In a rare honour, possibly the first of its kind for any medical professional from the State of Jammu & Kashmir, Union Minister and renowned Diabetologist, Dr Jitendra Singh has been conferred prestigious “Lifetime Achievement / Contribution Award” in Diabetes by the Governing Council of “Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group India” (DIPSI).
The award was conferred on Dr Jitendra Singh at a ceremony held here during the 11th National Conference of DIPSI at Hotel JW Marriott. President, International Diabetes Federation (IDF), DR S.M. Sadikot, world renowned Diabetologist & WHO Convener Dr. V. Seshiah, President, Research Society for Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI) Dr. S.V. Madhu and President DIPSI Dr. Anil Kapur were among some of the leading Diabetologists present on the occasion.
The award includes a plaque / memento, a Shawl and a citation which describes Dr Jitendra Singh as a popular Diabetes specialist of national and international repute, who had served as Professor of Diabetes and Endocrinology before he got elected as Member of Parliament to the 16th Lok Sabha.
The citation further goes on to state that Dr Jitendra Singh has been actively involved with apex Diabetes organizations in India and has held several important All-India level academic posts including those of Chairman, Scientific Committee for National Diabetes Conference of RSSDI 2013, Author & Advisor on panel of prestigious Elsevier Publishers, National Executive & Research Committee Member of RSSDI, National Joint Secretary DIPSI, National Executive Board Member “Diabetes India”, Member National Advisory Board, Journal of Association of Physicians of India (JAPI), Member Editorial Board, Journal of Indian Medical Association (JIMA), Referee / Reviewer for “International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries”, Inspector for Medical Council of India, Examiner for MD, DNB, etc.
The citation also makes a mention of five books, Elsevier published monograms and over a dozen chapters in various textbooks of Diabetes and Medicine for MD students written by Dr Jitendra Singh, as well as his pioneering work on “Stress diabetes in Kashmiri migrants” which was hailed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
In the concluding paragraphs, the citation describes Dr Jitendra Singh as not only a noted intellectual, researcher and author but also a noted social activist, known for his high integrity, calibre and self-less service to society. The citation also mentions Dr Jitendra Singh’s widely read weekly column “Tales of Travesty”, his historic role in 2008 Amarnath land row agitation and conferment of prestigious awards including Gold Medal for “Oration” at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) Pondicherry and coveted “Jamuna Devi Gian Devi Award” for journalism.
Accepting the award, Dr Jitendra Singh humbly acknowledged the support and patronage from his teachers and mentors like Dr V. Seshiah and said, it was his destined privilege to have been groomed under some of the leading doyens and founding fathers of Diabetology in India, including Late Prof. Sam G.P. Moses and Late Prof. M.M.S. Ahuja.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that the wide national and international exposure he received over the decades in the course of his journey as a Diabetes researcher, indeed, helped him to prepare himself to discharge his current responsibilities as a functionary in the Government of India.
