Dr. RAJ KUMAR

MD (Pul. Med.), FAMS, MNASc, FICAAI, FICS, FNCCP(I), MAAAAI, MACAAI

Director, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, Delhi

Head, Pulmonary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi

Head, National Centre of Respiratory Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (NCRAAI)

Head, Tobacco Cessation Clinic, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, Delhi

Coordinator, National Tobacco Quitline Services, MoH&FW, New Delhi at VPCI

Chairman, WUS Health Centers, University of Delhi, Delhi

About Dr. Raj Kumar

Professor Raj Kumar is a renowned pulmonary physician, with nearly 3 decades of illustrious teaching experience to the students in the area of DM/MD/DTCD (Pulmonary Medicine)/ Ph.D. He has contributed vastly to the research activities related to chest and allied diseases, with proven excellence in quality patient care. Professor Kumar has vast administrative experience too.

Presently, Prof. Kumar is working as Director, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute (VPCI), Delhi,  a premier research Institute funded by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and maintained by the University of Delhi. Professor Kumar is Officer In-charge of the Viswanathan Chest Hospital, VPCI and also the Head of the National Centre of Respiratory Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (NCRAAI). He is Head of Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi, Delhi. He also headed the Department of Respiratory Allergy and Applied Immunology since 2008 at VPCI. Due to his vast clinical experience and excellent academic record, he was also selected as Director, AIIMS-PATNA in 2016.

Professor Kumar is presently member of Governing body of Shradhanand College and Rajkumari Amritkaur College of Nursing, Delhi University. He is also a member of Board of Studies, PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana and Chairman of WUS Health Centers of Delhi University. He is also associated in different committees of Delhi University and in several Ministries of Government of India.

Dr. Raj Kumar’s Valuable Contributions

Professor Kumar has been credited with the establishment of National Tobacco Quitline Services at VPCI, a pioneering service aimed to control and stop tobacco menace in the society, under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The National Tobacco Quitline Services which functions at VPCI was inaugurated by Shri J.P. Nadda, Honourable Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, on 30^th May 2016.

Professor Kumar has been working immensely on Anti-smoking campaign and Anti-smoking intervention in different parts of Delhi and other nearby states, providing free counselling and organizing educational programmes for quitters and public through “Tobacco Cessation Clinic” since 2002. Professor Kumar played a vital role in creating the Tobacco Dependence Treatment Guidelines under National Tobacco Control Programme, DGHS, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.

Professor Kumar also played instrumental role in starting the DM, Pulmonary Medicine Course in Institute, enrolled Diploma in Allergy and Applied Immunology subject in Medical Council of India and starting the National Center of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology (NCRAAI) and Pollen Count Station at VPCI.

Areas of Specialization

Professor Kumar’s contribution has been widely acclaimed all over the country/world in the field of Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis, Food Allergy, Respiratory Allergy, Allergy Testing & immunotherapy, Indoor Air Pollution and Health, Smoking Cessation, Bronchoscopy, Biomass Fuel used and their association with common respiratory diseases Asthma, Lung Cancer, COPD and Tuberculosis and Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

Trainings/Courses Undertaken

Professor Kumar has acquired knowledge and experience through many courses and training in various medical fields from international medical institutions of repute. To quote a few: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Medical Thoracoscopy from Marselille, France in 2004, Advance Training in Interventional Bronchoscopy from Singapore in 2007 and Bangkok, Thailand in 2008, Advance Training in Food Allergy from European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology at Castelbrando, Italy in 2008, Respiratory Allergy and Immunotherapy, USA in 2011 & Germany in 2016.

Prof. Kumar has also visited several developed and underdeveloped contries like; USA, Germany, France, Italy, China, Japan, Korea, Malyasia, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangaladesh, Nepal etc., to attend various Academic Meetings and delivered several lectures in Respiratory Diseases and allied sciences.

