LUCKNOW, May 27 -- Rajendra Prasad, a noted expert in pulmonary medicine and tuberculosis, was conferred the prestigious Padma Shri award by President Droupadi Murmu at Ganatantra Mandap in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, on May 25 for his distinguished contribution to the field of medicine. Currently serving as Emeritus Professor at the National Academy of Medical Sciences and director, Medical Education at Era University, Prof Prasad has played a major role in strengthening tuberculosis care and respiratory medicine in India. He has also served as former director of Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute and former head of the pulmonary medicine department at King George's Medical University. Known as the "Bhisham Pitamah" of tuberculosis and pulmonary medicine, Prof Prasad was instrumental in integrating nearly 700 medical colleges with the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme. He also helped establish one of India's first DOTS centres in medical college campus at King George's Medical University. Over a career spanning five decades, he has supervised more than 200 research projects, published around 600 scientific papers and authored 17 books on respiratory diseases and tuberculosis, stated a press release shared with the media on Tuesday....