IAPEN India Chennai Chapter
Hon. President
Dr. S. Kalavathy
- Completed my MBBS from Kilpauk Medical College in 1992
- DA in 1996, DNB in 1997
- Practicing Anesthesia in Government sector and various city hospitals.
- Currently into full time Critical Care for the last 14 years.
- Have worked in rural set ups also.
- Social interests in Nutrition in Critical Care, AKI, Sepsis management and
Aspiration pneumonia prevention.
- 33+ years in medicine
- Full time Critical care for the last 15+ years
- Served as Senior Consultant, Critical Care at SIMS Hospital
- Secretary ISCCM Chennai
Editorial Board Member, Critical Care Communications,
- Peer reviewer, Author
-Trained in Critical Care Nutrition (ESICM), Neuro critical Care (Bicocca, Milan), and POCUS (Vicenza, Italy),
Vice President
Dr. Vinitha Krishnan
Qualification: M.sc, Phd
Chief Clinical Dietitian -SRM Institutes for Medical science (SIMS)
And HOD ,PG Department of Clinical Nutrition SRM Institute of Science and Technology(vadapalani campus)
Total years of experience as Clinical Nutritionist: 28yrs
Served as head department of dietetics Apollo Hospitals Chennai and as consultant clinical nutritionist at Fortis Malar Hospital
Research Work and Publications:
- Authored a book titled Nutrition Planning Aid For Practicing Dietitians
- Editor for a recipe Book for Diabetes Reversal, Compiled a cancer diet therapy manual for adults, Published a book in Tamil on Diet therapy for common diseases, Authored few chapters for a book on Nutrition and Immunity in Tamil, 10 original research works presented as posters or papers in National and International conferences.
Awards and Recognition : Awarded the best diet titian at the Apollo hospital , qualified internal auditor for ISO, JCI A and NABH audits.
Membership: Life member-IDA and ISPEN, Board of studies for Madras University
Secretary
Ms. Merina Elizabeth Alex
Qualification: M.sc., RD.,CDE
Current Designation: Asst. Manager Dietetics, The Madras Medical Mission
Total years of experience: 26
Faculty of MMM College of Health Science & MMM College of Nursing
Resource person for various conference- National level
Research work & Publication:
Authored 3 chapters in Nutrition Text Books
5 Publication in International Journals
Awards & Recognition :
Received Award of Excellence in Innovation for Clinical Nutrition ( State level)
- ICNC 2020
Membership :
Indian Dietetics Association, ISPEN, IAPEN India
Member of Board of studies -University of Madras
Specialisation : - Renal Nutrition
Hon. Treasurer
Ms. N Kalpana
M.Sc Nutrition and Dietetics
Chief Dietitian, Sooriya Hospital
Executive Committee Member
Prof. Dr. Dhanasekhar Kesavelu
M.B, MRCPCH, FRCPCH, CCT, Endoscopy
fellowship
Consultant Paediatric gastroenterologist
Honorary Lecturer School of Reproductive Medicine (UK)
Professor, Apollo Health Education and Research Foundation
Founder, President-Pediatric Gut Research Foundation of India.
Apollo Children's Hospital & SS Childcare
You tube 980K,Facebook 450K,Instagram 165K Followers
Publications:
95 publications in International Peer-reviewed journals & 4 text book chapters H-index-9,Citations-295
Area(s) of Interest: Inflammatory Bowel
disease, Probiotics, Gut Microbiota, Nutrition
Executive Committee Member
Dr. Meenakshi Bajaj
PG.DND., M.Sc., C.D.E., R.D., CCN (U.S.A)., LLL (Onco, Renal, Dm, MetS, EN, PN, Liver, Pulmonary Diseases) ESPEN Trained in Low FODMAP for IBS (Monash University), PhD
Registered Dietician, Author, Reviewer and Columnist
Experience of more than 3 decades in the field of Clinical & Therapeutic Nutrition
Dietician, Tamil Nadu Govt. Multi Super Specialty Hospital, Chennai
- Member,National Commision for Allied and Health Care Profession, Nutrition Science Professional Council, Govt. of India.
