Purna Kurkure Is Running For The UICC Board of Directors

Purna Kurkure is currently a Senior Advisor, Clinical Collegium for Oncology Services Narayana Health (NH) Group, Head of the Department of Pediatric Haemato- Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant at NH-SRCC Children’s Hospital at Mumbai.

This year she’s running among other candidates including Matti Aapro, Tsetsegsaikhan Batmunkh, Stella Aguinaga Bialous, Maira Caleffi, Hana Chaar Choueib, Todd Harper, Christopher Jackson, Dilyara Kaidarova, David Kerr, Eric Bouffet, Gilberto Lopes, Kenji Lopez-Cuevas, Asem Mansour, Miriam Mutebi, Omar Nimri, C S Pramesh, Kathleen Schmeler, and Naoto Ueno.

She has established herself in the field of oncology after 33 years at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, retiring as the Head of the Pediatric Oncology Department in 2015. Her extensive contributions to pediatric oncology in service, education, and research have earned her numerous accolades in India and across the Asian subcontinent.

From 2007 to 2010, she served as President of the SIOP Asia Continental Branch and successfully led the 2007 SIOP Congress in Mumbai. She was a consultant for the SIOP Pediatric Oncology subcommittee in Developing Countries, now known as the SIOP Global Health Network. Since 2012, she has been a member of the Steering Committee for the Asian Paediatric Haematology Oncology Group (APHOG), currently holding the positions of Executive Council Member and Treasurer.

As a founding member and co-convenor of the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Chapter of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), she has also held various leadership roles, including Treasurer, Secretary, and President from 1987 to 1999, helping to lay a strong foundation for the chapter. Additionally, she served as an Executive Board Member and Treasurer of the Central IAP.

Currently, Dr. Purna is the President of the Indian Society of Neuro Oncology, the Joint Secretary of the Central IAP, and a Joint Managing Trustee focused on survivorship initiatives.

Education

Purna Kurkure received her MD in Pediatrics from Bai Jeerabai Wadi Hospital for Children in Mumbai and holds a Diploma in Child Health. Additionally, she is a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, further enhancing her expertise and commitment to the field of pediatric medicine.

Awards and Honors

1. ICMR Award: She has received recognition from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for her contributions to pediatric oncology.

2. Dr. B.C. Roy National Award: Dr. Kurkure was honored with the prestigious Dr. B.C. Roy National Award for her work in the medical field, particularly in pediatric cancer care.

3. UICC Recognition: She has been acknowledged by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) for her efforts in advancing childhood cancer care.

4. St. Jude India Childcare Centers: Under her leadership, the St. Jude India Childcare Centers, which provide accommodation and care for children undergoing cancer treatment, have gained international recognition.

Dr. Kurkure’s contributions to the field of pediatric oncology and her leadership in cancer care in India have made her a highly respected figure in the global oncology community.

Interviews with Purna Kurkure

In an interview with SIOP, Dr. Kurkure said, “Passion never fails, just do it.” and “ My advice to the younger generation now embarking a career in pediatric oncology will to be to pursue a career with passion and not as an instrument for worldly survival.”

For more posts like this, visit oncodaily.com