S Chhabra

Director-Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr S Chhabra has served as head of the Department, Obstetrics and Gynaecology at MGIMS (1984-2007), Medical Superintendent of the hospital (2005- 2007) and Dean (2007-10).  She is right now helping MGIMS develop a child and mother care hospital at Village Utavali in Melghat, a region with a dubious distinction of high prevalence of severe malnutrition. 

Dr Chhabra received MBBS (1970), DGO (1973) and MD (1975) from the Government Medical College Nagpur. She moved to MGIMS as a lecturer in 1975. In 1984, she was named head of the institute’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology department. 

Dr Chhabra received several awards during her illustrious career. The list includes, but is not limited to: distinguished community services in Emergency Obstetric Care (Federation of International Gynaecologists and Obstetrician), best teacher (Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik) Dhanwantari Award (Coal India) and best academician-physician (Mahakali Education Society). 

Dr Chhabra has received fellowship of Indian Academy of Juvenile & Adolescent Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Certificate for excellent work in National Family Welfare Programme in Wardha district and also Scroll of Honour of Breast feeding of Promotion Network of India. She also received International fellowships from the British Council; The Network of Community Oriented Educational Institutes for Health Sciences; The Netherlands WHO Aga Khan Foundation; Mother care International, Swedish International Development Agency; Dutch Education Ministry and Maastricht University; Global Health through Education, Training and Service.

 Over the last 33 years, Dr Chhabra has mentored and guided several MD, DGO and PhD students.  She is a prolific researcher: she has authored 405 scholarly papers and five chapters in books and some booklets and has held many editorial positions (International Journal of Gynecological Oncology, Women's reproductive health and Gynecological Oncology). She is a reviewer for several journals: British journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Studies in Family Planning, Archives of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Indian Journal of Medical Sciences, Indian Journal of Clinical Medicine, and Who’s Who in Science and Engineering.

An Adviser for AGCO, Dr Chhabra is a life member of Association of British Council of Scholars and also a member, faculty of Medicine, Rashtra Sant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University. 

She is a member of the Women and Health Taskforce of the Global Health through Education Training and Services as well as Master trainer for the programme of Prevention of Parent- to- Child-Transmission of HIV, programme for breast feeding and young child feeding, Violence against Women. Dr Chhabra is assessor for National Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, a WHO consultant and a supervisor and lecturer for the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). She was President of Association of Gynaecologic Oncologists of India in 2002. 

Dr Chhabra is the officer- in- charge of the Sevagram Project for welfare of unwed mothers and Community based Reproductive Health Care project. For over two decades she has also served as Chief Executive Officer of Aakanksha. Her special areas of interest include women’s reproductive health, Gynecological Oncology, and education of health professionals.