IAPEN INDIA CORE GROUP : Gastrointestinal Nutrition
About the IAPEN INDIA Gastrointestinal Nutrition Core Group
Aim :
To advance evidence-based, patient-centered nutritional care for individuals with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders through interdisciplinary collaboration, education, and clinical excellence.
Vision:
To strengthen the role of nutrition as a core part of GI care across all healthcare settings.
Mission:
- Create clear nutrition guidelines for common GI conditions.
- Train and support healthcare teams in GI nutrition.
- Work together with doctors, dietitians, and nurses for better patient care.
- Encourage simple, practical, patient-friendly nutrition solutions.
Meet The Team:
Founder
Dr. Bijju Pottakat
- Professor and Head, Surgical Gastroenterology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education Research, Puducherry
- Executive committee member of three professional societies
- Guide to PhD and Post-Doctoral Fellows
- Programme Director of fellowship in HPB Surgery
- Expert committee member of several faculty selection boards
- Examiner for several institutions and national board
- Author of national guidelines in patient safety, more than 100 scientific publications including textbook chapters.
Mentor
Dr. Patta Radhakrishna
- MS, MCh
- Director of Surgical Gastroenterology & Minimal Access Surgery, SIMS (SRM Institutes for Medical Science), Vadapalani, Chennai.
Chief Program Officer
Bidita Shah
- M.Sc. Dietetics and FSM, UGC NET certified
- European ESPEN diploma in clinical nutrition and metabolism,
- Teacher to LLL, ESPEN,
- Certified Diabetes Educator
- Certified FODMAP Dietitian for IBS management from Monash university , Australia.
- Founder owner PNC ,A state of the art clinical nutrition clinic, Surat, Gujarat.
- Certified in Geriatric medicine and Gerontology from GSI
- Award-winning Clinical Nutritionist, author, and contributor to national guidelines with multiple publications.
Program Officer
Dr. Kamna Bhati
- MSc, UGC-NET, PhD – Foods and Nutrition
- Dietician & Officer In-Charge, Department of Dietetics, AIIMS Bathinda
- Former Assistant Dietician, PGIMER Chandigarh
Advisor
Dr. Amit Goel
- MD, DNB, DM, MNAMS, MSc Epidemiology (London SHTM) Professor & Head Department of Hepatology
- Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI)
- Head, WHO Collaborating Center for Viral Hepatitis
- More Than 100 Scientific Publications Including Textbook Chapters.
Executive Members
Dr. Gourav Kaushal
- MBBS, MS (General Surgery), M. Ch (Surgical Gastroenterology)
- Associate Professor and Head
- Department of Surgical Gastroenterology
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bathinda, Punjab
- An Institute of National Importance under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), Govt. of India
Dr. Gajendra Bhati
- M.S., FMAS, M.Ch.
- Surgical Gastroenterology –JIPMER
- Assistant Professor, Department of surgical gastroenterology
- AIMSR, Bathinda, Punjab
Dr. Naresh Gabani
- M.S (Masters in Surgery) General Surgery
- M.Ch (Magister Chirurgie) Surgical Gastroenterology SGPGIMS, Lucknow
- FICRS (Fellowship in robotic surgery) Robotic Surgery
- Head of the department (Gastrointestinal and Robotic Surgery), Gujarat Gastro and Vascular Hospital, Surat, Gujarat
Dr. Nisharg Patel
- MD, DrNB
- Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist SIDS Hospital, Surat
- Specialized in functional GI disorders and advanced diagnostics.
- Experienced in manometry, 24-hr pH metry and biofeedback therapy.
Dr. Chetan Raameshh Kalal
- MBBS, MD (Medicine, KEM Mumbai)DM Hepatology (ILBS, New Delhi)
- Chief Hepatologist & Liver Transplant Physician
- First DM Hepatologist of Maharashtra
- Recipient, AASLD Award
- Honorary Trainee Member, AASLD / EASL
- FNAMS – Fellow, National Academy of Medical Sciences.
Dr. Safeena Beevi S.S.
- Ph. D (JIPMER), MSc. Nursing (First Rank/Gold Medalist)
- Associate Professor – JNMC, Aligarh Muslim University (Govt. of India), UP
- Total experience:- 25 years in Central Government
- Author of multiple textbooks and 25+ international publications GI nutrition and liver-transplant–related research.
Ms. Safala Mahadik
- PGD dietetics and Applied Nutrition, RD , CDE
- Sr. Clinical Metabolic Dietician (36 yrs experience)
- KEM hospital, Parel Mumbai
- Certified keto Epilepsy Dietician
- Certified FODMAP - Monash University
- Adjunct faculty, SVT college, BMN college, Mumbai.
Ms. Anjali Bhola
- Registered Dietician with 23 years of experience at NCI, AIIMS Jhajjar
- Specializes in gastrointestinal surgery, cancer and critical care nutrition.
- Published researcher and Co-Investigator on multiple AIIMS projects.
Malavika Athavale
- Clinical & IBS/ IBD Nutritionist
- Eatrite - The Nutrition Clinic
Girija Damle-Mehendale
- PhD Scholar, Junior Research Fellow, Faculty Member at SVT College of Home Science (SNDT WU)
- Young Scientist Awardee (NSI 2023).
Ms. Nandhini G
- Clinical Nutritionist, Certified Diabetic Educator, and Holistic Nutritionist
- UGC NET-qualified Academician