New Delhi/ Hyderabad: National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has awarded a gold medal to Dr Bhavana Mastebhakti
Dr Bhavana, an associate consultant in interventional Cardiology at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in New Delhi, will formally receive the honor at the 23rd NBEMS Convocation on May 23, 2026. The award marks a moment of immense pride for the Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where her family traces its roots.
A Legacy of Excellence
The NBEMS Gold Medal is widely regarded as the absolute pinnacle of postdoctoral medical training in India. To qualify, candidates must clear the Doctorate of National Board (DrNB)—the nation’s highest superspecialty degree—including its grueling theory and practical exams, on their very first attempt. Dr. Bhavana secured this rare distinction during the January 2025 academic session.
The medal is named in honor of the late Dr. Harbans Singh Wasir, a Padma Bhushan recipient and former Head of Cardiology at AIIMS, who was a pioneer of preventive cardiology in India.
The achievement further cements a family legacy of medical service; Dr. Bhavana is married to Dr. Mamidipalli Siddhartha, a Consultant in Surgical Oncology at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Noida.
Pioneering “Environmental Cardiology”
While Dr. Bhavana is an expert in high-tech interventional procedures like Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) and complex angioplasties, her work extends far beyond the operating table. She has emerged as a leading voice in the critical field of Environmental Cardiology.
She recently co-authored the textbook Environmental Cardiology – A Community Medicine Perspective, which investigates how “silent” factors—such as air pollution, noise, and urban toxins—accelerate coronary artery blockages, even in people showing no symptoms.
A Warning for the Telugu States
Her research comes at a critical time for her home region. Recent health data reveal a sobering reality for the Deccan plateau:
42% of all certified deaths in Telangana are now attributed to diseases of the circulatory system.
Young Professionals at Risk: Doctors in Hyderabad and Vijayawada report a massive surge in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests among individuals in their 20s and 30s.
“The paradigm of heart disease has shifted,” experts note, echoing Dr. Bhavana’s research. “It is no longer just an affliction of the elderly. The ‘perfect storm’ of chronic stress, Indian genetic predispositions, and severe pollution is triggering premature cardiac events.”
Dr. Bhavana’s journey—from her MBBS and MD at Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) to her national recognition today—serves as both an inspiration and a warning. Her work reinforces that while world-class surgery is vital, the future of heart health in India lies in aggressive prevention and environmental awareness.
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