Medical Director and Consultant Cancer Surgeon
He has been invited by the Academy of Medicine Singapore (1985 and 1988), American College of Surgeons (1986), American Association of Surgeons of Indian Origin (1986), Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (1987), British Academy of Otolaryngology (1991), Society of Head and Neck Surgeons (1992), International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies (1992 and 1998), Society of Head and Neck Surgeons and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (1994), International College of Surgeons (Malaysian Section – 1996), China Society for Head and Neck Tumour Surgery, Chinese Anti Cancer Association (1998), Israeli Society of Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology (1998), UICC (1998), International Federation of Otorhinolaryngological Societies (1998), Clinical Oncology Society of the Republic of China (1999) and the European Institute of Oncology (1999) to participate and deliver conference lectures and guest lectures.In recognition of his scientific work, he was elected fellow qua surgeon of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (FRCS) on April 4, 1995. This is in addition to being a Fellow and Member of many international surgical societies.
Dr. Mehta was awarded the Dr. B. C. Roy National Award 1996 in the category of Development of Specialities in Different Branches of Medicine. His contribution to the profession was recognized by his colleagues when he was elected President of Association of Surgeons of India (1986). He is currently the President of the Indian Society of Head and Neck Oncology and the Past President of the Indian Society of Oncology. He is a Past President of the Oncology Section of the Association of Surgeons (1981) and was the Secretary of the Indian Society of Head and Neck Oncology (1985 – 1989) and the Indian Society of Oncology (1988 – 1992).
He was a teacher in General Surgery and M.Ch. Oncology, Bombay University. Under his tutelage, twenty head and neck surgeons and over hundred residents were trained. He has been instrumental in developing head and neck oncology as a superspeciality attracting a number of young surgeons. This is very significant since head and neck cancers constitute one-third of all cancers in India.
He is a pioneer in continuing medical education programme, which was started for the first time in India in 1974 at Tata Memorial Hospital by him. Dr. Ashok Mehta has organised more than 20 workshops and technology transfer programmes in the field of Cancer and Head-Neck Cancers.
Dr. Mehta was the Organising Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Congress of the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies (IFHNOS) in Mumbai (1997). IFHNOS is a world federation on which 20 head and neck societies from different countries of the world are represented. Dr. Mehta represents the Indian Society of Head and Neck Oncology (ISHNO) as a representative of India on this international body.
His main interest has been in the field of organisation, continuing medical education bringing the state-of-the-art surgery to far flung areas of the country by doing video demonstrations and live surgery demonstrations. He published a book on “Diagnosis and Management of Cancer” (Jaypee Brothers, 2005). He is currently actively involved in promoting Values in Healthcare promoted by Janki Foundation, U.K. based charity working in global healthcare. He is a Scientific & Medical Advisor for the Brahma Kumaris’ Janki Foundation for Global Health Care and the Co-ordinator for the Values in Healthcare project in India.
He set up a comprehensive cancer care facility at Nanavati Hospital and a 120-bedded Global Hospital at Mount Abu, Rajasthan with its “Village Outreach Programme” and a 100-bedded BSES MG Hospital in Andheri for the Brahma Kumaris Global Hospital & Research Centre of which he is the Medical Director.
Besides his professional work, he has deep interest in meditation and spirituality. He also has commitment to socially oriented healthcare activities.
