The Max Foundation South Asia Team

Shaileja Nambiar 

I am Shaileja Nambiar, from Mumbai.

After completing my Post Graduation in Political Science from Mumbai University I worked with Novartis India for over two decades (1994-2018) in the Marketing Department, managing Transplant and Oncology products. I was also initially associated with the launch of ‘GIPAP’ (Glivec International Patient Assistant Programme) in India and worked closely with Viji Venkatesh, who is affectionally called as Amma by everyone.

After taking a short break from busy work life, I am now happy to join The Max Foundation as ‘Program Officer’ and look forward to working on familiar turf. I bring along with me a wealth of skills from my experience with Novartis Oncology. I love to interact with people from various walks of life, and am really excited to be a part of The Max Foundation (SA) team which is dedicated to supporting cancer patients and who believe access to life-extending medication and quality healthcare is a human right.

Shrutika Kaspale

Hello! I am Shrutika. I work as an Administrative Executive at The Max Foundation South Asia office in Mumbai. I have started working with The Max Foundation from May 2022.

It has been a new experience working with patients and resolving their queries over the phone and In person. Every day, I learn something new which keeps me happy and motivated to work towards The Max Foundation's mission. Recently, I got the opportunity to meet Friends of Max Mumbai City Chapter Leaders at the Patient Support Group Meeting.

I feel so proud and thankful to be a part of this wonderful Friends of Max family.

Ashok Boricha

Hello! My name is  Ashok Shivram Boricha. I work with The Max Foundation in the capacity of Admin Office Assistant.

I had joined The Max Foundation in 2004, but due to a personal reason I had to take break between 2011 and 2019. I am very happy and satisfied in working with the Max family and I love meeting patients who come to the office.

Urvashi Negi

Hello! My name is Urvashi Negi and I have been working with the Max Foundation for little over two years and this time has flown by so quickly. I had known about the Max Foundation for many years through my relative who was diagnosed with CML; fast forward to the year 2018 when I shifted base to Mumbai and was lucky enough to get the opportunity to work as a volunteer here. After three months of working as a volunteer I got promoted as a Programme Co-ordinator for Gujarat and few physicians in Mumbai. I completed my graduation in Economics and changing my line of work to the social sector has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me professionally and personally. 

I work from the Mumbai office and get to see our patients regularly. Interacting and meeting them is what motivates me daily to give my best. My daily dose of inspiration is our patients who are so brave and always smiling despite the circumstances they are facing. I will forever be grateful for getting the chance to work with the Max Foundation . 

Sweta Agrawal

I was born and brought up in Nepal in a nuclear family of 5 people and completed my Bachelor’s in Business Studies (BBS) from Kathmandu. Later I completed my MBA through correspondence in Kathmandu from Sikkim Manipal University. I have worked in an ISP, IT college and an international airline as a Marketing executive. I have been working for The Max Foundation for the last 4 years, growing and learning every day. I like to listen to sentimental Hindi songs and my hobbies include collecting keyrings, traveling and listening to music. Recently, I have also started doing some art and craft when I get time. I got married 13 years back in a joint family where we are 15 people living together including my in-laws. I can speak Hindi, English, Nepali and Marwadi languages. 

Shalini Subramanian

I joined The Max Foundation on 1st July 2016. Since then, I have been associated with this family handling Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Delhi regions.

Being in this organization has built me to become a stronger and better human—personally and professionally.

I am passionate about working towards providing our patients and caregivers “dignity and hope in the face of cancer” by overcoming the stigma.

Jyotiy Parameshwaran

Coimbatore, also known as Kovai or sometimes spelt as Covai, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the banks of the Noyyal River and surrounded by the Western Ghats. It is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu after Chennai and the 16^th largest urban agglomeration in India. Coimbatore has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship Smart Cities Mission. The city is well- known for its Educational Institutions and Medical facility.

