Manuj Agarwal, Radiation Oncologist at MidLantic Urology, shared on LinkedIn:
“I’ve been at a loss to put into words what I’ve been feeling since Ajay Bhatnagar’s passing. It’s been incredibly difficult to process the loss of someone whose life intersected with mine in so many ways.
I first met Ajay when he was speaking from the podium at the 2017 American Brachytherapy Society meeting, at the time I was developing a program of my own. I was immediately struck by his passion and conviction.
In my entire career, I have rarely encountered another physician with his extraordinary drive, ambition, zeal, and seemingly boundless energy. He believed deeply in the revival of prostate brachytherapy and was relentless in his pursuit of ensuring that men with prostate cancer understood all their treatment options and had access to the best possible care. When Ajay believed in something, he pursued it relentlessly.
Over the years, our professional paths became closely connected. We pounded the pavement together to raise awareness, coauthored book chapters and a book, and collaborated on developing brachytherapy programs.
I witnessed firsthand his remarkable determination and the extraordinary amount he accomplished through his own efforts. His work helped expand access to prostate cancer treatments, establish programs, and change thousands of lives.
Our connection extended well beyond medicine. Our families had been connected through longstanding friendships and our temple community long before our professional relationship began, making this loss all the more personal.
As I reflect on Ajay’s life, I keep coming back to the sheer force of his determination and how much he accomplished in pursuit of something he believed in so strongly. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy in the patients he helped, the physicians he inspired, and the programs he built. His passing leaves an enormous void in the prostate cancer community.
My heart goes out to his wife, children, brother, mother, and entire family. May they find comfort in knowing how many lives he touched and the difference he made.
If you knew Ajay, worked alongside him, or had your life touched by him, I would love for you to share a memory, a story, or the impression he left on you. There are so many stories worth remembering, and I hope we can honor his legacy by sharing them.”
