Monday, May 4, 2009

Dr. Rajasekharan P. Warrier - Vice-Chancellor, Manipal University

An alumnus of Kasturba Medical College, as, Dr Raj Warrier is a distinguished Pediatrician. He has trained at Henry Ford Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Michigan, USA. An American Board Certified Paediatrician, he is currently Professor and Vice-Chairman of Paediatrics, Director of the Centre for Cancer & Blood Disorders at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Centre. He is also a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, American Academy of Paediatrics and many other Paediatric Associations of Hematology, Clinical Oncology, etc. in USA. He is actively associated with the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin and the Alumni Association of Kasturba Medical College in USA.

Dr. Rajasekharan P. Warrier is married to Jaya Warrier, and has two children - Smitha and Parmesh Warrier



Inaguration Ceremony Video
Dr. Raj Warrier (Vice-Chancellor of Manipal University), Dr Annama Kurien, Miss Sandhya Pai (Managing Editor, Taranga Magazine) , Dr T.S. Raghu Raman (Chief Operating Officer Medical Superintendent of KMC) in the inaguration ceremony.


Conferences attended and Guest Lectures given by Dr Raj Warrier (May 2007 - May 2008)

1. Invited by IAP Bangalore Chapter meeting to give a talk on “Humor in Medicine” in May 2007
2. Invited by IAP–Adolescent chapter of Kerala state to give a talk on “Hematological and oncological prolems in the adolescents” in July 2007 at Calicut
3. Invited by Sri Ramachandra University to deliver a lecture on “Bridging the gap in healthcare education at a Conference on Medical Education – Bridging the Gap sponsored by Harvard medical International in Chennai in July, 2007
4. Invited to be Guest Speaker on “Current Managemnt of ITP” at BatonRouge Paediatric Society, MS, USA in August 2007
5. Invited for the grand rounds on current management of ITP at University of Mississippi, Jackson, MS, USA in August 2007
6. Invited to be Guest Speaker on - Palliative care in pediatrics at EPEC conference at Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai in August 2007
7. Invited to be Guest Speaker on ‘Bleeding disorders’ at PEDISATCON 2007 at Hassan in August 2007
8. Invited to be a member of the Panel on Hematology / Oncology at PEDISATCON 2007 at Hassan in August 2007
9. Invited to be Guest Speaker on ‘Ototoxicity’ at CRE at Mangalore, KMC, Mangalore in September 2007
10. Invited for the IAP Paeds Quiz, Case discussion at KMC, Mangalore in September 2007
11. Invited to be Guest Speaker on 'Role of Police and Medical officers during investigation & Trial’ at CMLE for Udupi District Police and Judiciary, KMC, Manipal in September 2007
12. Invited to be Guest Speaker on ‘Paediatric Head and Neck Oncology’ at a Workshop on Head & Neck Onco Surgery, KMC, Manipal in September 2007
13. Invited to be Guest Speaker on ‘Bleeding disorders and Orthopedic Surgeon’ at VI Annual conference of Orthopaedic Association of South Indian States at Mangalore in September 2007.
14. Invited to be Guest Speaker on ‘ITP - to treat or not? and ABC of CBC’ at IAP CME at Palakkad in September 2007.
15. Invited to be Guest Speaker on “Indian University in the Global Education Scene” at South Zone Vice Chancellor Conference at Cochin University in September 2007.
16. Invited to be Guest Speaker on ‘Current concepts in the management of ITP’ and Hem/Onc care and discussion at CME in Pediatrics at Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital, Pune on 23/09/07
17. Invited to be Guest Speaker on ‘Normocytic Normochromic Anemia’ in Children at IAP South Pedicon 2007 at Hubli in September 2007
18. Invited to be Guest Speaker on Clinical Research and Clinical Trials - Bench Marking Research in India at National Health Conference at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences Kochi in October 2007
19. Invited to be Guest Speaker on “Blood Safety – Cord Blood Banking and Stem Cell transplant” at Father Muller College, Mangalore – in October 2007
20. Invited to be the Guest Speaker at National Workshop conducted by MCOAHS on ‘Health Insurance in India-Issues for Indian Healthcare’ in October, 2007
21. Invited to be a member of the Organizing Committee of the International Meeting Of SIOP to be held in October 2007, Mumbai, India
22. Invited to be Guest Speaker on “Thrombosis in Pediatric Oncology” at SIOP in October 2007
23. Invited to deliver “Pratap Reddy Oration” at Annual Conference of International Medical Sciences Academy (IMSACON) in Nov, 2007
24. Patron and member of the organising committee of IAP-AAP CME organized by IAP Bangalore in Dec, 2007
25. Invited to deliver guest lecture ‘Approach to a pale child’ at IAP Talicherry in December, 2007
26. Invited for the International Conference on “Genetic and Molecular Diagnosis in Modern Medicine” Hyderabad, in January, 2008
27. Invited to deliver the Guest Lecture at IAP Bhuvaneshwar in January, 2008
28. Invited to deliver the key note address "Implications of inappropriate communication in current medical practice" at Air Force Hospital, Bangalore in January, 2008
29. Attended CME organized by Dept of Surgery, KMC, Mangalore in February 2, 2008
30. Delivered a guest lecture on "Recent Advances in Lab Diagnosis in children with cancer and blood disorders” at an Annual Workshop by Medical Laboratory Technology dept on "Recent advances by Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal. In February 2008
31. Attended CME organized by Dept. of Medical Oncology, Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences, Calicut in March, 2008.
32. Invited to deliver a guest lecture on “Pediatric sleep apnoea, diagnosis and management” at Respiratory therapy week organized by Respiratory therapy dept, Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal in March, 2008
33. Delivered a lecture on “Clinical Research and the Medical University” at VC conference held in Chennai at Dr MGR Medical University in April, 2008
34. Invited to deliver a guest lecture on “Changing scenario of health care sector in India” at a Management Development program for medical doctors at Manipal institute of Management – April 6, 2008
35. Attended conference on Thalassemia at India Habitat centre, New Delhi on April 12, 2008
36. Delivered a talk on “Medi Blogging” at Blogger’s meet organized by Manipal Institute of Communication on April 18, 2008
37. Delivered lectures on “Case Based Learning”, “Problem Based Learning” and “Pediatric Palliative care” at Palliative care conference 2008 organised by Manipal University, Manipal April 24-27, 2008