I am Jyotiy Parameshwaran, Program Coordinator working from my home office in Coimbatore. I have a Masters Degree in Public Administration. I can speak multiple languages – English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Malayalam and Punjabi.

Joining The Max Foundation in 2016, I am in my fifth year of work. Though I joined for the Southern states, I have currently been assigned regions of the Northern states of Punjab, Bihar and Rajasthan. I work for “Pan India”. I have been proactive and use the best practices by constantly interacting with colleagues in both onsite and offsite.

I believe and continue to focus in contributing towards our motto, “to increase global access to treatment, care and support for people living with cancer”.

Prasad Kothekar

Hello! I am Prasad. I work as a Programme Coordinator at The Max Foundation South Asia office in Mumbai. It has been seven years of my association with Max and the journey has been great so far. In 2013, I came in touch with Max as a Volunteer. Just after finishing my project, I got a call from our Admin Head, Mr. Santosh Kadam, offering me a permanent position in the admin department and my real journey started.

Last year I got promoted as a Programme Coordinator. Now I look after Delhi, Maharashtra (Partially), Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jammu & Kashmir regions.

The enriching experience here has not only made me more confident professionally, but also moulded me into a better human being. The patients I interact with daily are a huge source of inspiration to me. Every day is an opportunity to learn something new. My job has also taught me to adapt to changes and move forward in life.

I am currently involved in the transition process from GIPAP to MAS. I am sure the whole team will welcome this change and we will be able to serve our patients more efficiently.

Priyanka Kandalgaokar

I joined The Max Foundation in 2012 as a Programme Coordinator after completing my professional education in Medical Social Work. These eight long years of association with The Max Foundation along with Friends of Max makes me a proud Patient Advocate for the CML and GIST community in India. Thanks to each patient, caregiver and physician I interacted with, who have made this job a constant learning experience for me. It has been an incredibly positive journey so far. I would love to be connected and actively contribute to all Friends of Max activities always.

Komal Surve

“Together we share and learn” is our tag line, and it goes with each one of us. We at the Max Foundation are always sharing love, emotions, support and learning new things each day. My journey started on 15th May 2012 from Admin Assistant to Programme Coordinator. My main motto was to learn and gain knowledge from my job and we are all learning with every passing day with dignity and pride. Previously, I worked with service providers and helped my colleagues, but when I was promoted to Programme Coordinator, I worked closely with patients, caregivers and physicians. After talking to and meeting them in person, I got very emotional but gradually learned from my colleagues how to help them without becoming too empathetic. I am proud and grateful to be a part of this family.

Ashika Naik

In 2011, When I was looking out to start my career, I came across the opening in The Max Foundation through a friend. I was interviewed by Amma and was formally introduced to Beenaji (Beena Narayanan), who has been a mentor for me throughout these years. As we were having the conversation, I was too positive about the role description was excited to get on board. I still bring same excitement to work every day and I am grateful to all who have helped me reach this stage in my career.

While everywhere around me people are busy assessing how 2020 has been for them, I spent a lot of time assessing the past decade. I divide them into two phases—the first five where I was a happily married woman, and the next five being a mother. Balancing between my personal life and professional life has always been my priority, and during this transformative journey, I realsied that I could manage any role. Life is speeding by—it has been almost a decade’s journey with this wonderful family— The Max Foundation. In September 2021 I will have completed 10 years  at this organization, and I feel very happy and proud to be a part of this family.

Philip Fernandes

I have worked for The Max Foundation for the last 13 years. Since I joined Max, and over the years as part of the Max family, one very precious thing that I found in this very big family is LOVE and CARE. I feel that an individual does not have to be a perfect person, but what is the most important is their desire of wanting to work together and grow with the Team— to be efficient, to reach out towards visitors who come to our office with love and affection. And so I help and serve the visitors tea, coffee, juice etc.

I also enter the visitors’ names and phone numbers in our register and check their phone numbers as well as their address too. If their phone numbers are out of service, a new number is given which I enter in the system and delete the old number. I strive to keep the office atmosphere energetic in whichever way I can.

