K. M. Cherian (doctor)
K. M. Cherian | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 8 March 1942 |
| Died | 25 January 2025 (aged 82) Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Education | Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore |
| Occupation | Cardiac surgery |
| Years active | 50+ years in cardiac surgery |
| Known for | Performed India’s first successful coronary artery bypass surgery in 1975 |
| Spouse | Selien Cherian |
| