Why we do the things we do

Dear senior colleagues and friends,

As we grow up in our professional lives, we realize that individual and collective experiences of managing patients are our truest wealth. As part of a community of doctors managing children with blood diseases and cancers, we strive to do the things we do because our voices matter to those we treat. It matters to the families we adopt as our own, to the generation of young doctors we groom and to bring about the change we wished for.

I have filed my nomination for the post of Honorary Secretary of the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Chapter of Indian Academy of Paediatrics 2022-2023. I have been extremely fortunate to have received the support of the seniors in our fraternity so far.

If selected for this post, I will try my best to work under the guidance of the Chairperson, PHO Chapter and the Executive Committee of the chapter, under the actionable points of Awareness, Academics & Attention described later in this letter to raise our chapter to a better standing in national and international platforms. 

I look forward to your guidance and support in this venture. Please find in the trail, a brief summary of my work profile.

Thank you 

Dr Nita Radhakrishnan 

Associate Professor and Head, 
Post Graduate Institute of Child Health 
Autonomous Institute, Govt. of UP, NOIDA
Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, 
nitark@gmail.com +91-9999041524 @nr_pedhemonc 

Qualifications

• MD Paediatrics, TD Medical College, Kerala 
• Fellowship Pediatric Hematology Oncology (DNB), SGRH, New Delhi 
• Fellowship in Haemostasis and Thrombosis, Milan, Italy

Work experience 

• Associate Professor, Post Graduate Institute of Child Health (Since July 2020)
• Assistant Professor, Post Graduate Institute of Child Health (2017-2020)
• Consultant, Pediatric Hematology Oncology, SGRH, Delhi (2013-2017)
• Pool officer, Clinical Hematology, AIIMS, Delhi (2012-2013)

Scientific Contributions

• Peer Reviewed Papers: 53 (PubMed link rb.gy/iq1huz) Chapters: 20
• Regular faculty for national conferences & workshops 
• Contributor to IAP DIAP, IAP Pearls, IAP Parent guidelines 
• Site PI for WHO, ICMR projects, SIOP MyChildMatters Grant 2020

Professional responsibilities

1. Current- Institute/ Regional 

• Co-ordinator, IAP PHO Fellowship Program (2year), PGICH, Noida since 2019
• Nodal Officer, Haemophilia-Thalassemia Services, Gautam Buddh Nagar, UP
• Member, COVID-19 UP Task Force ( rb.gy/2slgf6 )
• Organising Monthly online PHO-SSPHPGTI ECHO program since 2020
• Organising “Living & Winning”- 2 monthly Patient awareness program

2. Current- National 

• Webmaster, PHO Chapter (@pho_india twitter handle of PHO Chapter IAP)
• Vice President, Indian Society of Primary Immune Deficiencies (2019-2021)
• National Cordinator - NBEMS Webinars in Pediatric Hemato-Oncology 
• Section Editor, Pediatric Haematology Oncology Journal
• Executive member, Indian Pediatric Oncology Group

3. Current- International 

• Co-Chair, Twinning, Collaboration and Support working group, SIOP Global Health 
• Member, Scientific Program and Advisory Committee, SIOP
• Member, Scientific Committee, 3rd meeting of Pediatric Oncology East and Mediterranean Group (POEM), 2022 

4. Previous

• Organising Secretary, PIDCON 2016 
• Organised NTP-PPH 2017
• Organised Foundation Oncology Skills for pediatric nurses 2 day workshop 2018
• Organising Committee Member, PHOCON Delhi 
• Sub editor, SIOP ASIA 2020 Special Issue of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Journal 
• Section Editor, PHO, IAP PG Teaching Module 2018

PHO Chapter- the way forward 

1. AWARENESS – efforts to improve awareness regarding PHO among paediatricians 

Since its inception 3 decades ago visibility of our chapter has improved immensely and we have witnessed the evolution of services available for each of the diseases we cater to. 

Coupled with this we have better representation in each state of the country and 

recognition of our colleagues in national and international forums. We are fortunate that Indian adaptations/guidelines are getting recognised world wide, whether it is in the field of childhood cancer, haemophilia-thalassemia care models or curative treatments such as BMT or cellular therapies. However challenges remain. We are still plagued by concerns of poor access, stigma of disease and toxicity of treatment.

THE WAY AHEAD

1. Childhood cancer is to be made notifiable in all states of the country. rb.gy/doqf6n. 

2. Childhood cancer networks linking primary care with cancer centres is to be developed in each state with involvement of all stake holders in public and private sectors (Eg. Maharashtra through IAP). In UP, we have initiated this program through a research project through district hospitals with training of ASHA workers. 

3. Improved nursing care in pediatric cancer through training. The recently concluded SIOP MyChildMatters project report from our group is available at rb.gy/xls9zx

4. PHO Chapter guidelines for common pediatric haematology oncology concerns is a work in progress with the initiative of our senior colleagues. Better visibility of the same through phone apps, videos etc can ensure improved adherence to the same.

ACADEMICS – efforts to improve the quality of PHO academics in our country We have witnessed development of regional training opportunities both in pediatric haematology oncology and BMT services in the last few years. This is currently restricted to a few teaching institutes in both government and private sector and is not recognised by National Medical Council (MCI).

THE WAY AHEAD

1. Pediatric Hematology Oncology has to be taught in medical colleges at both undergraduate and post graduate level. For this to materialise, we need to have faculty trained in and practising PHO in medical colleges. The recognition of the speciality by NMC is the need of the hour. There are several senior colleagues working tirelessly for this to become a reality. Needless to say, this should be in addition to the DM Pediatric Oncology program that is existing and running smoothly in apex cancer institutes of the country. 

2. To continue working with the focussed discussion groups created in 2020 to benefit trainees - Virtual teaching program PHO Chapter.

ATTENTION – effort to improve the representation of our country 

As one of the largest group of professionals treating children with blood diseases and cancers globally, we have drawn attention to ourselves. However, our representation in international circuit is modest.

THE WAY AHEAD

1. Better visibility for the group in international conferences- either regional such as POEMS, International Pediatric Association, Asia Pacific association for Hemophilia and Allied Disorders as well as in SIOP, ASH or other forums 

2. Work collaboratively to generate scientific data of the highest quality 

3. PR & Communication PHO Journal and our social media presence is vital to this cause

Our team at PGICH Noida taken during the first wave of COVID-19