The Maa Danteshwari Hospital of SEARCH has been conducting surgical operations and providing specialist consultancy to the poor rural and tribal population of the Gadchiroli district since several years, thanks to the selfless services provided by the medical specialists from many parts of the state of Maharashtra such as Chandrapur, Mumbai, Akola, Sangli, Miraj and such other regions. Presented below is the list of these doctors without whose services SEARCH would not have been able to provide specialist services as it does now. SEARCH records its gratitude to these doctors who find time from their busy schedules and travel long distances to provide their services free of charge. The list given below is arranged purely alphabetically

Dr. Kiran Bhingarde provides his services in surgical camps at Shodhgram, SEARCH. He has been associated with SEARCH since 2006. He did his graduation (MBBS) in 1982 (Govt Medical College, Miraj); post graduate diploma in anesthesiology in 1992 (BJ medical college, Pune) and MD in 1994 (Govt Medical College, Aurangabad). During his medical education he has been a meritorious student. He served the Government health system for a period of 9 years and since 2001 is a private consultant Anesthetist in Kolhapur. He has presented 4 papers in state and zonal conferences.

Dr Shekhar Y. Bhojraj, MS, FCPS (ORTHO), D (ORTHO), the consultant Spine Surgeon, Spine Clinic Lilavati Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, India and the present President of the Association of Spine Surgeons of India, has been associated with SEARCH since 2004. Presently he visits SEARCH with his team and provides consultancy and surgical services for the benefit of the rural and tribal population of the Gadchiroli district through SEARCH. He visits SEARCH 4 times in a year, holds the clinic at SEARCH's Danteshwari hospital opd in Shodhgram as well as in the villages of the field area of SEARCH and performs surgical procedures in the Danteshwari hospital as per need. To the poor population of the Gadchiroli district, services of such an eminent spine surgeon have meant a god sent opportunity and gift. SEARCH and Dr Shekhar Bhojraj have jointly undertaken a research project on low back pain in rural and tribal population. Dr Bhojraj who studied for his specialization in UK, US and France was earlier with the P.D. Hinduja National Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Mumbai and also was the Professor of Orthopaedics, University of Mumbai besides being the Chief, Neurospinal Unit - K.E.M. Hospital and Seth G.S. Medical College, University of Mumbai. Besides his contribution to SEARCH, he provides free consultation to patients from Dharavi slums of Mumbai once in a year through an NGO C.S.S. C. and also in Wadia Children's Hospital for poor children

Dr. Dhananjay Bokare is a consultant Urologist and Andrologist at Nagpur since 2000. He has been associated with SEARCH since 2003. He visits Shodhgram every month on the fourth Saturday and conducts clinic. He graduated (MBBS) from Nagpur University in 1990 and did his M.S. (GMC, Nagpur) and M.Ch. (Bombay Hospital, Mumbai) in 1994 and 2004 respectively. He is also a diplomate of the National Board, New Delhi in Genitourinary Surgery (1999). He was recipient of prestigious Late Dr. G. M. Phadke Traveling Fellowship awarded by the Urological Society of India for the year 1999. His professional/teaching experience is as Registrar in Department of surgery, Govt. Medical College, Nagpur and Department of onco-surgery at Balabhai Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai. His special interests are: endo-urology, pediatric urology and PCNL besides male infertility and female urology. He is a member of several professional bodies including Urological Society of India, Indian Medical Association and Association of Surgeons of India.

Dr. Abhay M. Nene is a consultant spine surgeon with P. D. Hinduja National Hospital, Mumbai. He has been associated with SEARCH from 2007 and conducts spine surgeries. He did his M.B.B.S. and M. S. (Orthopedics) from University of Mumbai in 1995 and 1998 respectively and received the spine foundation fellowship in 2000-01. He is also the recipient of other fellowships and awards from US and Argentina and has held positions in institutes of repute in India and abroad. He has been a faculty at key spine workshops conducted all over the country. Before his move to the P.D. Hinduja National Hospital, he held the positions of Senior Orthopaedic Registrar in a few Hospitals in Mumbai. He has been invited to several national and international workshops and conferences as expert speaker

Dr. Mallinath Patil is a Consulting Gynecologist & Obstetrician in Miraj. He is associated with SEARCH since 2002 and contributes his expertise in the surgical camps held at the SEACH Hospital. After graduation (M.B.B.S) from B.J.M.C., Pune in 1966 he did his DGO in 1969 and M.D. from B.J.M.C., Pune in 1971. He has been awarded honorary fellowships by the Indian College of Obstetrics & Gynecology in Dec.1987 and by the Indian College of Maternal & Child Health in 1992. He has been a member of several scientific associations such as Indian Fertility & Sterility Society, National Association of Voluntary Sterilization & Family Welfare and Indian Academy of Human Reproduction. He is an active member of American Fertility Society, since December 1984 and has been on its various Committees including being chairman. He has functioned in an advisory capacity on various committees such as National Association of Voluntary Sterilization & Family Welfare besides the committees of American Fertility Society. He was also the Vice President of The Federation of Obstetrics & Gynecological Societies of India in 1997. He has contributed to various publications (Journals, Books) in the field of his specialty. His academic participation spans several conferences (International 9; national 31, state 106) 4 orations, and research study on the topic of "Low Dose Aspirin" in the Prevention of Pregnancy Induced Hypertension in Indian Women" and invited lectures in Maharashtra and Karnataka on "Vegetarianism.

