Unifying science with the spirit of compassion, Apollo Hospitals clinicians have netted a place among the world’s finest in Stanford University’s 2025 list of the top 2 percent scientists—a recognition that celebrates their indefatigable pursuit of healing through research, empathy, and innovation.
By uniting science with the spirit of compassion, Apollo Hospitals clinicians have achieved a It’s a moment of healing glory and hushed corridors of medicine, where lives are saved one heartbeat at a time. In this setting, a quiet triumph has echoed across oceans. Twelve eminent clinicians and researchers from the Apollo Hospitals Group have been recognized in Stanford University’s 2025 global list—an accolade that transcends statistics and enters the realm of inspiration. This recognition not only celebrates the individual achievements but also underscores the global impact of Indian healthcare, filling us with pride and confidence in our country’s medical excellence and innovation.
Curated by Stanford University in collaboration with Elsevier, this prestigious global index celebrates those rare scientists who stand at the pinnacle of discovery — measured not merely by numbers or citations, but by the depth of their impact on humanity’s shared journey toward healing.
It reflects a philosophy deeply rooted in compassion, curiosity, and innovation — a reminder that medicine, when guided by both heart and intellect, transforms into something greater than science: a living art of healing.
A JOURNEY MEASURED IN HUMANITY
At the core of this honor lies a timeless truth—that every act of clinical excellence begins with a spark of curiosity and every discovery is born of empathy. From the wards of Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi to the pediatric ICUs of Chennai, and from the research labs of Navi Mumbai to the academic halls of Chittoor, the twelve honored names represent far more than Apollo’s triumph—they embody India’s growing resonance in global medical research, where every breakthrough carries the pulse of humanity.
THE HONORED CLINICIANS ARE:
- Dr Debanjan Banerjee, Psychiatry – Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata.
- Dr (Prof.) Raju Vaishya, Orthopedics – Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.
- Dr (Prof.) Rajesh Malhotra, Orthopedics – Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.
- Dr Anil Keith D’Cruz, Head and Neck Surgical Oncology – Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai.
- Dr Arvind Bagga, Pediatric Nephrology – Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.
- Dr Sushil Kabra, Pediatric Pulmonology – Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.
- Dr S.V.S. Deo, Surgical Oncology – Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.
- Dr Punit Sharma, Nuclear Medicine – Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata.
- Dr Sushma Bhatnagar, Palliative Medicine – Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.
- Dr Abhishek Vaish, Orthopedics – Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.
- Dr Suchitra Ranjit, Pediatric Intensive Care – Apollo Children’s Hospital, Chennai.
- Dr Shaik Jakeer, Assistant Professor, Mathematics – The Apollo University, Chittoor.
Their work—spanning the frontiers of psychiatry, oncology, pediatrics, orthopedics, and biomedical research—speaks to a single, unifying truth: healing is a dialogue between science and the soul.
VOICE OF PRIDE AND PURPOSE
Reacting to the announcement, Dr Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals, expressed both pride and gratitude.
“We are immensely proud of our clinicians and researchers who have been featured in Stanford University’s global list of the top 2 per cent scientists. Behind every achievement like this are individuals who bring passion, perseverance, and purpose to their work. Our clinicians and researchers exemplify our belief that care and innovation are inextricably linked. It is a proud moment for Apollo—and for the Indian healthcare sector.”
Her words resonated with quiet conviction. They reminded the world that this recognition is not an endpoint, but a milestone—one carved out by decades of dedication to research, evidence-based practice, and the unyielding belief that excellence in care begins with excellence in understanding.
THE HEARTBEAT OF INNOVATION
The Stanford–Elsevier list is considered among the most rigorous global evaluations of scientific influence. It assesses standardized citation indicators across more than 200 fields, weighing impact rather than volume, and quality over quantity. To be ranked among the top 2 per cent of scientists in the world is to stand among thinkers who have shaped the trajectory of modern medicine.
For Apollo Hospitals, this acknowledgment is also an echo of a legacy first envisioned in 1983, when Dr Prathap C. Reddy founded India’s first corporate hospital in Chennai—a dream born of necessity, driven by compassion. From those modest beginnings to now becoming the world’s largest integrated healthcare platform, Apollo’s growth has been guided by one unwavering principle: to bring the best of global medicine within the reach of every Indian. This recognition is a testament to our commitment to research, education, and patient care, reassuring our stakeholders and the public of our continued dedication to excellence in healthcare.
