A Life in Medicine
One of India's most respected voices in anaesthesiology, pain medicine, and palliative care. Her career began in 1981 at SMS Medical College, Jaipur — spanning clinical practice, academic leadership, research, and national policy for over four decades.
She established Onco-Anaesthesia as a recognized super-specialty in India, founded the country's first DM and MD programmes in Onco-Anaesthesia and Palliative Medicine at AIIMS, and drafted AIIMS's Pain Policy and End-of-Life Care Policy.
Education: MBBS & MD, SMS Jaipur · MSc Palliative Medicine, Cardiff University, UK · FAMS · FRCP, UK
Current Role: Principal Director, Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi (2026–present)
Philosophy & Vision
"Death is inevitable. Suffering need not be."
At the core of Dr. Bhatnagar's practice: every patient facing a serious illness deserves relief from pain, honest information, and an end of life marked by dignity. Her approach is holistic — treating the person alongside the disease, extending care to the family, and insisting on communication that is honest, compassionate, and unhurried.
Awareness
Expanding public and medical awareness of cancer pain and palliative care
Quality of Life
Ensuring cancer patients live with less pain and more peace
Dignity
Advocating for dignified end-of-life care for those with serious health conditions
Transforming Care Beyond Cure
When Dr. Bhatnagar started, palliative care in India was informal and under-resourced. She helped change that — building policies, training programmes, and clinical services that outlast any individual patient encounter.
Policy
Founded AIIMS Pain Policy & End-of-Life Care Policy; contributed to NDPS Act amendment (2014); WHO IMPACT Mission, Sudan (2012)
National Leadership
President, Indian Association of Palliative Care (2018–2025); Master Mentor, Palliative Care Program, India
Clinical Innovation
Advanced interventional pain techniques: Peripheral Nerve Field Stimulation, ultrasound-guided nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, Scrambler therapy
Training Programmes
IAPC Certificate Course at AIIMS (biannual); 17 editions of Foundation Course on Palliative Care (2009–2019); CTC Training Programme (7 editions, 2016–2025)
A Born Teacher
Colleagues and students call Dr. Bhatnagar a born teacher. Her classes cover more than clinical technique — she teaches communication, listening, and the ethics of sitting with a patient who is afraid. For her, teaching and patient care are the same craft.
Her emphasis is consistent: communication skills and the ability to listen to the patient's voice. Students describe her approach as holistic — the whole patient, the whole family, and the human being behind the clinical record.
"The whole patient, the whole family, and the human being behind the clinical record."
7 PhD
Scholars supervised to completion
46 DM
Onco-Anaesthesia candidates
41 MD
Palliative Medicine students
Research & Publications
Dr. Bhatnagar has led and collaborated on research across cancer pain, palliative care delivery, interventional techniques, and supportive care in oncology. Her published work spans peer-reviewed clinical research, book chapters, and edited volumes used in medical education.
Includes 100+ peer-reviewed publications, research projects, and conference papers.
Key books include Cancer Pain Management from a Developing-Country Perspective (IASP Press) and Textbook of Onco-Anaesthesia (Springer). Chief Editor, Indian Journal of Palliative Care (2009–2018).
Recognition of a Life's Work
Dr. Bhatnagar's contributions have been recognized by national governments, international medical societies, and professional bodies across four continents.
2024 — IASP Honorary Membership
International Association for the Study of Pain, World Congress on Pain, Amsterdam
2024 — IAHPC Individual Recognition Award
International Association of Hospice and Palliative Care
2023 — Cynthia Goh Award
Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network, Singapore
2023 — FAMS & IMA Bhushan Award
Fellow, National Academy of Medical Sciences; Dr. M. J. Joshi IMA Bhushan Award and Oration
2012–2019 — Earlier Distinctions
Susan Raj Pain Physician of the Year, World Institute of Pain (2012–13); IASP Award for Excellence, Milan (2012); Vishisht Chikitsa Ratna, Delhi Medical Association (2019); International Innovation Grant, Conquer Cancer Foundation/ASCO (2018)
Get in Touch
For academic collaborations, speaking engagements, patient referrals, or media enquiries.
Affiliation
Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi
Media Coverage
BBC · The New Yorker · Times of India · NDTV
Prof. Dr. Sushma Bhatnagar