Deakin University honors Dr V Mohan for his service to people with diabetes

New Delhi: Padma Shri Dr V Mohan, Indian diabetologist, who has been working in the field of diabetes for over 30 years, has been conferred with an honorary doctorate degree from Deakin University, Australia. His work aligns with Deakin’s vision of serving the communities, which is paramount to the progress of human kind.

Dr V Mohan is the Chairman and Chief of Diabetology at the Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, a WHO Collaborating Centre for Non-communicable Diseases Prevention and Control and an IDF Centre of Education. He is also President and Director of the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation. The Dr Mohan Diabetes Specialities Centres has so far treated over 350,000 diabetic patients.

Speaking on being awarded the honorary doctorate, Dr V Mohan said, “It is a great privilege and honour for me to receive an Honorary Doctorate from Deakin University. Although I have received several doctorates from India, this is my first Honorary Doctorate from a foreign university and hence I will always treasure and remember Deakin University.”

Speaking on behalf of Deakin University, Prof David Mellor, Associate Dean – International, Faculty of Health added that “The PhD not only recognises Dr Mohan outstanding researcher record, but also the work that his research and education centres, and hospital do with various communities in India and abroad. We highly value our partnership with MDRF.”

“Deakin, in its continued endeavour to strengthen research activities in India, partnered with MDRF to work on advance research in Diabetes healthcare in South-Asia. We are proud to have Dr Mohan conferred with an honorary doctorate degree from Deakin. His contributions and expertise in this field provide valuable lessons” added Ms Ravneet Pawha, Associate Vice President (Global Engagement), Deakin University Australia.

Deakin University collaborated with Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) in 2013, with an aim to promote Diabetes Research and Education in the Asia-Pacific region. The partnership has so far facilitated several research outcomes and deliverables like PhD scholarships for Indian students leading to PhD degree from Deakin, to multidisciplinary diabetes research.

One of the most notably initiatives has been the development of Nurse Education for Diabetes program to assist those working with people with diabetes in poorer communities.  The first cohort of nurses who completed the program graduated in July, 2017.