TEDxAIIMSBhubaneswar

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Dr. Bhuvan Chugh

  Dr. Bhuvan Chugh is a leading voice in India’s oncology landscape, combining clinical leadership, genomic innovation and public health advocacy. His work focuses on breast, thoracic and hepatobiliary malignancies, with a strong emphasis on real-world application of precision medicine. Trained in molecular oncology and actively engaged with the genomics industry, Dr. Chugh advises leading diagnostic platforms and contributes to national precision-oncology initiatives. He is the first author of a seminal publication on CSF-based genomic sequencing in EGFR-mutant lung cancer with leptomeningeal disease and has presented extensively at ASCO and ESMO, including receiving the ESMO Best Poster Award (2024). Recognised as a BW 40 Under 40 healthcare leader, he is also a widely followed public educator, using mainstream media platforms to advance cancer awareness and informed decision-making.

• Dr. Harsh Singh

  Dr. Harsh Singh is a leading Consultant Head and Neck Cancer surgeon. With a record of 3,000+ successful ear surgeries and more than 400 oncology and skull base surgeries performed, Dr. Harsh is a Head and Neck Cancer specialist and a specialised Cochlear Implant surgeon, as well as possesses core expertise in minimally invasive otology. He is Chief Surgeon at Rana ENT and Cancer Centre and Consultant ENT- Head & Neck Cancer Surgeon at Apex Hospital, Varanasi. In recognition of his contributions, Dr. Singh is a recipient of Kashi Bhushan Ratna Award and Amar Ujala Varanasi Best Surgeon Award, presented by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in Varanasi. He continues to push the boundaries of medical innovation, ensuring that every patient receives care that is both technically advanced and deeply compassionate.

• Dr. Kanishka Das

  An esteemed faculty of Pediatric Surgery at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Prof. Dr. Kanishka Das is a rare embodiment of the harmony between medicine and art. Dr. Kanishka is an alumnus of renowned institutions including St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, AIIMS New Delhi and PGIMER-Chandigarh. However, even amidst his rigorous schedule as a clinician and surgeon, he has never let go of his passion for dance. Having dedicated seven years of his life (1979 - 1985) at the National School of Drama (NSD) Bangalore, Dr. Kanishka is an exponent of both Bharatnatyam as well as Odissi dance forms. Through rhythm, movement, and expression, his performances tell stories that transcend language, exploring emotion, mythology and the human experience. At TEDxAIIMSBhubaneswar, Dr. Kanishka Das will bring together the two worlds of medicine and art in the form of a powerful Odissi dance performance, celebrating balance, creativity, and the many dimensions of a doctor’s life.

• Dr. Purnima Devi Barman

  Dr. Purnima Devi Barman, known fondly as the “Stork Sister”, is an internationally acclaimed wildlife biologist and conservationist from Assam, best known for her pioneering work in protecting the Greater Adjutant Stork (Hargila). Blending science with grassroots activism, Dr. Purnima founded the Hargila Army, a force of over 20,000 women across more than 45 villages in Assam, that mobilizes local residents, especially mothers and grandmothers, to protect nesting trees, rescue fallen chicks, and celebrate the bird as part of their cultural identity. This unique approach has led to a remarkable rise in the Hargila’s population. For her extraordinary contributions, Dr. Purnima Devi Barman has received numerous national and international honours, including the prestigious UNEP Champions of the Earth Award, both the Whitley Award as well as the Whitley Gold Award (Green Oscars), the Nari Shakti Puraskar, and recognition among Time Magazine’s Women of the Year 2025.

• Jaivardhan Agarwal

  Jaivardhan Agarwal is an entrepreneur, brand-builder, and modern custodian of Indian heritage, best known as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia honoree, recognized for his contribution to building culturally grounded, future-facing Indian brands. His first venture, AyurVridhi, emerged from a belief that India’s timeless wellness wisdom deserves a place in modern life. Soon after, he founded Gardens of India, where tea leaves, rare spices, and botanicals are transformed into sensory experiences of culture, ritual, and quiet luxury. What makes Jaivardhan’s journey compelling is not just entrepreneurial success, but the emotional intelligence behind it, the courage to pause, reflect, fail, rebuild, and move forward with purpose. His story is a reminder that navigating crossroads is not about choosing the safest road, but the most meaningful one.

• Jinal Shah

  Ms. Jinal Shah is a distinguished senior nutritionist who has been an integral part of Team Rujuta Diwekar for over a decade, bringing evidence-based, culturally resonant nutrition wisdom to thousands across India and beyond. Jinal has built her practice around the principle that food is medicine and wellness is holistic, rooted in local, seasonal, and traditional Indian diets rather than fad trends. Having worked with a diverse range of clients, Jinal’s approach deeply resonates with “Mitahar”, India’s ancient wisdom that celebrates homegrown culinary knowledge, helping people experience a higher sense of well-being in their bodies and making long-lasting changes rather than quick fixes. Jinal is also a sought-after speaker and educator who is known for breaking down complex nutrition concepts into relatable insights. She regularly collaborates on workshops and podcasts that champion holistic wellness and balanced eating.

• Rakesh Jena

  Rakesh Jena began his journey as an Electronics Engineer, driven by curiosity about how systems work, both machines and people. That curiosity led him from engineering classrooms to boardrooms, earning an MBA from IIM Indore and a Postgraduate Certificate from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) along the way. However, his most profound learning came outside classrooms. Over 15 years across diverse roles and industries, Rakesh has navigated ambition, setbacks, reinvention, and leadership, experiences that shaped his belief that growth rarely follows a straight line. Today, as the CEO of JustTutors, he works at the intersection of education, technology, and purpose, building platforms that empower learners while constantly learning himself. At TEDxAIIMSBhubaneswar, Rakesh will speak not just as a CEO, but as someone who has stood at multiple crossroads, where logic met emotion, success met self-doubt, and resilience became the most valuable skill of all.