Dr Mohan Rajaram Patil acquired his MBBS degree (1986) and then diploma in Anaesthesiology. Since 1988 he has been working as an anaesthesiologist at Sangli. He is associated with professional bodies (Indian medical association, Indian society of Anaesthesia, Deccan Surgical Society etc) besides social service groups and international organisations including educational institutes. He has been active in sports (table tennis) and other out door activities (Himalayan Trekking). He is recipient of awards such as of Giants International. Besides the services he provides during surgical camps at SEARCH, his philanthropic activities include supporting a girl child and donations to educational institutes and remand home.

Dr. Santosh Vasantrao Patil has been associated with SEARCH since 2007 and provides his expertise during the surgical camps held at Maa Danteshwari Hospital. He did his M.B.B.S., M. S. and M.Ch all from Mumbai University. He is a consultant pediatric surgeon at Kolhapur and teaches D.N.B. Pediatric Surgery at Sangli. He also works as an honorary Pediatric Surgeon at Municipal Corp. hospital (Savitribai Phule Hospital) in Kolhapur.

Dr. Sanjay Purohit is from Sangli. He holds M.S. (General surgery) and M.Ch (Urology) from University of Mumbai. His areas of special interest in Urology are Reconstructive Urology, Endourology, Paediatric Urology and Andrology. He is a sports enthusiast and plays Tennis, Badminton & also enjoys Snow Skiing and high altitude trekking besides photography. He is associated with SEARCH since 2003 and contributes by way of conducting urological and general surgical operations.

Dr Nitin Bhalchandra Sakhadeo is a practicing urologist from Kolhapur and has studied in India and abroad (M.B.B.S. and M.S. from Shivaji University and FRCS from Edinburgh). He received his training as an Urologist in Liverpool & Manchester from 1991 to 1996. He has been associated with SEARCH since 2006 and conducts urological surgeries during his visit to Shodhgram, the HQ campus of SEARCH.

Dr Salphale is a senior practicing surgeon from Chandrapur. He has been associated with SEARCH since a number of years. He visits SEARCH with his team for performing hernia and hydrocele operations. Phimosis and vasectomy procedures are also performed. These camps are held once in two months. On an average, 40-50 operations are performed per camp.

Dr. Sanjay Shivade has been a meritorious student all through. He studied for his M.B.B.S. and M.S. (General Surgery) and then worked for a short period in Rural Hospital and Civil Hospital in Satara district. He established his own hospital in Lonad, a town which had no support systems such as anesthetists, radiologist, pathologist etc. Now it is a 35 bed hospital with facilities such as X-ray, U.S.G. and also a small I.C.U. He is a life member of professional bodies such as Association of Surgeons of India and Association of Rural Surgeons of India. He has presented several papers in national conferences, seminars and workshops. He has presented a paper in an international conference in Germany. The surgical procedure devised by him is to form part of the textbooks and will be known by his name. He is a fellow of the Association of Rural Surgeons of India. He is associated with SEARCH since 2003.

Dr. Mrs. Alka Tamane is a consultant gynaecologist from Akola. She is associated with SEARCH since 2006. She did her M.D, D.G.O. and D.F.P. from Mumbai University (1978). She has performed more than 3000 vaginal hysterectomies in non-descent uterus and handled more than 500 cases of fibroid uterus removed vaginaly. Her special interest is vaginoplasy for absent vagina.

Dr. Mahendra Upendra Tamane is a practicing general and plastic surgeon from Akola. He is associated with SEARCH and contributes his expertise since 2006. He did his M.B.B.S (1973) and M.S. (1978) from Marathwada University and did a fellowship in plastic surgery & burns in Sion hospital Mumbai in 1983. His special interest is Laparoscopic surgery. He has been past president of Akola chapters of IMA, Rotary Club and Surgical Society. He is president of Hedgewar blood bank and a faculty on surgery department of J.G. Dental College, Akola (as HOD) and honorary surgeon with Ayurved College & Hospital Akola. He has conducted many camps of plastic surgery & laparoscopy.

Dr. Shaila Telang has studied in Mumbai University (MBBS 1971, MD (Anesthesia) 1977). She is presently with the Bombay Hospital and Medical Research Center as Honorary Anesthesia Consultant since 1977. She has attended various conferences and has presented papers nationally and internationally.

Dr Ravindra M. Vora F.R.C.S.Ed is a senior paediatric surgeon from Sangli. He is the principal force behind the surgical camps at Shodhgram by his team of doctors from the Miraj-Sangli region. He has the distinction of being the first surgeon in Maharashtra outside Mumbai. He has been associated with several professional bodies in various capacities such as: The Founder Chairman, Deccan Association of paediatric. surgeons (1997); the Chairman, Maharashtra Chapter, Indian Association of paediatric surgeons(2006); Organizing Chainman, National Conference, IAPS (2006); Moderator, Registry of Birth Defects, Maharashtra Chapter-IAPS; Co-coordinator, Prevention of Neural Tube Defects; He has designed a new retractor for plication of diaphragm. Establishment of 'Birth Defects Clinic' and Association of Parents of Children with Congenital Malformations at a charitable trust's diagnostic center is credited to him. He is also involved in the training of rural surgeons in paediatric surgery (ARSI activity); nature conservation & environmental education. He is associated with National Alliance of Peoples Movements and other NGOs in the field of environment protection. He is also a post graduate teacher for DNB paediatric surgery at Paediatric Surgery Centre and P.G. Institute, Sangli.