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

SUPER STAR JUNIOR-2 goes to.........Parvathy Warrier !!


Amrita TV's Super Star Junior-2 Ends with the Crowning of Parvathy






Parvathy has been anointed as the Super Star in Amrita TV's prestigious 8 month long reality show for the best singer in the 11-15 age group, 'Super Star Junior -2'.


In the Grand Finale held on the 11th of April, 2009 in Trivandrum, she rode the very crests of melody to claim the coveted crown as her own.


Parvathy received the winner's purse of Rs.5 lakhs from another super star -of the silver screen - Suresh Gopi, who was the Chief Guest of the Finale.

Link 1. Videos of all songs sung by Parvathy.

Link 2. Amritha TV videos


Ibi took home the second prize of Rs.3 lakhs while Anwar bagged the third spot and the two lakhs which went with it, in a feast of melody that was witnessed live by music lovers across over the globe.


In the three-tiered final round of the contest, with a performance that had overtones of the genius, X scaled the pitches of perfection to keep the competition at bay and pip them at the post.


Interspersing the nerve racking rounds that had the viewers at the edge of their seats, were other musical and dance performances -latest hits by playback singers Benny Dayal and Malgudi Shuba, performances by budding starlet Shamna Kasim and globe trotting pianist Stephen Devassy - that helped to let off steam and lent greater harmony to the musical nite.
While the three finalists strummed the chords of their talent to deliver their best in the round that mattered the most, the winner was being notched up by the SMS votes flowing in ceaselessly from every continent in the world.


When the last prize had been given and the 3 hour long Finale which had kept the capacity crowd in melodious raptures ended, 'Super Star Junior-2' became a milestone of a programme, against which new shows would be measured in the future.

TEAM Warriersonline.com congratulates Parvathy and her parents for this stupendous achievement and wishes Parvathy the very best in her singing career.

