Lecture on AIDS Day

Published on: December 2, 2024

Awareness Lecture on World AIDS Day 2024 Highlights Rights and Stigma

On 2nd December 2024, the Himalayan School of Management Studies (HSMS) at Swami Rama Himalayan University organized a meaningful awareness lecture to commemorate World AIDS Day 2024. The event was held at KLT-08 in the HSMS building and attended by 49 students from the BBA fifth semester and MBA third semester. The session was led by Dr. Niharika Verma, Senior Resident in the Department of Community Medicine at HIMS, SRHU, who provided a comprehensive understanding of HIV/AIDS beyond clinical facts by focusing on its public health, human rights, and societal dimensions.

The lecture aligned with this year’s theme, “Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Rights,” highlighting the critical importance of human rights in ensuring equitable access to HIV testing, prevention, and treatment. Dr. Verma discussed challenges such as stigma, discrimination, and barriers faced by vulnerable communities, stressing the need for inclusive healthcare and sexual and reproductive health education, particularly for the youth. She supported her presentation with real-life examples and data illustrating the current HIV/AIDS scenario both in India and globally.

Students were encouraged to become proactive advocates in their communities by promoting awareness and compassion to help eliminate stigma and support those affected by HIV/AIDS. The session successfully combined knowledge dissemination with a call to action, inspiring students to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing fight against the epidemic.

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International Endowed Chair Professor

Prof Rakesh Kumar

Prof Rakesh Kumar is the Founder and President of the Breast Cancer in Young Women Foundation (USA), dedicated to vaddressing the distinct issues affecting young women with breast cancer. He also serves as the International Endowed Chair Professor at the Cancer Research Institute of the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences. Additionally, he holds adjunct professorships at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Dr Kumar earned his Ph.D. from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 1984 and began his research career at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in January 1986. From 1988 to 2017, he held various academic and leadership positions —including faculty member, tenured professor, distinguished professor, endowed chair, department chair, and research leader—at esteemed institutions such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. From 2017 to 2022, he served as the National Chair for Cancer Research for the Government of India and as a distinguished professor, continuing his innovative work in breast cancer research.

With nearly 40 years of research and professional experience, Dr. Kumar has made conceptual contributions to the field of cancer research (h-index 108, citations >50,000). He has authored over 325 peer-reviewed publications, edited or co-edited nine books, and delivered 290 invited lectures worldwide. His work has been featured on the covers of 18 major cancer journals and has been highlighted in institutional research reports of the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

A passionate educator and mentor, Dr. Kumar has guided 67 trainees throughout his career. He serves on the editorial boards of multiple leading cancer journals and has served on the editorial boards of 21 top cancer journals. His global reputation is further demonstrated by his participation in about 100 peer-review panels for cancer research funding in the US and internationally over the past 28 years.

Dr. Kumar's innovative research has earned him numerous prestigious honors, including the Hinkle Society Faculty Award at Penn State University (1994), the Dalla/Fort Worth Living Legend Faculty Achievement Award in Basic Sciences (2004), the Ranbaxy Research Award (2006), and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association of Indian Scientists in Cancer Research (2013), among others. Dr. Kumar's pioneering research continues to have a profound influence on the fields of oncology and breast cancer, opening up new opportunities for biomedical scientists and trainees worldwide.