, you have to become part of them"
"Every obstacle I have overcome, every patient I have cured, every child I have treated who has grown, got married and come back to see me with his/her children have made my whole life memorable."