Padma Shri for Dr Digambar Behera

Tribune News Service

Mohali, November 9

Tricity-based respiratory medicine specialist Dr Digambar Behera was conferred the Padma Shri by President Ram Nath Kovind for his commendable contribution to the field of medicine at a civil investiture ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan on November 8.

He is currently the Director, Pulmonary Medicine, at Fortis Hospital, Mohali.

Dr Behera also served as the Dean (Research) and Head of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at the PGI and Director of the National Institute of TB and Respiratory Diseases for five years. He has a clinical experience of over 40 years.

Hailing from Odisha, Dr Behera did his graduation from SCB Medical College, Utkal University, in 1978. He then joined the Department of Medicine at the PGI as a junior resident in 1978 and continued his stint till April this year. He completed his MD from the PGI in 1980 and Diplomate of National Board of Examination in Medicine and Respiratory Medicine in 1982 and 1983, respectively. He joined the Department of Pulmonary Medicine as a faculty member in 1984 where he was elevated to the post of Professor in 2000.

Dr Behera is a pioneer in lung cancer chemotherapy and the founder president, Indian Society for the Study of Lung Cancer. Currently, he is the president of the Indian Chest Society and chairman of the National Task Force for National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme. He has over 500 publications to his name and has presented more than 580 papers in national and international conferences. He has authored and co-authored nine books, including Text Book on Pulmonary Medicine, Text Book on Respiratory Medicine, Advances in Respiratory Medicine, Bronchial Asthma, Tuberculosis and Spirometry. He is also the recipient of 29 national and seven international awards.