• Home
  • Media Events
  • Uttarakhand Tobacco-Free Coalition (UTFC) Quarterly Review Meeting at Department of Community Medicine, HIMS

Uttarakhand Tobacco-Free Coalition (UTFC) Quarterly Review Meeting at Department of Community Medicine, HIMS

Published on: March 28, 2025

Uttarakhand Tobacco-Free Coalition (UTFC) Quarterly Review Meeting at Department of Community Medicine, HIMS

The Department of Community Medicine, HIMS, in collaboration with the Cancer Research Institute, SRHU, organized the UTFC Quarterly Review Meeting on March 22, 2025, with technical support from Balajee Sewa Sansthan, Dehradun, and Vital Strategies, New Delhi. The meeting focused on strengthening tobacco control initiatives in Uttarakhand through awareness, policy implementation, and community engagement.

The event commenced with a welcome address by Mr. Prem Kr Taneja, Chairperson, UTFC, followed by expert discussions led by Dr Hem Chandra Pandey and Dr Sunil Saini. Mr. Awadhesh Kumar, Executive Director, Balajee Sewa Sansthan, emphasized the urgent need to curb tobacco use through stricter regulations, youth awareness programs, and cessation support services.

Dr Rana J. Singh, Director, Tobacco Control, SEA, Vital Strategies, highlighted the rising burden of tobacco-related diseases and the importance of robust policies, stakeholder involvement, and grassroots-level awareness. Dr Pradeep Aggarwal, Secretary, UTFC, provided an update on UTFC’s progress, including awareness campaigns, school collaborations, and the implementation of tobacco-free zones.

Representing HIMS, SRHU, Dr Shaili Vyas shared key initiatives such as school outreach programs, health promotion activities, and community engagement efforts aimed at reducing tobacco consumption. Dr Neha Sharma outlined the way forward, stressing the need for strengthened cessation services, behavioral counseling, nicotine replacement therapies, and digital outreach strategies.

The meeting reinforced the collective commitment of healthcare institutions, NGOs, and policymakers to achieving a tobacco-free Uttarakhand through sustained efforts in awareness, policy enforcement, and community participation.

 

IMG-20250325-WA0020
IMG-20250325-WA0029
IMG-20250325-WA0042
   Admissions Form         

Admission Open For 2025

×
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.