Padmashree for Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, Coimbatore chief.

For his selfless contribution to the field, Coimbatore Arya Vaidya Pharmacy chairman and managing director PR Krishnakumar was recently honoured with Padma Shree. It was an honour for Ayurveda also..




AFTER THE studies at the Ayurveda College in Shornur, Krishnakumar was active in examining the production of quality medicines, promotion of Ayurveda education, research and clinical services. And, Krishnakumar was instrumental in conducting the first-ever clinical research in traditional medicines to study the efficacy of Ayurvedic treatment on Rheumatoid Arthritis under the joint auspices of the WHO and the ICMR in 1977. Later, he conceived and implemented a unique seven-and-a-half-year educational programme in Ayurveda totally free. The programme was first affiliated to the Madras University and later to the Bharathiar University. It was also approved by the Central Council for Indian Medicine (CCIM).Ayurveda honoured“No practice though I have an Ayurveda degree and no marriage,” he had taken a firm decision. He had only one vision - promote authentic Ayurveda globally. For his selfless contribution to the field, Coimbatore Arya Vaidya Pharmacy chairman and managing director, Krishnakumar was recently honoured with Padma Shree. It was an honour for Ayurveda also.

In a freewheeling chat at the AVP’s Majlis Health Park at Thrissur, Krishnakumar airs his views.
Excerpts:

The main challenge that you face today?

FRANKLY, WE are lacking good physicians these days. The peculiarity of Ayurveda is that to know the science we must have thorough knowledge of other subjects such as Sanskrit, Vedas, Astrology etc. Our ancient Ayurveda acharayas were masters of this and they had spiritual consciousness. By just looking at a person, the acharayas were able to diagnose the disease and prescribe treatment. Though, it’s not applicable in this modern world, the present physicians should at least develop spiritual consciousness.

On moulding new generation doctors

Knowing the requirement of good physicians and the need for a bunch of creative youngsters, we set up an Academy – DIVYAM - of values with emphasis on meaningful and value-based education. The main aim of the academy is to enhance and optimise the individual potentiality of each child. Here, the child learns yoga, meditation, dance, music, drawing, painting, craft, karate, astrology and Ayurveda.

More than this, astrology plays an important role in one’s life. So, before giving admission, we will check the horoscope of the child and if the child is fated to be an Ayurveda physician, we will give training for that also in the initial stage.

In short, DIVYAM academy is the heaven of children. Here, they can think according to their interest, no burden of syllabus and home work. And they learn they are the masters of their lives.

On integrating Astrology in Ayurveda

A critical examination of the horoscope of a patient will show the disease of the patient and then the treatment can be prescribed easily. But we cannot rely totally on Astrology as nowadays hoax astrologers are also there. However, it is good if an Ayurveda doctor knows Astrology. It makes the diagnosis easier and helps to give a clear picture of the disease.

According to Astrology, infertility and spinal cord diseases occur due to snake’s curse. From my experience, I can vouch that poojas had brought about good results in some cases.
For example, Ravi Shastri had no child for 18 years after marriage. When he consulted Dr KG Raveendran, medical director, AVP, he first checked the horoscope of Shastri and his wife and told them about the curse of snake. Within one year of performing poojas, Shastri was blessed with a kid.

On the need of revamping Ayurveda syllabus

Nowadays, the BAMS students are learning outdated syllabus. Though we submitted several proposals to the Central government, it has not taken any action yet. By this apathy, the authorities concerned are killing our ancient medicine system.

On receiving Padma Shree
It is a recognition for Ayurveda and it’s not at all a personal success. It’s a new beginning in my life and the honour makes me more responsible as I have to do more for the field. Anyway, this award is a green signal for the remaining work and I know I have “miles to go before I sleep….
Message to the society

All branches of science should think and contribute for the development of Ayurveda. For example, invention of stethoscope was a contribution of Physics to Allopathy. Like that new developments in technology (bio-technology, nano-technology) should work for the development of our medicinal system which has a history of 5000 years.

On expansion plans of AVP

We are not in a hurry to grow. At present, we are aiming at providing quality treatment for the patients rather than opening up new centres in every nook and corner.

