Page 36 - ISMCON souvenir 2021

ISMSCON - 2021

Obituary

Prof Vinod K. Srivastava
MD, DPH, M Sc (London) FIPHA, FIAPSM, FAMS, FSMS

Professor V K Srivastava –a senior faculty in community medicine, wasPrincipalof the Prasad Institute of
Medical Sciences, Lucknow (UP) till last day of his life.He breathed his last in the night of 18th April 2021
at his residence in Lucknow.He was born in 1951 in Rudauli, a town known for Sufi culture and faith and
moved to Lucknow after early school education.He was to complete 70 years this month. Even on his
last day he worked actively in his office, looked apparently hale & hearty, took his dinner as usual and
went to sleep. On the next morning, when he did not get up at his usual time, his domestic helperwent
to hisbedroom and found that he was in ever-ending deep sleep. He is survived by his only daughter
– Ms. Mahima, who works in United States. Professor Srivastava had already lost his wife – Dr Madhu
Srivastava, about two years back, she was Professor and Head of Radiotherapy atKGMU, Lucknow.
A renowned epidemiologist and a well known public health specialist, Professor Srivastava was a towering
personality in his field. His sudden demise has been a shock to many. Besides his family members,
those particularly sad are his students, friends, professional colleagues and his close acquaintances. His
demise is being deeply mournedby many. It has been a great loss to some disciplines with which he was
greatly involved, viz.epidemiology, public health, community medicine and biostatistics.
Professor Srivastava has been closely associated with ISMS family since the Society was founded at
Jhansi (UP) in 1983. He had joined ISMS as Life Member in 1984when Society had organized its 2nd
Annual Conference at KGMU, Lucknow and since then, he has been attending its annual conferences
almost regularly. He himself had organized - as Organizing Secretary, its 26thAnnual Conference in
the year 2008 at Nainital on the theme - expanding statistical skill – key to excellence in public health.
The Conference was so beautifully organized that it later, became a memorable event. Further, he has
been associated as a member of several Committees of ISMS, such as – Governing Council, Awards
Committee, Nominating Committee and Search Committee. Professor Srivastava always supported
cause of biostatistics and worked for its strengthening and development in the country. In recognition
to his contributions to the science of biostatistics, he was awarded, Society’s prestigious Fellowship –
FSMS (2010), Professor S K Bhattacharya Oration and Smt. Ramrati Lalima Sahai Award (2020). This
year, he was one of the contestants for President – Elect’s position of the Society. ISMS family will always
remember Professor Srivastava for what he did for ISMS and also for the speciality of biostatistics in the
country during past 4 decades.
As alumni of KGMU Lucknow, he spent major time of his professional life in his own institution and left it
when he superannuated as a Professor of Community Medicine at the age of 62.He also occupied some
important research positions in India viz. Director, Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region (Indian
Council of Medical Research), Dibrugarh and Director, State Institute of Health and Family Welfare,
Lucknow, India. Besides his training in epidemiology in India,Professor. Srivastava also received advanced
training in epidemiology at CDC / Emory University, Atlanta and London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine, London. He carried out and coordinated large number of research projects and has been
the principal Investigator of over 35 research projects funded by agencies viz. WHO, UNICEF, World

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