Dr. Sandra DeSaSouza obtained her Master’s Degree in ENT in 1969 and has a diploma in ENT from CPS College in Bombay. She is a fellow of the International College of Surgeons, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Otological Society. She held the position of Professor Emeritus and Head of the Atmasingh Jethasingh ENT Municipal Hospital. She was also Emeritus Head of the ENT Department in Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, where today she is a Consultant Surgeon. She is also a Consultant at Desa’s Hospital and Breach Candy Hospital.
In India, she was the president of the Bombay Branch of AOI in 1994, the all-India branch of NES in 1995, and the first women president of AOI in 2002.
In 1987 she was the pioneer of cochlear implant surgery in India, the first women cochlear implant surgeon in the World, the first surgeon to start other centers in India, the first surgeon to use Nucleus, Medel, and Clarion Cochlear Implants. She was alsothe first surgeon to use implants in ossified cochlear and mondini cases and perform sinuscopy with image-guided equipment.She was the first Asian surgeon to use the Clarion Advance Bionic Hires 90K.
She was on the editorial board of the International Tinnitus Journal and has published over 40 research papers and articles and written two booklets, “Modern trends in cochlear implants” and the “Cochlear implant program.” She is the co-author and publisher of a textbook titled “Modern concept of Neurotology.”
She has also been active in doing social work for the deaf and is the present trustee of “The Stephen High School for the Deaf and Aphasic,” which has 70 children studying for the standard SSC.
She is listed in “The International Register of Profiles,” the “Twentieth Century Admirable Achievers,” “Distinguished Who’s Who,” and “The Limca Book of Records.”
American Biographical Institution has awarded her Lifetime Achievement Award for the Women of the Year 2002. She was Awarded International Scientist of the Year in 2003 for her outstanding contribution to Neurotology and leading scientist of the World in 2005 for her Research in Cochlear implants. In 2022 the AOI India awarded her the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dr. Sandra DeSaSouza was conferred the prestigious Padma Shri award on 26th January 2020, on the occasion of the 71st Republic Day of India.She has deservingly received this honor thanks to an illustrious career as one of India’s leading ENT Surgeons and a pioneer of Cochlear Implant Surgery in India.