Chandigarh, June 6
Prof. Dr. Sonu Goel, Professor of Health Management at the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh was conferred the prestigious Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (FRCPE), one of the highest professional honors awarded by the Royal College to physicians, researchers and public health leaders who have demonstrated exceptional contributions to medicine, healthcare, research, education, and public service. The Fellowship is a recognition of Prof. Goel’s distinguished career spanning more than 25 years in public health, focusing on health systems strengthening, health management and leadership, tobacco control, implementation science, and policy research, which has led to significant contributions in improving population health outcomes in India and globally.
Prof. Goel is also serving as Director of the WHO Awardee Resource Centre for Tobacco Control; Lead of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Tobacco Control; Convenor of the Scientific Support Group, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India; Lead of the MPOWER Research Group of The Union; and Program Director of the International Public Health Management Development Program (IPHMDP). He also serves as Adjunct Clinical Professor at the University of Limerick, Ireland.
Widely recognized for his leadership in public health, Prof. Goel has authored over 270 peer-reviewed scientific publications, successfully led more than 50 national and international research projects, and mentored numerous public health professionals, researchers, and policymakers.He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), the highest academic medical body in India, as well as the Indian Public Health Association (FIPHA), the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (FIAPSM), and the International Medical Sciences Academy (FIMSA).
His academic leadership is reflected in the publication and editing of 13 influential books, including Management of Healthcare Systems (Oxford University Press), Hospital Administration: A Problem-Solving Approach (Elsevier), Global Public Health Perspectives on Leadership and Management (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, UK), and several landmark volumes on tobacco control and health policy. He has further contributed more than 40 book chapters in internationally acclaimed publications, advancing knowledge in health systems management, tobacco control, health promotion, tuberculosis, addiction science, and public health practice.
Demonstrating a commitment to innovation beyond academia, Prof. Goel has been associated with nine patent filings in healthcare technologies and assistive devices, with three patents published and two granted. His unique blend of scientific excellence, policy leadership, academic scholarship, innovation, and capacity building has made him a globally respected voice in public health and a key contributor to strengthening health systems and advancing population health in India and beyond.
Over the course of his illustrious career, Prof. Goel has received numerous prestigious national and international honors in recognition of his outstanding contributions to research, education, healthcare leadership, and public health practice. These include the Global Research Network Award (2025) from the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT), the Dr. J.E. Park Oration of the Indian Public Health Association, the Dr. Nandagudi Suryanarayana Rao Award of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, the Harcharan Singh Oration, the Vasudeva Oration, the Excellence in Public Health Award, and multiple Young Researcher Awards.
Collectively, these achievements reflect his unwavering commitment to advancing science, strengthening health systems, fostering innovation, and improving the health and well-being of populations in India and across the world.