- Chapter Convener, Network of Professionals of Food and Nutrition, Chennai (FSSAI)
- NEC Member, Indian Dietetic Assn.& Association of Diabetes Educators(India)
- LEC Member, IAPEN, Chennai Chapter
- Reviewer, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews
& The Journal of Diabetology & Co-Editor, Journal of Indian Dietetic Association
- Member of District Advisory Committee, Eat Right Chennai
- Member Board of Studies, Dept. of Nutrition & Dietetics, SVT College Mumbai
- Awards: FITUP FEST, IAPEN, SADHANA AWARD, NECTAR, ROTARY CLUB CHENNAI CARNATIC AWARD-2024 Meritorious Service at TNGMSSH 2025
- Author of TWO LIVES-TWICE AS PRECIOUS-Medical Nutrition Therapy for Hyperglycemia in Pregnancy,2023 & DIET METRICS, Handbook of Food Exchanges, 2019
Executive Committee Member
Ms. Bala Prasanna D
Head-Nutrition and Dietetics
Mehta Multispeciality Hospitals India Pvt Ltd..
Executive Committee Member
Mr. Pitchiah Kasinathan
Senior Clinical Dietitian
Team Leader MGM Health care Ltd
Chennai
Executive Committee Member
Ms. Kowlini M
Qualification: M.Sc., CDE. RD
Chief Dietitian-Gleneagles Hospitals- Chennai
• Post-graduation with specialization in Food and Nutrition from Women’s Christian College, Chennai.
• Certified Diabetic Educator (CMC, Vellore)
• Certified Critical Care Nutritionist ( PANACEA, United Kingdom)
• Health Research Fundamental Course at NPTEL.
• State Level Food Processing Training at Food and Dairy Technology Institute.
• Research areas of Interest include Nutrition in Chronic Kidney Disease, Nutrition KAP with other paramedical staffs for effective nutrition Delivery and have presented posters in International Conferences.
•Professional practice includes 13 years of Clinical Service in Multispecialty dietetic practice.
• Publication includes“Development & Standardization of a Probiotic-Enriched Supplement of CKD” Asian Journal of biological & life Sciences (Web of Science).
• Participated and Organized many Nutritional Education Awareness Programmes in MRF, Regional Passport Office, NISSAN, Tube Products of India, IOC, ITC Group, Tamil Nadu Petroleum, Murugappa Group, Coromondal, MTC and Educational Institutions.
• Life Member of IDA, ISPEN, NSI, ADE, IAPEN and Association of Diabetes Educators of India, South Asian Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (SAPEN).
Executive Committee Member
Ms. Raja Kumari R
Work Experience :
Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Limited, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Senior Clinical Dietitian & Head - Department Of Dietetics - Apollo Specialty Hospitals @ Omr. Around 18+ Years Of Experience In Various Specialties.
Education :
Women’s Christian College, Chennai-6
M.Sc., Foods & Nutrition - 2006
Additional Courses Completed :
ESPEN LLL Courses: Nutrition In Prevention Disease, Chronic Intestinal Failure And Home PN, Obesity, Nutrition Support In ICU, Metabolic Syndrome, Pulmonary Disease
TACT Academy: Advanced Program In Critical Care Nutrition Part – 1
Fresenius Kabi Academy For Continuous Education (FACE): Nutrition Therapy In Critically Ill Patients, Nutritional Support In Renal Diseases, Perioperative Nutrition Therapy
Co-author For Nutrition Books
“My Food My Health” Chapter: Nutrition For Toddlers – Book On NCD For General Public
Executive Committee Member
Dr. Sivakumar Ganeshbabu
MBBS, MD Anaesthesiology,
DA Diploma Anaesthesiology, IDCCM Indian Diploma in Critical Care Medicine
Consultant Intensivist & Head –Adult Intensive care Unit,
Course Director Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Critical Care Medicine
The Madras Medical Mission
Executive Committee Member
Dr. Sankar Narayanan
MS , MCh surgical gastroenterology
Senior Consultant - GI surgery , GI oncology , Bariatric and Hernia surgery at Billroth hospitals , Chennai.
After completing his super speciality training in Surgical Gastroenterology, joined as an Associate consultant, Medanta the medicity , Gurugram 2018 to 2020.