Today, that dream extends far beyond operating rooms. It lives in the pulse of research labs, in the curiosity of young doctors, and in the courage to question what more can be done for every patient who walks through Apollo’s doors.
For Dr Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director of Apollo Hospitals Group, the achievement is both validation and motivation.
“Academics and research are central to our mission statement,” he said. “In 2024, 1,047 papers were published by our reputed faculty in journals across the world.”
These are not just numbers. Each paper represents years of data, observation, and collaboration—bridges built between clinical practice and scientific exploration. The hospitals’ wards become classrooms, their operating theaters laboratories, and their clinicians’ lifelong students of the human condition.
Through this synthesis of care and curiosity, Apollo continues to blur the boundaries between treatment and discovery, ensuring that every breakthrough eventually touches a patient’s life.
TWELVE PILLARS OF EXCELLENCE
Each of the twelve honorees carries a distinct story—bound by a shared devotion to human betterment. Their individual journeys, their struggles, and their triumphs are a source of inspiration, connecting us to their achievements and the lasting impact they have made in their respective fields.
In Kolkata, Dr Debanjan Banerjee has emerged as a thought leader in psychiatry, championing mental health as a central component of holistic care. Dr Punit Sharma’s work in nuclear medicine illuminates the unseen—using imaging technology to detect disease long before symptoms surface.
In New Delhi, Dr Raju Vaishya and Dr Rajesh Malhotra have advanced orthopedic science, pioneering surgical techniques that restore not just movement but dignity. Dr Arvind Bagga and Dr Sushil Kabra have brought hope to children struggling with chronic respiratory and kidney disorders, transforming pediatric care into a promise of resilience.
In Navi Mumbai, Dr Anil Keith D’Cruz’s groundbreaking work in surgical oncology has redefined cancer treatment pathways. Dr S.V.S. Deo’s precision-driven oncology practice stands as a testament to meticulous science serving humanity.
“We are immensely proud of our clinicians and researchers who have been featured in Stanford University’s global list of the top 2 percent scientists. Behind every achievement like this are individuals who bring passion, perseverance, and purpose to their work. Our clinicians and researchers exemplify our belief that care, and innovation go hand in hand. It is a proud moment for Apollo—and for the Indian healthcare sector”
Dr Sushma Bhatnagar’s contribution to palliative medicine ensures that compassion remains at the heart of care—that even in suffering, dignity is never lost. Dr Abhishek Vaish’s orthopedic innovations, Dr Suchitra Ranjit’s life-saving expertise in pediatric intensive care, and Dr Shaik Jakeer’s mathematical insights at Apollo University, Chittoor, collectively represent Apollo’s multi-disciplinary power—where science meets empathy.
Their inclusion in Stanford’s list is not merely personal recognition; it is a mirror reflecting India’s expanding role in global healthcare innovation.
WHERE RESEARCH MEETS RESPONSIBILITY
Apollo Hospitals’ approach to medicine has always been holistic—an ecosystem where clinical excellence, academic pursuit, and social responsibility are interwoven threads.
The institution’s centers of excellence are more than departments; they are sanctuaries of continuous learning. Whether developing AI-driven diagnostic tools, advancing minimally invasive surgery, or pioneering stem cell therapies, Apollo’s guiding philosophy remains unchanged: to heal through science and to serve through compassion.
The inclusion of twelve of its experts in the Stanford-Elsevier ranking is a reminder that every act of care — every diagnosis, every innovation—contributes to humanity’s shared library of healing.
A LEGACY ROOTED IN COMPASSION
When Dr Prathap C. Reddy opened Apollo’s first hospital in 1983, India’s healthcare landscape was still evolving. His vision was audacious yet simple—that no Indian should have to travel abroad for quality medical care.
From a single hospital in Chennai, Apollo has now evolved into a global healthcare powerhouse—with 79 hospitals, over 10,400 beds, 6,800 pharmacies, 2,900 clinics, and 500 telemedicine centers. It has performed over 5,00,000 surgeries and 3,00,000 angioplasties, saving millions of lives while mentoring generations of doctors and nurses.
Yet, beneath these staggering figures lies a more profound achievement—the restoration of faith in Indian medicine. Apollo’s success has helped place India on the world map not just as a destination for healthcare but as a contributor to global medical thought.
