Binaytara Announces its 2026 Recognition Award Winners: Celebrating Champions of Cancer Health Equity

Binaytara has announced the recipients of its 2026 Recognition Awards, celebrating five exceptional leaders whose dedication to education, innovation, and service is advancing cancer health equity worldwide. The awards will be presented at the Summit on Cancer Health Disparities 2026 (SCHD26).

We are excited to announce the recipients of the Binaytara Recognition Awards for 2026. These awards will honor five distinguished individuals at the 2026 Summit on Cancer Health Disparities (SCHD26) for their outstanding contributions to advancing Binaytara’s mission of minimizing cancer disparities.

Reflecting on this year’s list of awardees, Binaytara’s president and co-founder, Dr. Binay Shah, expressed his appreciation: “I am grateful for the commitment these individuals have shown to our shared mission of improving access to cancer care. Their contributions mean a great deal to the entire Binaytara team, and we are honored to recognize the impact they have made.”

About the Awards

Binayatara Distinguished Faculty Of The Year Award

Selected from more than 700 faculty members with whom Binaytara has worked over the past year, this award honors individuals who have demonstrated long-standing excellence in teaching and have made significant contributions to Binaytara's educational activities, enhancing access to education for healthcare providers.

Binaytara Volunteer Of The Year Award

This award honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to Binaytara's mission through their volunteerism, actively contributing to its efforts to improve access to cancer care and make a meaningful impact in the community.

Meet the 2026 Binaytara Recognition Award Recipients

1. Dr. Deepti Behl: Binaytara Distinguished Faculty of the Year Award

We are thrilled to honor Dr. Deepti Behl with the Distinguished Faculty of the Year award for her exceptional contributions to Binaytara's mission of advancing oncology education. A medical oncologist specializing in lung cancer and melanoma, Dr. Behl brings world-class expertise from her training at the Mayo Clinic and her fellowship in Integrative Medicine from the University of Arizona's Andrew Weill program.

Her involvement with Binaytara has been transformative, from presenting compelling case studies and leading molecular tumor boards on lung cancer to co-chairing the 2026 Northern California Hematology Oncology Conference. As a member of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's Tobacco Control and Cessation Committee, she bridges cutting-edge research with practical clinical application.

Upon receiving this recognition, Dr. Behl shared her heartfelt response: "I am so honored to be selected and feel privileged to be part of this wonderful effort. Dr. Shah, your dedication to reducing disparities by bringing world-class care to some of the most underserved people is truly inspiring and amazing."

2. Dr. Hetty Carraway: Binaytara Distinguished Faculty of the Year Award

When Dr. Hetty Carraway received word of her recognition, her response was immediate and heartfelt: "I am delighted and honored by this recognition. Thank you so very much for this honor!!" This enthusiasm reflects the same energy she has brought to Binaytara for several years as a driving force behind our premier Summit on Hematological Cancers.

A hematologic oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic's Taussig Cancer Institute, where she serves as Vice Chair of Strategy and Enterprise Development, Dr. Carraway is nationally recognized for her expertise in AML, ALL, and MDS. Her dual role as both abstract committee co-chair and conference co-chair has been instrumental in shaping our Nashville Summit into a tier-one educational experience, allowing oncologists across the country to benefit from her translational research insights and clinical acumen. Dr. Carraway's commitment to advancing the field, evidenced by her numerous peer-reviewed publications and her work with organizations including ASH, AACR, and ASCO, makes her an invaluable partner in Binaytara's mission to elevate oncology care and education.

3. Dr. Martha Mims: Binaytara 2026 Distinguished Faculty of the Year Award

As a Professor of Hematology and Oncology at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Martha Mims has become an indispensable architect of Binaytara's flagship Summit on Cancer Health Disparities, serving as co-chair of the Abstract Committee for multiple conference cycles, including SCHD25 and SCHD26. Her influence extends beyond abstract selection; she has led critical panel discussions on access to bispecifics and cellular therapy at American Society of Hematology (ASH)-adjacent Binaytara events, addressing some of the most pressing equity challenges in modern oncology.

