Dr.Preeti Padmanabhan Has Won Outstanding Women Leadership Award

Dr. PREETI PADMANABHAN

“Education is the kindling of a flame and not filling of a vessel as quoted by Socrates a Greek philosopher. Education is considered as a best investment especially when it is achieved in the city also known as “Oxford of the East”. Dr. Preeti Padmanabhan considers it fortunate to be born in Pune in Maharashtra. Schooling was completed at the esteemed St’ Helena’s High School and Junior College. Thereafter Junior College from Saraswati Vidyalaya Union and graduated from Nowrosjee Wadia College and post-graduation from Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College. All of these being prestigious and renowned institutions in the city of Pune in Maharashtra.

She had the desire and inclination to become a doctor right from her kindergarten days; since her school was near B.J. Medical College and was always fascinated by the aspiring medical students in their white coats and laden with heavy pile of books! But she also nurtured a passion “to teach” which also happens to be the Latin meaning of “doctor” or “docere” which means “to teach” in the English language. In life, she pursued teaching the subject of Medical Biochemistry to all the medical, dental, nursing and physiotherapy students at Pravara institute of Medical Sciences Deemed University situated at Ahmednagar in Maharashtra.

John Dewey an American philosopher and psychologist has been quoted as “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself”. Educating the   aspiring future generation in the Faculty of Medicine, Dental, Nursing and Physiotherapy became the mission of Dr. Preeti and which she executed with such zeal and flair that she gained immense popularity amongst the students at the University! She is well known for her rare ability to instill jest, humor and keen wit into her teaching sessions of the subject  specialization of Medical Biochemistry.

Her unquenched thirst to attain the best in terms of education enabled her to achieve a doctorate in the subject of Medical Biochemistry at Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences Deemed University which was done with many laurels on attainment. At present, she is serving as a faculty in Department of Biochemistry; at the esteemed and prominent SSPM Medical College and Lifetime Hospital located in Sindhudurg in Maharashtra. At the medical college too, she is well known amongst faculty and students alike. Amongst the best practices followed by her; one of them is to give utmost and vital importance to values and ethics while imparting education in the field of higher education. Especially, since she herself practices all the positive values and ethics in her daily life very staunchly. Particularly this very interest in “ethics” motivated and inspired her to pursue an International Post -Graduate Diploma in Human Bioethics, Human Rights and Laws which was awarded from UNESCO Bioethics Chair, Haifa, Australia recently. She is an active and popular participant in the forum for Bioethics and known her orations at debates, presentations during such meets in Bioethics.

With the passage of time to acknowledge and motivate her undying learner’s spirit and to further motivate her on the path and field of higher education; many awards and accolades have been bestowed upon her. She is the recipient of thirteen International Awards and three National Awards. She has many international research papers to her credit all published in International Journals of acclaim and accord. Constantly learning and updating her skill-sets in the field of Higher Education is her intent and interest.

Dr. Preeti Padmanabhan is an awardee at the Women Icon Award 2024 with the title of “Women Icon powered by Times Women”. This is a great achievement as it also comes with a membership in the International Council as well as Women Icon powered by Times Women and World Women Council and many certificates along with the winning the most coveted International Trophy. The grace of God almighty, her supportive parents, all her eminent, learned teachers and benevolent mentors are the sole reasons according to her for this auspicious occasion of achievement. On this occasion she also is very all at SSPM Medical College and Lifetime Hospital Padve, Sindhudurg; although any amount of gratitude expressed in terms of reciprocating is miniscule in comparison to the faith, unconditional love and support extended at all levels. She is truly humbled by this honor and award bestowed upon by the honorable jury members and organizers of Women Icon Award 2024 hence is immensely grateful to them.

For her, on this red lettered day and occasion the words penned by the American Poet Robert Frost, as concluding lines in the poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” are so apt and expresses heart felt feelings as:

                        “The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

                          But I have promises to keep,

                          And miles to go before I sleep,

                         And miles to go before I sleep”.