Dr. Hema Purandarey

Born in Mumbai (1940) to a highly educated parents Hema was not academically inclined. However, recognising her intellect and compassion they encouraged her to study medicine. During MBBS the teachers especially, the pioneer in Nuclear Medicine, Padmabhushan Dr. R. D. Lele at the GMC Nagpur ignited a passion for the profession and Hema was transformed.
Married to an engineer Madhav Purandare, balancing family responsibilities, due to an interest in embryology, she joined Anatomy department as a lecturer at Grant medical college and J.J.Hospitals Mumbai and did her masters.
While teaching fetal development, the complex role of genetics in it piqued her interest. Completing the basic course at Indian Council of Medical Research Mumbai, (ICMR) she set up a lab in her department.
Given our vast population, amalgamation of various communities, consanguineous marriages, high prevalence of birth defects, this miniscule knowledge was inadequate.
Thus, she further studied and went on upgrading at some of the top global institutes such as The John Hopkins Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, and The New York Hospital - Cornell Medical Centre. She has closely worked with accomplished medical geneticists of the time including the father of medical genetics Dr. McKusick, the famous cancer geneticist Dr. Chaganti, and later IVF pioneer Noble laureate Sir Edwards.

CYTOGENETICS: Basic course In Human Genetics (ICMR) Mumbai (Nov-1978). Long Island Jewish Hillside Medical Center, New York (June 1979) Leukocyte culture – New York Hospital & Cornell Medical School. New York (Oct to Nov 1982) Advanced Cytogenetics – University Of Clermont-Ferrand, France (1981) Cytogenetics Unit, Edinburgh (June – July 1987) Cytogenetic Services, Nottingham City Hospital, Nottingham (Feb 2002)
PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS: Amniotic Fluid Cultures, Genetic counseling – Division of Human Genetics Dept. Of Pediatrics – Long Island Jewish Hillside Medical Center, New York (June 1979). Prenatal Diagnosis Cornell Medical School & New York Hospital. New York (Oct – Nov 1982). 1st Trimester Fetal Diagnosis Of Genetic Diseases- Scuola Superiore Di Oncologia E Scienze Biomediche Italy, S. Margherita Ligure, 5-6-7 Giugno (1986). Cytogenetics & Reproductive Genetics (CVS)- Medical Research Council, MRC Clinical & Population Cytogenetics Unit, Edinburgh (June – July 1987). 1st & 2nd trimester antenatal screening: Leed Antenatal Screening Service at Hope Hospital in Leeds (July 2002).
OBSTETRIC ULTRASOUND: Obstetric Ultrasound (Queen Memorial Hospital Glasgow). Glasgow (March 1988). Ultrasound – Lothian Health Board – Simpson Maternity Pavilion. Edinburgh (March 1988). Sonography markers of Down Syndrome – Nuchal Translucency and Nasal bone, Harris Birthright Research Center for Fetal Medicine, King’s College Hospital of London, UK, (June 2002)
PEDIATRIC GENETICS: Human Genetics Dept. Of Pediatrics – long Island Jewish Hillside Medical Center, New York (1979). Clinical Genetics – Dept of Medical Genetics, Birmingham Women’s Hospital Birmingham (1999). Neonatal Screening, St. James University Hospital, Leeds, UK, (July 2002). Inborn errors of metabolism at Royal Hospital for sick children. Edinburgh (1988).
CANCER GENETICS: Cancer Genetics – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Hosp.-Department of Human Genetics & Development College of physicians & surgeons. New York (March 1979). Cancer Genetics – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Hosp.-Department of Human Genetics & Development College of physicians & surgeons. New York (April-June 1980). Update in cytogenetics of haematological malignancies, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Dept of Cancer Genetics, UK (June 2002).
MOLECULAR CYTOGENETICS (FISH): FISH – Duncan Guthne Institute of Medical Genetics – Glasgow, November 1991. FISH (Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization) - Baylor College Of Medicine, Dept. Of Obstetrics And Gynecology, Houston.(1994). Workshop on FISH, Vysis, Inc, IL U.S.A, Chicago (March 1999). Clinical and Molecular Cytogenetics, Cytogenetic services, Nottingham City Hospital, NHS trust, UK (Feb'2000). Hands-on training for embryo biopsy including cell spreading and fixing for purpose of Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD), CARE, Park, Nottingham, (Feb 2000 ).
HOSPITALS AND LAB MANAGEMENT: ISO 9000:2000 for Hospitals/ Health Care, Electronics Regional Test Laboratory, Govt. of India (August 2001) Laboratory assessor training course – NABL-Feb. 2003. Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)-DST Govt. Of India.- Mumbai (March 2003).
IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF) AND REPRODUCTIVE GENETICS: Cytogenetics of aborted fetal material, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University. New York (June 1979) IVF & Embryo replacement (Embryology) - Bourn Hall Clinic UK (September 1987) Preimplantation Genetics - Reproductive Genetics Institute, Chicago (March 1999) I V F Hands on Training , National university Hospital Singapore 9th Course On Assisted Reproduction Singapore (May 1998) Human Semen Cryo-preservation, Therapeutic Donor Insemination (TDI)- Medical Research Council, MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, Edinburgh (July 1987) Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) at CARE- Park Hospital, Nottingham (Feb 2000)
GENETIC COUNSELING: Genetic Counseling -Long Island Jewish Hillside Medical Center, New York (1979) Genetic Counselling - Dept of Medical Genetics, Birmingham Women's Hospital. Birmingham (1999) Genetic counseling in cancer, Dept of Medical Genetics, Birmingham Women's Hospital, West Midlands, Clinical Genetic Service, UK, (June 2002)

