Dr. Debanjan Banerjee Named Among the World’s Top 2% Scientists: A Landmark Achievement for Indian Psychiatry
Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews,December 3, 2025, Kolkata : Dr. Debanjan Banerjee, a distinguished Consultant Geriatric Psychiatrist at Apollo Hospitals in Kolkata, has earned a prestigious place in the Stanford University and Elsevier global list of the world’s top 2% scientists. This recognition, based on his pioneering research, clinical excellence, and significant impact on psychiatry, adds to his growing reputation as a leading figure in the field, especially in geriatric psychiatry.
Stanford University’s annual list, compiled in collaboration with the Elsevier Data Repository, provides a detailed ranking of the top 100,000 scientists based on multiple criteria such as citations, h-index, co-authorship-adjusted h-index, and a composite score (c-score). This year, 15 Indian psychiatrists made it to the esteemed list, with Dr. Banerjee standing out for his contributions to social psychiatry and geriatrics. His inclusion in this select group reflects the increasing global recognition of India’s contributions to the mental health field.
Dr. Banerjee’s research focuses on critical areas including the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the psychology of misinformation, the media’s portrayal of suicides, and the marginalisation of ageing populations. His work in geriatric psychiatry addresses a largely overlooked but vitally important field, especially as the global population continues to age at an unprecedented rate.
An accomplished academic, Dr. Banerjee’s career began with an MBBS from Calcutta National Medical College, where he was awarded a gold medal for his academic excellence. He then went on to complete his M.D. in Psychiatry from the prestigious National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bangalore. His post-doctoral work in Geriatric Psychiatry further cemented his expertise in this field. With 139 publications to his name, over 56,578 reads, and 5,668 citations, Dr. Banerjee has made a lasting impact on academic literature, particularly in social psychiatry and the mental health of the elderly.
Dr. Banerjee is an advocate for mental health awareness and actively participates in various community initiatives. He has worked to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and has played a significant role in training general physicians to better handle mental health cases. His academic contributions span diverse research methodologies, including Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), Cognitive Grounded Theory (CGT), and Focus Group Discussions (FGD).
He is also an editor for two local magazines in Kolkata and continues to lead research projects in social psychology. According to the Stanford-Elsevier database, Dr. Banerjee is ranked 20,414 in the global list, based on his composite score excluding self-citations, and 23,538 when self-citations are included. His h-index (a measure of research productivity and citation impact) stands at 11 as of 2024, with a total of 485 citations for the year. These numbers further reflect the increasing influence of his work on the global psychiatric community.
Dr. Banerjee’s extensive clinical experience is reflected in his work at Apollo Multispeciality Hospital, where he diagnoses and treats a wide range of psychiatric disorders, with a particular focus on neuro-psychiatry, dementia, mood disorders, and psychosexual health. His patient-centred approach, combined with his deep expertise in the mental health needs of the elderly, has earned him the respect of both patients and peers.
Beyond his clinical and academic achievements, Dr. Banerjee’s commitment to improving mental health in India is also evident in his leadership roles within prominent psychiatric associations. He is an active member of the Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS), the Indian Association of Geriatric Mental Health (IAGMH), the Indian Association of Social Psychiatry (IASP), the SAARC Psychiatric Federation, and the World Psychiatric Association (WPA).
Dr. Banerjee’s academic credentials are extensive. In addition to his gold medal in MBBS, he holds a DNB in Psychiatry, a DM in Geriatric Psychiatry from NIMHANS, and a Fellowship in Sexual Medicine from JSS Medical College and Hospital, Mysuru. His academic contributions, including over 100 indexed publications in national and international journals, have been widely cited and have earned him multiple awards, including the WASP Asia Pacific Best Research Award in 2021 and the Early Career Fellowship Award from the World Psychiatric Association in 2022.
His work continues to inspire not only his colleagues but also a new generation of researchers, especially those working in underexplored areas of mental health such as geriatrics and the social aspects of psychiatry. Dr. Banerjee has stated that his recognition in the Stanford list will help open new directions for mental health research in India and hopes it will serve as an inspiration to young researchers across the country.
The inclusion of Dr. Banerjee in this prestigious list of the world’s top 2% scientists underscores India’s growing prominence in global mental health research. It highlights the significant strides being made in fields like geriatrics, neuro-psychiatry, and social psychiatry, and calls for more attention to mental health research in a rapidly ageing global population. As a leading figure in these fields, Dr. Banerjee continues to play a crucial role in shaping the future of mental health care in India and beyond.