Dr. Chinnababu Sunkavalli

Biography

Dr. Chinnababu Sunkavalli is a globally recognized surgical oncologist, robotic surgery pioneer, and public health advocate based in Hyderabad, India. Serving as the Director of Surgical Oncology and Robotic Surgery at Yashoda Hospitals and the Founder & CEO of the Grace Cancer Foundation, he is widely acknowledged for introducing advanced minimally invasive robotic techniques to the region and championing large-scale cancer awareness and screening initiatives.

Early Life & Education

Dr. Chinnababu’s academic journey began at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) Shivamogga, Karnataka, where he was part of the institution's very first batch (1986–1993). The values instilled during his seven years at JNV shaped his lifelong dedication to accessible medical care.

He pursued medical education with notable distinction:

• MBBS: Jagadguru Jayadeva Murugarajendra Medical College (JJM Medical College), Davangere.
• MS (General Surgery): Government Medical College, Surat — Gold Medalist and University Topper.
• MCh (Surgical Oncology): Gujarat Cancer Research Institute, Ahmedabad — University 2nd Rank.
• Fellowships & Advanced Training: Completed specialized surgical training globally, including Minimally Invasive GI Surgery (FIAGES), Advanced Liver Surgery at New Tokyo Hospital (Japan), Robotic Surgery training in Paris and Roswell Park Cancer Institute (USA), and clinical fellowships at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York) and Long Beach Memorial Hospital (Los Angeles).

Professional Career & Innovations

With over two decades of surgical expertise, Dr. Chinnababu has held key clinical and academic leadership positions:

• Director of Surgical Oncology and Robotic Surgery: Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad (2022–Present).
• Founder & CEO: Grace Cancer Foundation (2012–Present).
• Senior Consultant Robotic Surgical Oncologist: Apollo Hospitals (2012–2022).
• Consultant & Professor: Kamineni Hospitals and Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences (2007–2012).
• Surgical Oncologist & General Surgeon: Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute & Government Medical Hospital, Surat (2001–2007).

As the first qualified robotic surgeon in Andhra Pradesh, he has successfully performed over 1,500 robotic surgeries spanning urological, gynecological, gastrointestinal, thoracic, and head-and-neck malignancies. He also serves as an official Proctor and Mentor for Da Vinci Robot training systems.

Philanthropy & Grace Cancer Foundation

In 2012, Dr. Chinnababu established the Grace Cancer Foundation to bridge healthcare divides for underserved populations. Key milestones include:

• Mobile Screening Campaigns: Pioneered low-cost mobile cancer screening units across rural and urban India.
• Global Awareness: Spearheaded the Global Grace Cancer Run, drawing participation from over 130 nations.
• COVID-19 Relief: Established India’s first mobile COVID ICU during the pandemic.
• Rural Infrastructure: Developed a state-of-the-art specialized cancer treatment center in rural Telangana (2017).

Awards, Honors & Records

• Guinness World Records: Recognized for orchestrating the Largest Breast Cancer Screening (2016), Largest Oral Cancer Screening (2019), and Oral Hygiene Awareness Campaign (2019).
• Limca Book of Records: Honored for achieving the Highest Cervical Cancer Screening benchmark (2016).
• National Honors: Best Doctor Award by King Foundation (2022), Young Oncologist of the Year by Times of India (2018), and Vaidya Rathna Award (2012).
• Thought Leadership: Featured speaker at TEDx (2022) and Lead-Talk (2018). His case study, “Project Ashray: Planning a Time Constrained Project”, is published on the Harvard Business Publishing Education platform.