Fellow - Pediatric Oncology

**The Tata Medical Center Fellowship Program in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology**

The Tata Group has always believed in returning wealth to the Society it serves. It has established
philanthropic trusts which have created National Institutions in Science and Technology, Medical
Research, Social Studies and the Performing Arts.

Tata Medical Center (TMC), Kolkata, is a philanthropic initiative from the House of Tata. Its mission
is to promote prevention of cancer, to provide facilities for early diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation
and palliation to cancer patients, and to do research in cancer. The hospital is a comprehensive
Cancer Care Center with well-trained professional staff and equipped with modern facilities and
contemporary medical equipment.

This Institution has been set up at New Town in the Rajarhat area of Kolkata on 13 acres of land and
is managed by a professional management body reporting to the Tata Medical Centre Trust (TMCT).
The hospital started operations on 16th May 2011. The Hospital, with a capacity of 437 beds, serves
all sections of the society, with 50% of the infrastructure earmarked for subsidized treatment for
the underprivileged sections. The Institution's objective is to excel in service, education and
research.

This state-of-the-art Hospital has been built on carefully landscaped grounds to emphasize the
holistic approach in our crusade against cancer. The buildings were designed by Cannon Design, a
renowned architectural firm from North America.

Diagnosis and treatment are characterized by a multi-disciplinary approach with Disease
Management Teams, wherein experts from different streams participate in decision-making for
treatment protocols, using evidence-based medical strategies and appropriate documented clinical
guidelines.

Tata Medical Center, Kolkata, has strived to be one of the leading cancer care and research
institutions in the country and has benefited West Bengal as well as the adjoining states and
neighbouring countries.

**The Department**

The department is focused on providing holistic care to children with cancer, acting as a referral
center for complicated hematological problems, providing a comprehensive facility for stem cell
transplantation, and collaborating closely with the Tata Translational Cancer Research Center
(TTCRC). The department has an active training program for Fellowship of National Board (FNB) in
Paediatric Haematology/ Oncology.

There are six faculty members:
Prof. Dr. Vaskar Saha is Professor of Pediatric Oncology at the University of Manchesterand
Director, TTCRC. His interest lies in malignant hematology and he is the chief investigator of
the first multicenter trial on acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ICiCLe) as well as relapsed
acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (InPOG- ALL R1) in India.

Dr. Arpita Bhattacharya received her training in the United Kingdom; her interests lie in

solid tumors and supportive care in cancer.

Dr. Shekhar Krishnan has been an Associate Professor in University Mallaya following his

training in London and leads the leukemia and biological studies; his areas of interests
include benign and malignant hematology and stem cell transplantation.

Dr. Anirban Das completed his DM in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology from PGIMER,

Chandigarh; his interests lie in neuro-oncology primarily, solid tumors and supportive care
as well as benign haematology.

Dr Reghu KS is DM in Pediatric Oncology from Regional Cancer Centre, Trivandrum, and
leads the sarcoma services in this group with special interest in other solid tumours,
Hodgkin Disease, Histiocytic Disorders etc. He shares his interest in Haematopoietic Stem
Cell Transplantation (HSCT) and leads the paediatric component of the upcoming CAR-T
program. He leads the academic program of the department.

Dr Niharendu Ghara is a Paediatric Haematologist, trained in UK and has joined the
institution after working as a consultant in Great Ormond Street Hospital, London. He leads
the paediatric clinical services with interest in Haematological Disorders of childhood, both
malignant and non-malignant, and is a Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT)
physician.

The goal of the fellowship program is to nurture and develop excellent clinical scientists and
compassionate physicians, trained to become future leaders in pediatric hematology-oncology in
India. This will be accomplished through comprehensive education and training in clinical practice,
laboratory services, and research methodology.

**Objectives
To train a pediatrician having requisite postgraduate qualification (MD Pediatrics/
equivalent) as a specialist in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, who would be able to have a
comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology of pediatric hematological and
oncological disorders.

Diagnose and provide comprehensive care to children with these disorders, including
Carrying out all necessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Interact with colleagues in allied disciplines