She was awarded the honorary fellowship in Onco-anaesthesia in 2023. Dr. Kalpana Balakrishnan is deeply committed to palliative care, evident in her training, including the Basic Course in Palliative Care (CCEPC), National Fellowship in Palliative Care (NFPM), and Education in Palliative Care and End of Life Care (EPEC). She is a national faculty in palliative medicine and mentor for the Equip India Quality Improvement Hub in Palliative Care since 2021. She received the Dame Cicely Saunders vocational excellence award in Palliative care. Beyond her academic achievements, Dr. Kalpana Balakrishnan has delivered multiple invited lectures in Anaesthesia and Palliative Care and serves as a reviewer for journals like the Indian Journal of Anesthesiology and Supportive Care in Cancer. She has a rich publication history covering topics from perioperative outcomes in cancer patients to psychosocial challenges faced by caregivers of head and neck cancer patients. Dr. Kalpana Balakrishnan’s career is marked by her dedication to patient well-being, impactful research, and ongoing pursuit of excellence in Anaesthesia, Palliative Care, and Oncology.