We start the New Year with celebrating a new Patient Advocate who has been an integral part of the old guard of Friends of Max (FOM).
FOM is proud to present Ramanathan Sheshadri from Nagpur as our Patient Advocate for the month of January 2026. Shesh, as he is fondly called has been an inspiring and invaluable role model right from the beginning when he was a core City Chapter Leader in Bangalore and then in Calcutta … going back more than 20 years.
A dear friend and confidante of many of his peers.
Ramanathan Sheshadri grew up in Dhanbad, a small mining town in eastern India. He completed his schooling at DeNobili School, a Jesuit convent, before pursuing higher education (B.Tech and M.Tech degrees in Mining) at the India Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, and has had a highly successful professional career spanning 38 years in the Indian Mining Industry.
In 1999, Ramanathan got diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) and in 2003, his treating physician at the time, Dr. Mammen Chandy, referred him to Viji Amma, which marked the beginning of his relationship with The Max Foundation, and later on with FOM. Since then, he has remained closely involved and has wholeheartedly supported FOM’s patient related activities.
Over the many years since, Ramanathan has actively participated in almost all of the Patient Support Meetings organized by FOM in his region and elsewhere. Drawing from his personal journey as well as the insights gained during medical follow-ups overseas in the United States and Singapore over the past 25 years, he generously shares this valuable knowledge with his fellow patients and their caregivers, giving them both hope and confidence in their cancer journey and leading by way of example. He has also been part of teams helping FOM plan meetings aimed at spreading awareness about CML, highlighting important dos and don’ts related to living well with CML.
By sharing his long experience with CML and offering personal support at patient meetings, Shesh provides reassurance to the newly diagnosed patients and their families, making him an invaluable member of the extended FOM community.
In his spare time Shesh also visits other cancer hospitals in different cities from time to time, offering comfort, hope and guidance to patients. His message is simple: “with willpower and the right support, CML can be managed successfully”.
Following his superannuation this year, Ramanathan now lives independently and spends his time between Nagpur and Mumbai. In this new phase of life also, he continues to remain deeply committed to Patient Advocacy.
His advice to CML patients:
“CML, once perceived as a dreaded disease, is in fact a manageable medical condition. Most individuals living with CML can lead normal and fulfilling lives. The Max Foundation and FOM play a pivotal role in alleviating the concerns and rendering insightful support and valuable guidance to patients.”
