Dr SUNITHA KARUNAKARAN

IVA Kerala honors a young enthusiastic lady veterinarian, Dr. Sunitha Karunakaran, holding the office of the Veterinary Surgeon, Veterinary Clinical Laboratory, District Veterinary Centre, Palakkad with it’s Special Jury Appreciation Award for her significant contributions towards the improvement of veterinary profession in the year 2008. A graduate of Veterinary College, Mannuthy (2001) she possess a post graduation in Veterinary Microbiology (2005) proving her academic brilliance through the KAU Merit Scholarships and ICAR Merit-Cum-Means Scholarships offered to her all throughout her studies. Dr. Sunitha is currently engaged in her favorite field of veterinary microbiological investigations at her office, providing timely diagnosis of the clinical samples as well as FMD and Avian Influenza surveillance in collaboration with higher labs like SRDDL, Bangalore. She has played a pivotal role in the diagnosis of Johne’s disease and PPR (goats), Pasteurella multocida (Emu), Anthrax, Anaplasmosis, Johne’s disease, Pasteurellosis (cattle), Haemobartonellosis (dogs) and Salmonella, E.coli and Pasteurella in quails and domestic poultry in various parts of Palakkad. A professional with good social concern, Dr. Sunitha has been particular in delivering information on issues of veterinary public health importance to the slaughter house workers, vets and para-vets, district health officials and as a master trainer for the veterinary workforce and Rapid Response Team of Palakkad in the wake of Avian influenza.Dr. Sunitha has held several responsible positions like the member of the Technical Advisory Committee of Telepathology unit (RDDL Palakkad), District Epidemiologist (ADCP, Palakkad) and the current position of District Laboratory Officer, (Palakkad). With umpteen numbers of research as well as popular articles to her credit, Dr. Sunitha is already the Principal Investigator for an R&D project on “Micro-organisms associated with mortality/low egg production in domestic poultry” for a financial outlay of 3.68 lakhs. A lady of vision, she is now working towards her much cherished dream of setting up a molecular diagnostic wing for the Clinical Lab, Palakkad to facilitate more specific diagnostic operations.