Positions Held in Scientific Societies

Professor Kumar is holding various positions in National and International Academic and Scientific Societies/ Associations:  

Vice President of Indian Association of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (IAAAI)

Secretary of Society of Tobacco Control (STC)

Treasurer of  South Asia Association of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (SAAAACI)

Joint Secretary of South Asia Thoracic Society (SATS)

Governing Body Member of National College of Chest Physicians of India (NCCP-I),

Fellowships of major scientific organisations in the field of Pulmonary Medicine, like; Fellow Academy of Medical Sciences (FAMS), International Medical Sciences Academy (IMSA), National College of Chest Physicians of India (NCCP-I), Indian Chest Society (ICS), Indian College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ICAAI).

He is, Member of European Respiratory Society(ERS), European College of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology(ECAACI), Geriatric Society of India, Asthma Foundation, Indian Medical Association (IMA), Indian Aerobiological Society, Indian Association of Occupational Health & Environment Sciences, Indian Association of Tuberculosis, International Commission of Occupational Health, American College of Chest Physicians (Indian Chapter), Indian Society for Study of Lung Cancer, Indian Association for Air Pollution Control, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology(AAAAI), National Academy of Sciences, India ( NASI ), National Academy of Medical Sciences (MNAMS).

Editor-in-Chief, Indian Journal of Chest Diseases and Allied Sciences, Assistant Editor, Indian Journal of of Allergy, Asthma & Immunolog and Section  Editor, Lung India.

Awards and Recognitions

Professor Raj Kumar has been a recipient of various National and International awards /honours: Shiksha Gaurav Puraskar in 2014 by Centre for Education Growth and Research, New Delhi; Excellence Award in 2012 for incredible contribution in the field of education by Mahatma Gandhi University, Meghalaya; David A and Julie A Steven Scholar Award for contribution on ABPA in 2006 in Greece; Senior Scientist Award in 1999; Rashtriya Gaurav Saman in 1998; Delhi Gaurav in 1997 by Delhi Government, for “Outstanding performance, remarkable contribution and distinguished service to the IMA-East Delhi Branch”.

Professor Kumar has delivered number of orations -- NCCP(I)–Lupin Chest Oration; Prof. DN Shivpuri Oration 2015 in field of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology on 29^th January 2016 at ICAAICON-2015, Chennai. Achievers Award 2017 for Exemplary contribution and commitment for protecting environment on the eve of World Environment Day 2017 at New Delhi. Respiratory Oration 2017 by Guwahati Medical College & Hospital, Guwahati.

Conferences/Seminars/Workshops

Professor Kumar has been Instrumental in organising 109 Conferences/Seminars/ Workshops at National and International level. To name a few: First International Conference of SAAAACI in 2011 and NAPCON-2011 [13^th Joint National Conference of the Indian Chest Society (ICS) and the National College of Chest Physicians (NCCP)] (2500 delegates)and ICAAICON-2011, ICAAICON-2016. He has also conducted many workshops to train the physicians, researchers, counsellors, and volunteers. He has imparted training on Bronchoscopy, Smoking Cessation and Allergy Testing to the physicians from Srilanka and Bangladesh.

Research and Publications

Professor Kumar has been the Principal Investigator of many research projects funded by various government organisations, viz., World Health Organisation (WHO); Department of Science and Technology (DST), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), University Grant Commission (UGC), Ministry of Environment & Forests and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, etc.

Professor Kumar has published 363 research papersin peer reviewed National and International periodicals. He authored 16 books and 16 abstract books. Professor Kumar is also associated himself as Editor of various Newsletters, published by various scientific and academic societies/associations of National and International repute. He has supervised about 33 Research thesis.

Personal Facts

Professor Kumar did his schooling from Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Deogahr, Jharkhand and The Mother's International School, Delhi. He did his M.B.B.S. from Maulana Azad Medical College & Associated LNJP and GB Pant Hospitals, New Delhi in the year 1984 with a brilliant academic record during his studies at all levels. With a mission to serve those suffering with respiratory diseases, he did his M.D. in Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases from Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi in 1995 and joined as faculty member of Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Instittute (VPCI) in 1997, Director (Acting), VPCI in November 2017 and finally as the Director, VPCI in September 2018.

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