Other Certification: Plant Tissue Culture (Pune University), Poultry Science (Bombay Veterinary Science)

Teaching Experience

Visiting Faculty for Post-graduate audiologists Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities (Divyangjan), Mumbai
Ex Visiting faculty UDCT
Ex Post graduate teacher for M. Sc. In Applied Biology – Mumbai University.
Ex Post graduate teacher for MS in Anatomy
Ex Associate Professor at MGM College, Panvel.
Ex Associate professor in Anatomy, Embryology & Genetics (15 years teaching experience) at Grant Medical College & Sir J.J. Group of hospitals, Bombay.

Positions Held

Current - Consultant and Medical Director (Prenatal and Reproductive Genetics), MedGenome – Centre for Genetic Health Care
Medical and Reproductive Geneticist – SRL Diagnostics Pvt.Ltd., Centre for Genetic Health Care
Founder “Centre for Genetic Health Care.”
Ex. Associate professor in Anatomy, Embryology & Genetics (15 years teaching experience) at Grant Medical College & Sir J.J. Group of hospitals, Bombay
Ex. Post graduate teacher for M.Sc. In Applied Biology – Mumbai University.
Post graduate teacher for MS in Anatomy
Chief of Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Clinic & Laboratory Genetic Centre Bandra (Recognized & Registered under Govt. of India - Maharashtra Prenatal Diagnostic Act)
Expert member in Govt. Committees

Membership of Societies

Obstetric & Gynecological Society of India

Indian Pediatric association

Indian Society of Human Genetics

Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction

Board of Genetic Counselling, India - Senior Genetic Counsellor – Grandfather Category

Many more

Accolades

Chaturastra Chatura

by Lokasatta Group (2004)

Bharat Jyoti

by ‘India International Friendship Society’, New Delhi (2008)

Indian Achievers Award
for Health Excellence

by ‘All India Achievers Foundation’, New Delhi (2008)

Life-Time Achievement

by Indian Society For Prenatal Diagnosis & Therapy. India (ISPAT - 2023)

Women Empowerment Principles Leadership Award

by AsiaOne magazine (2023)

Health and Wellness: First Private ‘Center for Genetic Health Care’
in India

by Lokmat international Award, Dubai (2023)

Bharatiya Mahantam Vikas Puraskar

by AsiaOne (2023)

Disclaimer: The website is not intended to be a substitute for the medical advice of a physician/ geneticist.
for diagnosis or treatment of any medical or genetic condition or drug/supplement intake, consult a physician.

Dr. Hema Purandarey

MBBS, MS, PhD

Address
A-11, Elco Arcade Hill Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai-400050, Maharashtra, India

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