THE SCIENCE OF THE SOUL
Medicine, in its truest sense, is both science and sacrament. The clinicians honored by Stanford stand as torchbearers of this dual calling—advancing frontiers of discovery while keeping empathy at the heart of healing.
In pediatric ICUs, where a child’s fragile breath dictates the rhythm of hope, or in oncology wards, where courage often precedes cure, their research becomes an unseen guardian. For these physicians, every statistic carries a story, every citation a heartbeat, every success a second chance at life for someone, somewhere.
Such recognition, therefore, is not confined to laboratories or journals—it belongs equally to the patients whose lives their work has quietly transformed.
THE GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE
The inclusion of Apollo’s scientists in Stanford’s 2025 global top 2 per cent list underscores a more profound truth: that India’s contribution to world medicine is not emerging—it is ascending.
From cardiac surgery to nuclear imaging, from medical education to research collaboration, Apollo’s clinicians represent a generation of Indian doctors who are no longer merely following global standards—they are defining them.
It also signals a shift in how the world perceives Indian healthcare — not as a service industry, but as a knowledge ecosystem capable of shaping international medical discourse.
Apollo’s academic arm, through its hospitals, universities, and training centers, nurtures a new generation of clinicians who are as comfortable in research laboratories as they are in operating theaters. The recognition of Dr Shaik Jakeer from The Apollo University, Chittoor, affirms Apollo’s belief that science does not belong to silos—that even mathematics, when placed in the service of medicine, can predict, protect, and prolong life.
As global healthcare evolves, Apollo’s educational initiatives—from fellowships and digital learning to collaborations with international universities—ensure that India’s medical talent remains not just relevant but revolutionary.
WORDS THAT HEAL
When Dr Preetha Reddy says that “care and innovation go hand in hand,” she captures the essence of what makes Apollo distinct. The institution’s greatest strength lies not just in its infrastructure, but in its culture of conscience—a belief that every advance in research must ultimately reach the bedside of the patient in need.
In the sterile precision of laboratories, Apollo’s scientists do not forget the pulse of humanity. In the complex graphs of citations and indices, they still see the faces of those who wait, hope, and heal.
BEYOND ACCOLADES: THE LARGER VISION
For Apollo, recognition is not an endpoint but a renewed calling — a gentle reminder that every accolade carries with it a greater duty. The inclusion of twelve of its distinguished clinicians in Stanford’s global list strengthens its enduring promise: to weave the precision of science with the compassion of healing, ensuring that every breakthrough in research finds its true purpose in the comfort of a patient’s recovery.
As Dr Sibal often notes, “Every publication is a promise—that we will keep questioning, keep learning, and keep healing.”
Apollo’s investment in research—from genomics and telemedicine to regenerative medicine—continues to redefine how India approaches the future of healthcare. The organization stands not merely as a provider, but as a torchbearer of transformation — a place where healing and discovery walk hand in hand.
A NATIONAL MOMENT OF PRIDE
In a country where millions still look to doctors as symbols of hope, this recognition is not limited to one institution. It belongs to Indian medicine itself—to the generations of doctors, nurses, and scientists who believe that knowledge is the most valid form of service.
The inclusion of Apollo’s clinicians in the Stanford list reaffirms what India has always known—that the spirit of healing knows no boundaries. It speaks not only of excellence achieved, but of humility preserved—of a nation learning to lead the world by caring for it.
As the sun set over Hyderabad’s skyline, and lights flickered across Apollo’s hospitals from Chennai to Kolkata, a quiet realization dawned. Behind every global accolade lies a story of long nights, failed experiments, and unwavering faith—faith that the subsequent discovery will heal one more life.
For the doctors honored by Stanford, and for the institution that shaped their purpose, this moment is not a conclusion but a renewal of an ancient promise — the enduring vow to serve with humility, to learn without end, and to heal with both hands and heart.
Their journey—from the wards where hope is born to the world stage where science is celebrated—reminds us that the truest triumphs of medicine are never written in journals, but in the gentle rise of a patient’s breath, the tearful gratitude of a family, the heartbeat that finds its rhythm again.
And as Apollo Hospitals commemorates this milestone, one truth echoes softly yet powerfully: when science learns to listen to compassion, healing transcends time—and becomes eternal.
