Roche Pharma India is thrilled to announce the first cohort of awardees under Leading Engagements to Advance Patient Care in Oncology (LEAP) program 2023-24, a unique problem-solving and learning engagement initiative designed for final-year DM/DNB oncology students in India. This innovative program aims to inspire academic excellence and foster an innovation-driven mindset among oncology students poised to enter the clinical environment; by offering a dynamic platform for career advancement. LEAP provides an unparalleled opportunity for students to network, collaborate, and pioneer solutions to everyday challenges in oncology.
Launched at the Indian Cancer Congress (ICC) in 2023 in Mumbai, India’s most prestigious congregation of practitioners, academicians, institutions and researchers in oncology; the LEAP program is dedicated to promoting strategic thinking and unlocking innovative solutions across the cancer care continuum. By engaging the brightest minds in the country, Roche Pharma India aims to drive better outcomes for patients, and endeavors to shape the broader cancer care ecosystem. The program attracted an impressive 155+ entries from students enrolled in 50+ prestigious medical colleges and hospitals across the nation.
The entries were meticulously evaluated by an esteemed jury panel featuring leading industry experts, including Dr. Amit Rauthan, Head of Department & Consultant Medical Oncology at Manipal Hospitals, Dr. Surinder Kher, a renowned industry expert, and Mr. Gaur Sunder, Scientist at CDAC Pune. The evaluation criteria included innovation, feasibility, impact on patient outcomes, and strategic thinking.
The inaugural chapter of LEAP 2023-24 culminated in the recognition of the best five solutions to day-to-day challenges in clinical care, patient care, policymaking, and implementation strategies in oncology. We are proud to announce and congratulate the winners:
Dr. Siddhesh Tryambake from Omega Hospital, Hyderabad
Dr. Madhavi Indani from Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology
Dr. Uddiptya Goswami from Apollo Cancer Centre, Chennai
Dr. Vasanth Rooban Narasimman from Government Royapettah Hospital
Dr. Vinodh Kumar Selvaraj from Madras Medical College
Each of them received an academic scholarship amount of Rs 2 lakh, along with a certificate of excellence and a book titled “Lifesavers for Millions.”
“We are immensely proud of the incredible solutions proposed by these bright young minds. The LEAP program underscores our commitment to doing what patients need next, nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals, and ensuring they are well-prepared to tackle the challenges of tomorrow,” said Simpson.
Deans, faculty members and participants acknowledged the unique concept of the program and thanked Roche for the initiative.
“I would like to thank and congratulate Roche for conceptualizing this initiative. I greatly acknowledge the efforts from students across the country to have enthusiastically participated in this unique academic program. I initially thought it was just another drill in academics but later when I saw the challenge buckets that participants were asked to solve, I realized the LEAP program is very innovative and holistic. The program is preparing budding oncologists to think in a 360 degree way as they face cancer patients in real life settings”
“LEAP is an extremely innovative and differentiated idea to encourage and inspire young oncologists like myself. Participating in LEAP was such an enriching learning experience. LEAP gave me the opportunity to deliberate about perspectives that go beyond just clinical discussions. The program propelled me to think about various problems in the field of oncology in a holistic way and think about solutions that can be implemented in a sustainable manner. The program was a perfect blend of academic theory with practical considerations”
LEAP provided young, budding Oncologists a rewarding learning experience. We are confident that the insights gained during LEAP will be carried forward by these future torchbearers of Oncology as they begin their career journeys of serving patients. The LEAP program was Roche’s endeavor to shape the future talent pool in Oncology, bridge the industry-academia gap in cancer care, with the overarching objective of addressing the severe gap in infrastructure and human resources that hinder delivery of high-quality cancer care. With the maiden LEAP program garnering praise, appreciation and positive reactions from stakeholders, Roche Pharma India is committed to scaling the program in the coming years, while enhancing the value of care through capability building within our healthcare ecosystems.