Prof Hemanta Kar puts KIMS Bhubaneswar in prestigious global medical books on Leprosy

Eminent Dermatologist and Leprologist and Director KIMS Super Speciality Hospital, Prof. Hemanta Kumar Kar has once again put himself in the top league of leprosy research and teaching with his name featuring in the Editors’ list of the “IAL Textbook of Leprosy’’.

The third edition book by the Indian Association of Leprologists (IAL) is a sought-after referral textbook for PG students in Dermatology, Leprosy and doctors working in the field of the disease across the world. In addition to editing, Prof Kar along with Dr. Mitanjali Sethy, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, has written three chapters in this latest edition of the book.

The Editors of this prestigious book include Bhushan Kumar, former Prof and Head Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, PGIMER Chandigarh, Hemanta Kumar Kar , Former Prof and Head Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, KIMS, Bhubaneswar and Sunil Dogra, Professor Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, PGIMER Chandigarh. The foreword of the valuable book has been written by Paul EM Fine of Communicable Diseases Epidemiology Infectious and Tropical Disease Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

According to Prof. Kar, around 70 authors from across the globe working in the fields of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, have contributed their chapters in this latest edition of text book by IAL, which is being published by Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers. While the first edition was published in 2008, the second edition was published in 2016 and the third one was published in 2023.

Interestingly, there is a photograph of former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam being presented in the first edition of the book. In fact, a chapter in the book has been included as per the suggestions of Dr. Kalam as he had great interest in leprosy and compassion for the leprosy affected people. This chapter includes case studies of leprosy patients living in different localities across Delhi, who have described how the treatment process and cure had helped them in having a better life.

Prof. Kar also got the opportunity to be one of the authors of chapter Leprosy in the latest 21st Edition of Harison Principle of Medicine referred to as the “Bible of Medicine” approved for reading for medical students across the world.

The name KIMS has got a place in this prestigious global medical book through Prof. Kar. He is also working in two prestigious international research projects on chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis in leprosy.