However, the dream course (Allopathy and Ayurveda) started by Krishnakumar at Coimbatore is now awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court. He said that if the verdict is not in his favour, he will think about starting the course in foreign countries.
For more on Padmashree PR Krishnakumar and Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, Coimbatore click here.
TEAM Warriersonline congratulates Padmashree PR Krishnakumar on this occassion and urges all to emulate his success story.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Mohan Warrior – President and Chief Executive Officer


Mohan Warrior joined Alfalight Inc. as president and chief executive officer (CEO) in February 2004. Prior to joining Alfalight, Mr. Warrior's career includes 15 years at Motorola Semiconductors (now Freescale) where he most recently led the test and assembly operations, a group of 3500 employees, in the US, Scotland and Korea. He previously held senior-level leadership positions at Motorola including managing operations for silicon wafer fabrication, and leading a global team of scientists and engineers to develop advanced packaging solutions.


Following Motorola, Mr. Warrior gained a successful track record as an entrepreneur launching two start-ups. Immediately prior to Alfalight, Mr. Warrior was the president and CEO of Nanocoolers, a thin film thermoelectric cooling company in Austin, Texas.


Mr. Warrior received a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi, an MS degree in Chemical Engineering from Syracuse University, and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. He was a founding charter member of the Austin chapter of TiE (The IndUS Entrepreneurs), a non-profit global network of entrepreneurs and professionals and is currently a charter member of TiE Midwest. Mr. Warrior has also served as a reviewer for both the Texas State Education Board for Advanced Research Programs (Material Science) and the National Science Foundation (Electronics Materials).


Contributed by: Latha Warrier

NRI picks top US tech award for Motorola


Padmasree Warrior, executive vice president and chief technology officer, Motorola, and the driving force behind the company's recent growth and innovative successes, accepted the 2004 National Medal of Technology Award from President George W Bush on behalf of her company at a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on February 13.


Warrior is also responsible for the success of Motorola Labs, the global software group and emerging early-stage businesses of the company. Her operational responsibilities include leading a global team of 4,600 technologists, prioritising technology programmes, creating value from intellectual property, guiding creative research from innovation through early-stage commercialisation, and influencing standards and roadmaps.She also serves as a technology advisor to the office of the chairman and to the board's technology and design steering committee.


The prestigious National Medal of Technology annual award recognised Motorola for its outstanding contributions to America's technological innovation and competitiveness.Established in 1980 by an Act of US Congress, this is the highest honour awarded by the President to America's leading innovators.Ed Zander, Motorola chairman and chief executive officer, said, "All of us at Motorola are honoured to receive the National Medal of Technology from the President.""This award belongs not only to the talented employees of today but to the several generations of Motorolans who built our heritage of innovation. Given this heritage, we strongly support the President's plan to keep America the world's most competitive and innovative nation," he added.


Warrior has been with Motorla since 1994 and is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (from where she received her bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering). She then obtained her master of science degree in chemical engineering from Cornell University."We applaud the Administration for proposing increased investments in R&D, in particular for the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) at Commerce and the National Science Foundation," said Warrior."From convergence to mobile Internet to nanotechnology, we must educate, excite and inspire our nation's children about science, technology, engineering and mathematics," she said.


In an interview with rediff.com, immediately after accepting the award, Warrior said, "It's a great honour, I feel really humbled, and I feel very happy for all of our engineers worldwide, because the award is really theirs."


She said being in the company of several other leading scientists and technologists who were also awarded the National Medical of Science and the National Medal of Technology Award, "who made these great breakthroughs in the fields of science and technology was very inspiring to me to be amongst of the company of these people."


Warrior said while giving her the medal at the awards ceremony and also preceding the ceremony "he (President Bush) talked quite a lot to me and asked me if I was from India and I said, 'Yes, I came to the US on a student visa to go to graduate school and then stayed here.' And he said 'we need more people like you. We need more talented people from around the world to come and contribute and help our economy grow and build our innovative strengths to be competitive.'"


She said Bush had also told her that he was looking forward to his visit to India. "He said, 'I am going to India in a couple of weeks and I'll be meeting once again with my good friend, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.'"


