Late Padma Shri Dr. Alaka Deshpande: Esteemed Mentor and Co-Creator of The Doctors Platform
Born into an era when medicine lacked formal specialties or super-specialties, Dr. Deshpande graduated with an MD in Internal Medicine from Grant Medical College, Mumbai, and earned FRCP (London). Her illustrious career spanned over 50 years, primarily at Sir J.J. Hospital and Grant Medical College, where she rose to Professor and Head of the Department of Internal Medicine. A trailblazer in HIV/AIDS care, she established India’s first HIV Outpatient Department (OPD) in 1990 and led the Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Center from 2003 to 2011—serving without salary during this tenure, a testament to her altruism. Under her stewardship, critical units in endocrinology, critical care, and infectious diseases flourished, strengthening national HIV services and earning WHO recognition as an expert.
Dr. Deshpande’s unassuming personality belied her profound impact. Colleagues recall her as an accessible teacher who prioritized ethics over accolades, mentoring generations through example rather than rhetoric. Her special interests in thyroid disorders, diabetes, and infectious diseases informed practical, patient-centric approaches that bridged clinical gaps. Post-retirement, she continued as Consultant Physician at Heal Positive Clinic and Director-Academics at CM Health Foundation, Mumbai, while contributing to platforms like M3 India with insightful articles on World AIDS Day and beyond.
Together with Dr. C.H. Asrani to co-create The Doctors Platform, Dr. Deshpande brought her holistic wisdom to empower family physicians and specialists. Launched amid evolving healthcare challenges, the platform evolved from clinical education to encompass financial literacy, medicolegal guidance, optimal insurance for doctors, wellness, and leisure—areas she championed as essential for professional sustainability. Her mentorship ensured content authenticity, fostering a community where doctors thrive holistically. Tragically, Dr. Deshpande passed away on December 30, 2025, after a brief illness, leaving an irreplaceable void. In her memory, the platform offers free first-year registrations to the initial 10,000 members, honouring her commitment to accessible knowledge.
Dr. Deshpande’s legacy lives on in The Doctors Platform’s mission: to equip physicians with tools for clinical mastery, financial security, legal protection, and personal well-being. Her principle—”ethics is not a textbook chapter but daily practice”—guides every feature, from webinars to virtual medical officers. As mentor, she taught us humility amid expertise, dignity for patients above all, and service without expectation. Generations of doctors, shaped by her quiet brilliance, carry forward this flame. The Doctors Platform stands as a living tribute, inviting all physicians to join in her spirit of empowerment and excellence.
About Dr. C H Asrani
Dr. C H Asrani is a distinguished medical professional renowned for his exceptional clinical acumen honed over decades of practice in Mumbai’s premier institutions.
Early Training and Foundations
Dr. Asrani completed his medical graduation from the prestigious Seth GSMC and KEM Hospital in Mumbai, institutions synonymous with rigorous clinical training. This foundation equipped him with sharp diagnostic skills and a patient-centered approach, emphasizing evidence-based medicine in complex cases. His early exposure to diverse pathologies sharpened his ability to integrate history, examination, and investigations for precise diagnoses.
Expertise in Comprehensive Family practice and Beyond
With over 48 years delivering Comprehensive Family practice, Dr. Asrani’s prowess extends to interpreting nuanced symptoms in day to day practice. He adeptly navigates comorbidities in elderly patients, optimizing supportive care to enhance tolerance of aggressive treatments. His skill is evidenced by his 500+ clinical presentations translating real-world acumen into teachable moments for peers. In family medicine consultations, he applies decades-honed precision to chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension, advocating life style management before rational polypharmacy. pathologies sharpened his ability to integrate history, examination, and investigations for precise diagnoses.
Educational Impact Through Clinical Wisdom
Dr. Asrani has conducted hundreds of webinars and talks for primary care physicians, distilling his clinical expertise into practical algorithms. Topics like hypertension initiation, SGLT2 benefits in heart failure, and lab test interpretations showcase his ability to bridge guidelines with bedside reality. His case-based teaching, drawn from his time at KEM and self-learning for his DNB (Family Medicine), empowers doctors to replicate his diagnostic finesse.
Legacy of Diagnostic Mastery
Dr. Asrani’s career exemplifies clinical excellence, marked by awards like the Times Healthcare Achievers for legendary general physician status. His multilingual communication—spanning six languages—fosters trust, enabling detailed histories that unveil hidden diagnoses. Even in retirement planning, his focus remains on knowledge dissemination, ensuring his acumen endures. Through platforms like The Doctors Platform, he continues mentoring, prioritizing clinical sharpness over administrative roles.
Web Presence
Dr Asrani has two pro bono sites www.growingwell.com and www.justeves.com for consumer empowerment in child health and women health. He has taken 230+ weekly webinars beginning Covid lockdown.
Qualifications:
- 1976 – MBBS – Seth GS Medical College & KEM Hospital, University of Bombay
- 1982 – Diploma in Acupuncture – Colombo South General Hospital – Sri Lanka 1971-1976
- 1994 – Diplomate National Board (equivalent MD / MS vide Government of India’s notification) of Examinations (Family Medicine)
- 1997 – Diploma in Computer Graphics, Animation & Multimedia
- 2004 – IIM (Lucknow) Workshop in Emotional Intelligence
- 2010 – Advanced Diploma in Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
- 2018 – Post Graduate Diploma in Medico Legal Systems
- 2019 – Blockchain – Oxford university, UK (online).
- 2022 – Online Program in Healthcare Marketing – Indian School of Business – Hyderabad
- 2024 – Online Program in Leadership with AI – Indian School of Business – Hyderabad