It is my top priority to inject a positive attitude in every visitor who comes to our office with a hope to recover. I believe that apart from providing the best access to treatment, it is our generous and caring attitude that will motivate the patient to live with dignity and hope to keep fighting against cancer.

Santosh Kadam

Hello! I am Santosh Kadam, a Chartered Accountant by profession. I have been associated with The Max Foundation & Friends of Max for the last fifteen years. I have been looking after Accounts, Banking, Human Resources, Office & Personnel.  The Max Foundation and Friends of Max is my family, and I am proud to be associated with The Max Foundation and Friends of Max.

Beena Narayanan

I am Beena Narayanan, a fan of Max since 2002, and working in various capacities with The Max Foundation (Max India) for the last 16 plus years.

Before joining Max as a volunteer in June 2004, I had been assisting the reputed medical oncologist, Dr. VP Gangadharan at Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi, Kerala.

By September 2004, I was made an Assistant Program Max Station, and very soon, I became a Max Station.

Thereafter, I was elevated to Senior Max Station, and at present I am Program Officer for South Asia (India and Sri Lanka) since 2014.

That I was captivated by the love and gratitude received from the community, just because I stood before them as the face of Max in my area of operations, is impossible to describe.

The great support that has been available on tap from the global team at Seattle, and the joy of working with similarly minded people from all over the world has been enriching to say the least.

As a senior member of the Max team in the South Asia Region, I have the privilege of holding training sessions from time to time, and of acting as the reference point in case of doubts relating to processes and programs.

That I had Max holding me up during some of the worst tragedies in my personal life, has left me even more grateful and loyal in my service to The Max Foundation.

Vijaylakshmi Venkatesh

It all began at the Max Foundation office in Edmonds in 2002. I was telling Pat about how the number of people I was working with in India was growing. There were then so many individuals having to face the trauma of a cancer diagnosis in their families and being enrolled into GIPAP. They were talking to me, their families opening up and wanting to know so much and more. Whenever and wherever possible we had begun to meet with each other; in open gardens and on the sea front or in street cafes in whichever city work would take me to. Budget and work constraints would make me realize soon that it was not possible for me to keep traveling. There was place in our hearts but not in my little workplace in Mumbai.

We needed to keep up with the techno times and hook up with cyber space and give these people all the room they wanted. It was inevitable that we look at the option of setting up an email group for effective and result-oriented communication and sharing. These were patients and families who were joined together by a life-threatening diagnosis— yes, but also by their unique collective experience of being part of a donation programme like no other, a programme that required personalized follow up for a long period of time.

I had just myself begun to be involved in a similar group with my extended family and was enjoying being in touch with folks far and wide in the comfort of my own time and space. So I said to Pat, “Why not?” And the India GIPAP Yahoo email group was born. Before we knew it all those who had access to email were one by one joining in the group. Introductions and queries and the occasional “funny forwards” began doing the rounds; relationships began to be formed and gradually valuable information and responses began to be shared. It was inevitable that one day each person in the group wanted to know the face of the name he or she had begun to know so well on email. So, the reverse process started of cyber space virtual meetings being converted into actual physical ones where everyone made an effort to get together from different parts of the country – local groups merged into regional and then finally into national All India Meetings. There were no questions asked when the “Friends of Max” name was bestowed upon the group and then the logo was designed and a whole new world simply opened up for all of us. Today, six years on, we recognize this spontaneous coming together as a movement like no other and something which has established The Friends of Max as quite possibly the largest peer support group in the world.  

It was again simply a matter of time before this committed and motivated group registered themselves as a Charitable Trust and dedicated itself to the welfare of patients from financially challenged backgrounds. There could be no better way of giving back to the community.  

I am proud to introduce Friends of Max – the Indian Patient Support Group arm of The Max Foundation that has found its own special place in the world of cancer care – an independent entity that is reaching out to community in the real and virtual world.

More strength to you FOM. We are always there for you.