Bush in his remarks before presenting the National Medals of Science and Technology, declared, "It is a honour to be in the company of so many bright and distinguished Americans. Each of our honorees has been blessed with talent, and each has used their talent to the fullest.""The work we honour today has improved the lives of people everywhere. It has helped to move our economy forward and it has helped to make sure that America is the leader of innovation in our world. The medals are our nation's way of expressing gratitude to gifted and visionary citizens."


Bush said that these annual awards "are the highest award a President can bestow for astounding achievement in science and technology. They recognise work that has helped expand the horizons of human knowledge. The National Medal of Science honors those whose research has enhanced our understanding of life and the world around us. And the National Medal of Technology recognises innovators whose work keeps America on the cutting edge with discoveries that change the way we live.
Contributed by: Latha Warrier

Padmasree Warrior, Chief Technology Officer, Cisco Systems

Padmasree Warrior is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Cisco Systems. As CTO she is responsible for driving the company’s technology innovations and strategy, and works closely with its senior executive team and board of directors to align these efforts with Cisco’s corporate goals. As an evangelist for what is possible, she pushes the organization to stretch beyond current capabilities – not just in technology, but also in strategic partnerships and new business models.

Warrior joined Cisco in March 2008. Prior to that, she was the CTO at Motorola from 2003 to 2007, where she led a team of 26,000 engineers with an annual R&D budget of $3.7 billion. She had direct leadership accountability for Motorola research, global software group, standards, intellectual property and technology policy. Over the course of her 23 year career at Motorola, she served in a broad range of roles, including Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Motorola’s Energy Systems Group, and as Corporate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector.

Warrior’s energetic, approachable and pragmatic leadership style integrates ideas from diverse sources, which include engineers, sociologists, technologists, marketers, business leaders, policy experts and others. Throughout her career, she has earned a reputation as a visionary and change agent. She has the track record for establishing processes that tap a rich diversity of technical, business and entrepreneurial IQ to nurture disruptive and breakthrough innovations, speed development time to market, and improve the way people work, live, play and learn.

Under Warrior’s leadership, Motorola was awarded the 2004 National Medal of Technology by the President of the United States, the first time the company had received this honor. Recently, the Economic Times ranked her as the 11th Most Influential Global person of Indian origin, and the United States Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce recognized her with its prestigious Excellence Award. In 2008, the Wall Street Journal recognized Warrior as one of the “Top 50 Women to Watch”.

Warrior is a strong and vocal advocate for women and minorities in math, science and engineering. In 2007, she was inducted into the Women in Information Technology International Hall of Fame, and received the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago Outstanding Woman of Achievement Award. She has been recognized as a role model by many organizations, including the Girl Scouts Illinois Crossroads Council, Notre Dame Girls High School in Chicago, the South Asian Women Leadership Forum and as a Science Spectrum Trailblazer. In 2001 she was one of six women nationwide selected to receive the "Women Elevating Science and Technology" award from Working Woman magazine.

Warrior is also a committed community leader. She has served on the boards of Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet and Museum of Science and Industry, the Chicago Mayor’s Technology Council. She currently serves on the Singapore Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Cornell University Engineering Council and the advisory council of the Indian Institute of Technology. She previously served on the Texas Governor's Council for Digital Economy, the White House Fellowships Selection Board, and the Technology Advisory Council for the FCC. She was a member of the Advisory Committee for the Computing and Information Science and Engineering of the National Science Foundation (NSF). Warrior is a highly sought after public speaker and has the unique gift of communicating complex technical ideas in a simple and easy to understand manner. She is a passionate advocate and practitioner of innovation.

Warrior holds a M.S. degree in chemical engineering from Cornell University and a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in New Delhi, India. In 2007 she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Engineering from New York's Polytechnic University. Warrior has experience in corporate governance serving on the boards of Ferro Corporation (2002-2005) and Corning Inc (2005-2008). A naturalized US citizen, she is married to Mohandas Warrior, President and CEO of Alfalight, Inc. Mohan and Padmasree are the proud parents of a son, Karna who is attending the Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora, Illinois.
Contributed by: Latha Warrier