Viji Venkatesh, Managing Trustee Friends of Max, and Region Head (India & South Asia), The Max Foundation is the recipient of the prestigious 2024 iCMLf Prize for her outstanding contributions to improving the care of people with CML in resource constraint regions around the world.
“I am at once humbled and honoured at this recognition. It means so much to be acknowledged by a group like the International CML Foundation and it is a testament to the courage and fortitude shown by the thousands of CML patients we work with . This prize was awarded to our own Pat Garcia-Gonzalez the year it was instituted and that itself makes it extra special . I would also like to dedicate this prize to the recently departed Mr Ranjit Shahani , former Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Novartis India. It was under him that the access program bringing the Gift of Life in the form of Glivec to CML patients took wings .
– Viji Venkatesh
He was adored by the patients for whom he was family as he was for all of us at The Max Foundation and Friends of Max. This is our award . This is your award . Together we stand strong.”