Vijayalakshmi Deshmane | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1955 Kobal village, Jewargi taluk, Kalaburagi district, Karnataka, India |
| Citizenship | Indian |
| Education | MBBS, MS |
| Alma mater | Karnataka Medical College, Bellary Medical College |
| Occupation | Oncologist |
| Awards | Padma Shri (2025) |
Vijayalakshmi Deshmane (born 1955) is an Indian surgical oncologist from Kalaburagi district, Karnataka. She served as the Director of the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru.[1][2]
She was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for her contributions to medicine.[3]
Early life and education[edit | edit source]
Vijayalakshmi Deshmane was born in 1955 in Kobal village, Kalaburagi district, Karnataka. Her father Babu Rao Deshmane, worked as a labourer at MSK Mill, and her mother Ratnamma, was a vegetable vendor.[4] She completed her primary education at Chakkargatta School in Gazipura and her secondary education at Gangambika High School, Kalaburagi in the Kannada medium. She later completed her Pre-University Course (PUC) at SB Residential School.[5]
Deshmane earned her MBBS degree from Karnataka Medical College and completed an MS from Bellary Medical College in 1984.[5]
Career[edit | edit source]
After completing her postgraduate studies, Deshmane joined Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, as a resident doctor. In 1994, she became the first woman professor at the institution.[6] She retired from government service in 2015 and later participated in cancer awareness programs, particularly in rural areas.[7]
In 2016, she was appointed as Head of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali, Punjab, following a medical emergency.[5]
Awards[edit | edit source]
- 2004: Received Karnataka Rajyotsava Award.[7]
- 2025: Awarded the Padma Shri.[3]
- 2025: Received The Hindu Excellence in Health & Hygiene Award.[1]
- 2025: Received Women of Worth (WoW) Award by the Ubuntu Women’s Network in Bengaluru.[8]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "WoW Awards: Vijayalakshmi Deshmane —excellence in health & hygiene". The Hindu. 2025-03-28. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
- ↑ "'Cancer no longer a foreign disease'". Star of Mysore. 2025-09-15. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Unsung heroes: From selling fruits to mastering oncology, how Dr Vijayalakshmi Deshmane transformed cancer care". The Indian Express. 2025-07-13. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
- ↑ "Vegetable Seller to Reputed Oncologist: How Dr. Vijayalakshmi Beat All Odds to Emerge a Winner". thebetterindia.com. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Badseshi, Ramakrishna (2025-01-28). "Dr Vijayalakshmi: Story of grit, determination". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
- ↑ Tiwari, Nancy (November 27, 2025). "Bright Side Stories: How Dr. Vijayalakshmi Deshmane Became Guiding Light for Cancer Patients". Asianet Newsable. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Three from North Karnataka chosen for Padma Shri". The Hindu. 2025-01-25. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
- ↑ "Veteran Artists Felicitated at Ubuntu's Women of Worth 2025 Awards in Bengaluru". www.thehansindia.com. 2025-06-06. Retrieved 2026-01-09.