Social Accomplishment Award 2011

Dr. Pravina Shah was Professor and Head of Neurology at the King Edward Memorial Hospital in Mumbai India for 19 years. She is the immediate past President of the Indian Epilepsy Association and currently consults at Fortis Hospitals. With missionary zeal and enthusiasm she pioneered the support group movement in India and started E-Cell a dedicated center to care for people with epilepsy. Dr. Shah organized numerous national workshops creating awareness about the psychosocial impact of epilepsy. She worked tirelessly to dispel myths and taboos about epilepsy engaging the media and reaching out to opinion makers in the government. She initiated a unique epilepsy awareness program to educate thousands of school children in Mumbai. She conducts regular epilepsy camps for the impoverished, marginalized rural populations. As President of IEA, she launched a nationwide campaign for Prevention of Epilepsy and Women with Epilepsy. Passionate about her work, compassionate towards all, a leader who empowers and a visionary who sensitized India to psychosocial issues of epilepsy; Dr Shah says that in her journey with epilepsy she is a ‘taker’ rather than a ‘giver’ having been enriched by the learning from the lives of people with epilepsy.