Dr. (Mrs.) N. S. Mahantashetti currently serves as the Officiating Vice Chancellor of KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (KAHER) and Professor of Pediatrics at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi. With a distinguished academic journey beginning with her MBBS (1983) and MD in Pediatrics (1987) from the same institution under Karnataka University, she has held pivotal positions spanning over three decades from Lecturer and Assistant Professor to Head of the Department, Principal, and now Officiating Vice Chancellor.

Dr. Mahantashetti has been an integral force in advancing pediatric healthcare and education, spearheading numerous community health initiatives, neonatal resuscitation programs, and breastfeeding awareness campaigns. Her work in establishing specialized units such as the Diarrhea Treatment and Training Unit, Nutritional Museum, and Kangaroo Mother Care Center reflects her commitment to child health and preventive pediatrics.

A respected figure in the academic and medical fraternity, Dr. Mahantashetti has received multiple accolades including the Best Teacher Award (2004), Teacher of Teachers Award (2014), and Best Scientist Award (2015-2018). Her leadership roles in the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), National Neonatology Forum, and Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India have contributed to shaping child health policies and practices nationwide. A Fellow of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, she has authored over 40 research publications across national and international platforms. Her ongoing and completed research projects-funded by esteemed institutions like the NIH and ICMR-focus on vaccine trials, neonatal health, and maternal-child interventions, significantly advancing India’s pediatric research and clinical landscape.