He was the Co- principal investigator for Nutritional Insights Day study ( A multinational observational study). In additional he has Completed international visiting scholar program at ASAN medical centre , Seoul , South Korea in dept of Gastric surgery , HPB surgery , Colorectal surgery.
Subsequently worked as a Non academic SR , Dept of SGE at Jipmer , Puducherry . And ,Currently at Billroth hospitals ( Shenoy Nagar and Raja Annamalai Puram ) since September 2021.
Publications in numerous indexed journals, co -authored a chapter in the textbook of liver transplantation.
Executive Committee Member
Dr. Vidhyadharan Sivakumar
MBBS, MS(ENT), DNB(ENT), MCh (Head & Neck), FICRS, FEB-ORL HNS Clinical Fellowship in Robotic Head & Neck Surgery (Australia). Clinical Fellowship in Advanced Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Oncology (Australia) Mini-Fellowship in Sleep Surgery (Singapore) Director & Consultant Head & Neck Surgeon The Head And Neck Centre & Hospital (THANC Hospital), Chennai, India
Professional Work :
• Lead Academic and Research Coordinator for the Foundation for Dysphagia Research and Education [FDRE]
• National Observer – Indian representative for Asian Dysphagia Society (ADS)
• Former Executive Committee member – Association of Phono Surgeons of India (APSI)
• Former Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Head & Neck Surgery and Oncology at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi.
• Former Clinical Lead Consultant at the Swallowing Disorders Centre at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi. Area of Expertise:
• Robotic Head and Neck Surgery • Rehabilitation of Swallowing Disorders
• Transoral Laser Microsurgery • Skull Base Surgery
• Head & Neck Microvascular Reconstructive surgery
• Phono Surgery & Surgery for Swallowing disorders Publications and Awards
1. Several publications in peer-reviewed high impact journals.
2. Editor of Comprehensive Management of Head & Neck Cancers Textbook.
3. Co-authored chapters in textbooks for Head and Neck Oncology and Dysphagia management.
4. Part of the team which performed the first Tracheal Transplant in India.
5. Team Leader for India’s First Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) assisted Total Laryngectomy performed in 2022.
Probably, also the first surgery of its kind in the Indian Subcontinent.
Executive Committee Member
Dr. V. Dedeepiya Prasad
2007 till date: Teacher for DNB Internal Medicine and Family Medicine students, Apollo Hospitals, India
2007 till date: Teacher for IDCCM, IFCCM and DNB Critical Care, India
2013 till date: Teaching Assistant, Training Program in Regenerative Medicine, Univ. of Toronto, Canada
2015-2017: Course Director, M.Sc (Regen.Med), NCRM – TN Dr. MGR Med. Univ., India
2013-2015: Course Deputy Director, M.Sc (Regen.Med), NCRM, India
2004-2013: Assistant Professor, Apollo College of Nursing, India
2005-2010: Assistant Professor, AMS College of Physiotherapy, India
Certified ACLS / BLS / ATLS instructor
Executive Committee Member
Dr. S Rajesh
Senior Consultant Anaesthesiologist, Critical care specialist , Interventional Pain management & Palliative care specialist.
• MBBS From Govt. Salem Medical College (GMKMC), Salem- (passed out in April2001)
• Diploma in Anaesthesiology- Sri Ramachandra Medical college & Research Institute, Chennai. (June 2005)
• DNB in Anaesthesiology (Dec 2011)
• Training & Certification in Palliative care with Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC).- (June 2014)
• Fellowship in interventional Pain Management (FIPM)- Back & Pain Centre, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. (August 2014)
• Training & Certification in interventional Pain Management (FIPM) – Daradia pain Clinic, Kolkata. (October-2019
Please contact us on Email ID : iapenindiachennai@gmail.com
Activities
CME program was organized at Saveetha medical college on 8th December 2025. Nutrition in HPB surgery was taken by Doctor and Dietitian. 70 delegates( Doctors, Nurses and Dietitians) attended this program.
Case study competition was organized on 18th December 2025 at the SIMS Hospital. Case study competition winners
- First Prize- Ms. Chandini. G ( Tamil Nadu multi super speciality hospital Omandur)
- Second prize- Ms. Vijayashree- MGM
- Third prize- Dhanalakshmi Apollo speciality hospital
