Chandigarh: Dr. Deepak Puri was honored with the 'Most Innovative Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon of the Decade' award during the 'National Leaders Summit and Awards 2026' held in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Maya Naroliya, Rajya Sabha MP from Madhya Pradesh, and Bollywood actress Rakul Preet Singh presented the award to Dr. Puri. Several distinguished guests attended the ceremony, including Anupriya Patel (Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare), Manoj Tiwari (singer, actor, and politician), and Ashish Sood (Cabinet Minister, Delhi Government).
This recognition acknowledges Dr. Puri's three decades of contribution to cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, and specifically the innovative work undertaken since the launch of 'Cardiomersion' in 2011—an initiative promoting an integrated, comprehensive, and affordable approach to managing complex cardiovascular and thoracic diseases.
Dr. Puri currently serves as the Chairman of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Paras Health, Panchkula, and is also the Founder and Global Chairman of Cardiomersion.
For him, this award represents more than just recognition of new surgical techniques; it embodies a holistic healthcare philosophy that integrates prevention, early diagnosis, evidence-based medical treatment, interventional cardiology, advanced cardiac and thoracic surgery, rehabilitation, nutrition, lifestyle modifications, and long-term care into a coordinated continuum.
Upon receiving the award, Dr. Puri remarked that many patients suffering from severe cardiovascular and thoracic diseases endure hardship not only due to the severity of their condition but also because treatment is often fragmented across multiple departments and institutions without proper coordination. He noted that tests might be repeated, decisions could become process-driven rather than patient-centric, and expensive technologies might sometimes be used when simpler, equally effective, or superior alternatives are available.
Dr. Puri stated that the future of global healthcare lies in comprehensive, integrated, and cost-effective management. Innovation should not merely make treatment technically more complex; rather, it should make treatment safer, more accessible, and more affordable, while delivering better long-term outcomes.