With her leadership in selecting abstracts for the Impact Pitch competition at SCHD26, Dr. Mims has championed Binaytara’s Implementation Science Research Grants, describing them as “the next step in supporting efforts to minimize cancer disparities and a real commitment to moving the needle in cancer care.” This perspective underscores her vision for translating education into tangible improvements in patient outcomes. Upon learning of this recognition, she shared: "I am so touched - this is a wonderful honor from my favorite group!!" Her dedication to reducing disparities through excellence in science and education embodies everything this award celebrates.

4. Dr. Bipul Luitel: Binaytara 2026 Volunteer of the Year Award

For over 15 years, Dr. Luitel has been the quiet force behind Binaytara's technological evolution, serving as Director of Technology and Fractional CTO in a role that exemplifies the power of dedicated volunteerism. With a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology and entrepreneurial ventures including Growthzilla Inc. and Proma.ai under his belt, Dr. Luitel could have taken his expertise anywhere, yet he chose to invest it in Binaytara's mission.

His recent accomplishments include leading the relaunch of the OncoBlast app, implementing the innovative AI Research Assistant (AIRA) for the International Journal of Cancer Care and Delivery, and developing innovative tools that have fundamentally transformed how Binaytara delivers health and education programs. AIRA, in particular, represents a quantum leap forward, using advanced AI to enhance search, summarization, and accessibility of cancer care research for clinicians and researchers worldwide.

When notified of this honor, Dr. Luitel's response revealed the heart behind the innovation: "This recognition is deeply personal and humbling. Being related to the founders, Tara and Binay, my involvement has always felt like a natural extension of family, supporting people I love in work that genuinely matters."

5. Dr. Srinavas Tantravahi: Binaytara 2026 Volunteer of the Year Award

Few commitments demonstrate dedication quite like trekking to Annapurna Base Camp in the Himalayas, but for Dr. Srinivas Tantravahi, it was a testament to his unwavering support for Binaytara's mission.

An Associate Professor of Hematology and Hematologic Malignancies at the University of Utah's Huntsman Cancer Institute, Dr. Tantravahi was among the 12 participants who made the arduous 2025 Annapurna trek to raise awareness and funds for advancing cancer equity. His reflection on the experience, noting the kindness of local people and his gratitude for the opportunity, captured the humility that characterizes all his work with Binaytara.

Beyond mountain trails, Dr. Tantravahi has been a cornerstone of Binaytara's educational infrastructure, serving on the Education Committee, presenting on targeted therapies in acute leukemia at the International Cancer Congress in Nepal, and moderating sessions on hematologic malignancies at Summit on Cancer Health Disparities events. His consistent presence, whether as faculty presenter, session leader, or education committee member, has helped shape the continuing medical education programs that are central to Binaytara's impact. Upon receiving this recognition, he shared: "It is my honor to receive this award."

Our recognition awards reflect the compassionate, scholarly, and community-driven spirit of Binaytara. We will celebrate the awardees at our annual Binaytara gala at SCHD26. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, March 27th, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue, starting at 6:00 pm.

About SCHD26

SCHD26 is a CME/CE/ACPE-accredited event organized by Binaytara to drive its mission of improving access to cancer care. It is one of the few conferences in the United States that addresses disparities in cancer care. The conference will cover issues at the forefront of cancer care, including deep dives into equitable access across the cancer continuum, translation of evidence into practice via implementation science, technology and data use with an equity lens, and policy and community partnership strategies. SCHD26 will be held from March 27 to 28, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue, Washington.

Register now and join the conversation that will shape the future of how we treat and manage cancer patients. For CE/CME-related inquiries, email us at [email protected]. Follow the conversations on cancer disparities online with the hashtag #SCHD26.