Dr K A Dinshaw, an eminent radiation oncologist died on August 26, 2011 .She was 67. I had opportunity to work with her while we were together in an exploratory mission in the field of medical radiology to Italy organized by the Department of Science & Technology in November 1999. There were other occasions when I interacted with her. I am referring to them in a PTI feature I wrote about her on September 3, 2011.
You may read it and if possible give me feedback at ksparth@gmail.com
PTI FEATURE
HEALTH
VOL NO XXVII(36)-2011 Sept 03 2011 PF-143/2011
Tributes to an Eminent Cancer Specialist
Dr K S Parthasarathy*
She was an institution builder. She batted for indigenous equipment and pushed the agenda to develop an indigenous telecobalt unit and christened it Bhabhatron, which is now installed in 20 hospitals in India. Her admirers and peers may find it hard to list her contributions.
Dr (Ms) Ketayun Ardeshir Dinshaw DMRT (Lond), FRCR (Lond), eminent radiation oncologist and former Director of Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), Mumbai died on August 26, 2011. She was 67.
She was born in a Parsi family in Kolkata; her father, an architect, motivated her to become a doctor. In an informative interview (Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics, August 26, 2011), Dr. Dinshaw, known to her close colleagues as Katy, vividly described her career in medicine. After graduation from Christian Medical College, Vellore (1961-66), she had an inclination towards Surgery for her Master’s degree. She changed her mind and chose Radiotherapy, under Dr Padam Singh, who was then Head of Radiotherapy Department.
The interview, given to Dr. Meena Tiwari admirably covers Dr Dinshaw’s magnificent contributions.
Dinshaw completed her post-graduation in radiotherapy from Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge in November 1973. On her return to India in December 1973, Dr Jussawalla, Director, TMH appointed her as an Assistant Radiotherapist in 1974. Rest is history.
For the next 35 years, she served the hospital with distinction. She retired in November 2008 after remaining as Director for 13 years. Dr Dinshaw worked tirelessly to make TMH an outstanding centre for cancer treatment and research.
With the support of Dr. P B Desai, then Director TMH, she successfully set up a separate radiotherapy department as till then it co-existed with radiology. Among her achievements, she rated getting approval for the introduction of MD seats in radiotherapy as a major leap.
To Dr Tiwari’s query on what has been her biggest challenge as an administrator of Tata Memorial Centre, Dr Dinshaw noted that stepping in as Director of TMC was an uphill task in itself. During those times, the Directors of TMC were heads of the surgery department.
“No women have been at the helm of affairs at TMC. However, the selection committee endorsed my candidature and was very supportive”, she added. Physical renovation of the hospital building with the treatment of patients remaining unaffected was another big challenge.
Setting up the Digital Library and Telemedicine project which gives unlimited access to professional information worldwide, particularly helping patients in remote areas such as North-East India to gain easy access to medical expertise were notable achievements.
“She was responsible for TMH fraternity to accept that other than surgery, ‘Radiation’ as an important part of the management of cancer”, Dr K. R. Das who collaborated with her on some important projects noted. “Till then TMH was essentially a surgeon’s world” he added.
Dr Deepak Deshpande, Head, Medical Physics Department, TMH and Das highlighted her role in introducing Iridium 192 wires for interstitial implants in India in 1983. Later it found wide acceptance all over India.
Dr Das and Dr A.Shanta collaborated with her in introducing Iridium 192 wires for breast implants. “Dr Dinshaw was open to suggestions and never turned away from problems”, Das acknowledged.
Dr Dinshaw appreciated the role of medical physicists. “She was responsible for the introduction of counter checks in physics and clinical documentation. She devoted lot of time for medical physics even after becoming Director”, Shri P S Viswanathan, former Head, Medical Physics Department, TMH remembered.
“It is very important to work as a team with medical physicists and technologists. Equally important is to provide opportunity to every one to upgrade their expertise and genuinely make them fell as an important part of a team”, Dr Dinshaw told Dr Meena Tiwari when she sought from her a message to the young radiation oncologists.
Dr Dinshaw played a major role in setting up the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC). With pure research in the field of cancer and a clinical wing, ACTREC is achieving its objective as a centre of excellence.
In a touching tribute, Dr Rajiv Sarin, Director, ACTREC remembered that the internationally renowned cancer specialist lost her personal battle to the disease which she ironically fought as a disciplined soldier and a visionary leader for four decades.
“A staunch patriot and eternal optimist, in various international forums he pitched and batted in style and poise not just for India but for the cause of cancer in the entire developing world”, Dr Sarin noted.
“Her respect and admiration for the serving and retired men and women in the armed forces and their families who came to TMH for treatment or training and her sensitivity to women and children was so special and selfless” Sarin said…“she formed a personal relationship with each one of us which was much beyond her official role as director, head of department or colleague”, he added
“She treated equally all medical and nonmedical staff”, Viswanathan concurred.
“This great connoisseur of music and art was also an ardent admirer of the plant kingdom, ferrying lovely plants from all over the world…almost single-handedly she greened the spawling 60 acre ACTREC campus in Kharghar where there is a Dinshaw Baug full of her plants”, Dr Sarin revealed.
I had many occasions to interact with Dr. Dinshaw. Often I sought her views on patient safety related matters. An incident in Panama and another in Poland compromised the safety of patients. She was very happy to note that I brought those incidents to the notice of Indian hospitals.
Occasionally, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board took action against a few hospitals. Some physicians felt that the Board was a bit harsh. Dinshaw concurred with me after listening to my explanation.
We were members of an exploratory mission in the field of medical radiology to Italy organized by the Department of Science & Technology in November 1999. While visiting a hospital, a receptionist asked us to wait in the office of the Director. Shortly, the Director arrived. The first thing he did was to light a cigarette. Dr Dinshaw protested and asked him why he is hanging a “No Smoking” warning in his room. Without batting an eyelid, he told us that the rule does not apply to the Director!
“Cigarette-addicts are the same everywhere”, Dinshaw told him.
Dr Dinshaw received many awards including Padmashri (2001). She was an institution builder. She batted for indigenous equipment and pushed the agenda to develop an indigenous telecobalt unit and christened it Bhabhatron, which is now installed in 20 hospitals in India. Her admirers and peers may find it hard to list her contributions. —-PTI Feature
* Dr K S Parthasarathy was a Raja Ramanna Fellow, Department of Atomic Energy when he wrote this article
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