Continuing with the age-old tradition of honoring the nation’s unsung heroes on the Republic  Day, the Indian government has conferred its highest and most prestigious civilian Padma awards to 13 doctors who have made exemplary and outstanding contributions in the field of medicine.  The Padma Awards are of three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. This year, 1 doctor has been awarded the esteemed Padma Bhushan, while 12 have been entitled with the prestigious Padma Shri. Here is the list of the 13 doctors who received the awards on this Republic day: Padma Bhushan Tsering Landol Dr Tsering Landol is one of the pioneers in women’s health. She was one of the gynecologists to serve in the cold hilly desert region of Ladakh, providing medical care to women in the strenuous terrain through her clinic “ The Ladakh Heart Foundation”, a charitable medical facility. Padma Shri Dr Yogi Aeron This octogenarian plastic surgeon is not only known for his skills but also for providing free treatment to burn-patients who cannot afford the same. With more than 5000 free surgeries to his stride, he is the go-to man in the area for those who are victims of animal attacks. Dr Padmavathy Bandopadhyay A graduate of the Armed Force Medical College, she is the first woman in the history of Indian Air Force to be promoted to the rank of Air Marshal. Dr Sushovan Banerjee He is popularly known among his patients as “Ek Takar doctor” (Re 1 Doctor) and received the honour from the country for his outstanding services towards the underprivileged and charging a nominal consultation fee of Rs 1. Dr BN Gangadhar He is the director of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences and is a well-known psychiatrist having more than 30 years of extensive experience. Dr Leela Joshi She has dedicated her life to improving the health and well-being of the tribal women in MP and Chhattisgarh and holds a place in the 100 most effective women of the country. Dr Digambar Behera He is known for his contributions to the field of chest medicine and TB medicine in India. He is a pioneer of lung cancer chemotherapy and the chairman of the national task force of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program. Dr Ravi Kannan A prominent practicing surgical oncologist in Chennai, Dr Kannan came in to help the Cachar Cancer Hospital Society that was struggling with resources and serving the patients in an area where the incidence of cancer is significantly high. Dr Arunoday Mondal In West Bengal, Dr Mondal is serving in the remote forest areas of Sunderbans and has set up a free medical service centre for providing free treatment to the locals in the remote area. Dr Shanti Roy A gynecologist from Patna, Dr Roy has dedicated her life to not just promoting women’s well-being but also matters of encouragement of women in other domains of life. Dr Kushal Sharma Also known as the “Elephant Doctor”, Dr Sharma is a veterinarian in Guwahati and has devoted his entire life to the conservation of Asian elephants. Dr Gurdip Singh Dr Singh is the recipient of the prestigious title and award for his exhilarating work and contribution in the field of medicine. Dr Sandra Desa A renowned ENT surgeon practicing in Mumbai, Dr Sandra was one of the first ENT surgeons in the country to perform artificial ear operations. She holds credit to have given the gift of hearing to thousands of patients. Doctors work day in and out to serve the community and go all their way out for the patients who need their services the most. The Padma awards are conferred upon such valiant and brave doctors who have ventured into accomplishing the impossible and making therapy available to the underprivileged. Source: 1) The Times Of India