CHANDIGARH, 16.11.25-Prof. Atul Parashar, Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, has been honoured with the I. T. Jackson Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery Award 2025, presented at the 59th Annual Conference of the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India (APSICON 2025) held from 12th- 16th November,2025 in Varanasi.
The I. T. Jackson Award is among the most prestigious national recognitions in cleft and craniofacial surgery, awarded for excellence in clinical care, innovation, and academic contribution in this highly specialised field.
The Department of Plastic Surgery at PGIMER, one of the leading craniofacial surgery centres in India, has been at the forefront of delivering advanced care to patients born with these anomalies. The department has been running a dedicated Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic for the past 25 years, offering multidisciplinary treatment to children with cleft lip, cleft palate, and complex craniofacial anomalies.
Since 2007, the department has been collaborating with Smile Train India a leading NGO, providing free cleft surgeries to more than 3,500 children from across India. Under this programme, high-quality surgical correction, speech therapy, nutritional support, and long-term follow-up care are provided at no cost to patients.
Prof. Parashar serves as the Project Director of the PGI–Smile Train Cleft Centre and is also the In-Charge of the Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic, leading a team dedicated to comprehensive, compassionate, and evidence-based care.
Receiving the award, Prof. Parashar said, “This honour reflects the collective commitment of our entire team at PGIMER. Our partnership with Smile Train and our longstanding craniofacial services have helped thousands of families, and this recognition motivates us to further elevate the standard of care for children born with cleft and craniofacial conditions.”