(January 27, 2026) The Padma Awardees 2026 from the Indian-American diaspora reaffirm a familiar reality that distance has rarely meant disengagement. While these honourees have built distinguished careers in global institutions, their influence has continued to flow back to India through policy advisory roles, institutional partnerships, and knowledge exchange. From shaping cancer-care frameworks and exploring artificial intelligence–driven solutions for maternal and public health, to advancing humanitarian causes through sustained philanthropic work, their contributions reflect a two-way relationship rather than a one-time migration of talent. Global Indian takes a closer look at the journeys of the three Indian-Americans whose achievements abroad continue to resonate at home.
Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori
Radiation oncologist and global cancer care leader
Padma Bhushan awardee, 2026
Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori’s career spans clinical innovation, institutional leadership, and public health engagement across continents. An Indian-American radiation oncologist based in New York, he is internationally recognised as one of the world’s leading authorities in brachytherapy, a specialised form of internal radiation therapy used in cancer treatment.
Dr Nori with President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at an oncology summit in Hyderabad, few years back
Born in Mantada village in Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna district, Dr. Nori completed his schooling in Machilipatnam before earning his medical degree from Kurnool Medical College and a postgraduate degree from Osmania Medical College. His professional trajectory led him to the United States, where he has spent decades advancing radiation oncology through research, clinical practice, and education. He currently serves as Professor and Executive Vice Chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College, and as Chairman of the Radiation Oncology Unit at the New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens.
Dr. Nori’s influence in the field dates back to 1979, when he became the first physician in the United States to work with a computerized brachytherapy treatment system. He played a central role in developing and popularising transperineal brachytherapy, a non-surgical technique for radioactive seed implantation that significantly improved outcomes and quality of life for prostate cancer patients. His contributions have been recognised by institutions such as the American Cancer Society, which honoured him with its “Tribute to Life” award, and by Ladies’ Home Journal, which once named him among America’s top doctors for cancers affecting women.
His engagement with India has deepened in recent years. In March 2025, Dr. Nori was appointed Advisor to the Telangana Government on Cancer Care, followed by a broader advisory role in June 2025 focused on preventive, curative, and affordable cancer care. These appointments reflect a shift from individual clinical excellence to system-level impact. Having received the Padma Shri in 2015, his elevation to the Padma Bhushan in 2026 recognises a lifetime of medical leadership anchored in global expertise and national service.
Vijay Amritraj
Former professional tennis player, sports broadcaster and humanitarian
Padma Bhushan awardee, 2026
Vijay Amritraj’s legacy in Indian sport extends well beyond rankings and trophies. Born in Madras, he emerged during a period when Indian tennis had limited global presence and helped establish its credibility on the international stage.
Raised in a sporting family alongside brothers Anand and Ashok Amritraj, Vijay turned professional in 1970 and became one of India’s most visible tennis ambassadors. His breakthrough came in 1973 with quarterfinal appearances at both Wimbledon and the US Open. Over the next decade, he earned a reputation as a formidable competitor against the era’s best players, defeating Björn Borg at the 1974 US Open and pushing him to five sets at Wimbledon in 1979. He also recorded multiple victories over Jimmy Connors and defeated John McEnroe at the Cincinnati Masters in 1984.
Vijay Amritraj with some of the beneficiaries of Vijay Amritraj Foundation, few years back
In 1980, Amritraj reached a career-high singles ranking of World No. 16. Over the course of his career, he won 15 singles titles and 13 doubles titles, compiling a singles record of 405–312. Equally significant was his contribution to Indian team tennis. He was part of the Indian Davis Cup teams that reached the finals in 1974 and 1987. It’s still among the most notable achievements in the country’s tennis history.
Amritraj’s influence expanded beyond sport through work in film, television, and global broadcasting. He appeared in Octopussy and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home before becoming a respected international sports commentator. Appointed a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2001, he has worked extensively on issues related to HIV/AIDS awareness and drug prevention.
He also founded the Vijay Amritraj Foundation in 2006. Through the foundation, Amritraj has focused on supporting vulnerable communities in India affected by illness, crisis, and circumstance. Guided by the belief that social responsibility is inseparable from success, the organisation works to deliver tangible assistance where institutional support is often limited, emphasising dignity, access, and long-term impact over symbolism. Awarded the Padma Shri in 1983 and inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2024, Amritraj’s Padma Bhushan recognises a career that positioned Indian sport within a global cultural conversation.
Dr. Prateek Sharma
Gastroenterologist and medical academic
Padma Shri awardee, 2026
Dr. Prateek Sharma represents a new generation of physician-leaders shaping medicine through research, technology, and global collaboration. An Indian-American gastroenterologist, he is internationally recognised for his work on esophageal diseases, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett’s esophagus, and advanced endoscopic techniques.
Dr Prateek Sharma with cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S.Laxman at the launch of the Gastro Intestinal and Liver Foundation for Research and Treatment of Cancers in Hyderabad, few years back
Born in Chandigarh, Dr. Sharma earned his MBBS from M.S. University of Baroda in 1991 before pursuing postgraduate training in the United States. He completed his internal medicine residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin and a gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Arizona. He currently serves as Professor of Medicine and Program Director for the Gastroenterology Fellowship at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.
Dr. Sharma is President of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), the world’s largest professional organisation dedicated to GI endoscopy, representing over 15,000 members. He also chairs the ASGE Artificial Intelligence Institute, where he leads efforts to integrate AI into gastrointestinal diagnostics and therapeutic practice. His work has placed him at the centre of global discussions on the responsible use of AI in healthcare.
His engagement with India includes collaborative research and policy dialogue. In 2024, he received the Government of India’s VAIBHAV Fellowship for strengthening Indo–U.S. research partnerships focused on AI-driven early detection of gastrointestinal cancers. He has also explored AI-based applications for improving maternal health systems in Andhra Pradesh in an attempt to improve public health infrastructure in the state.
With over 400 publications, authorship of major textbooks, leadership of international research consortia, and principal investigator roles in multiple clinical trials, Dr. Sharma’s work continues to shape global standards of care. His Padma Shri acknowledges sustained academic influence paired with practical engagement across borders.
Recognition that travels both ways
Together, the 2026 Indian-American Padma awardees reflect a form of global citizenship that reflects continuity rather than distance. Their careers demonstrate how expertise developed abroad can be reinvested in India, through policy advisory roles, collaborative research, cultural representation and humanitarian work. The Padma honours, in this context, recognise not only individual distinction but a broader model of diaspora contribution that remains actively connected to the country’s present and future.
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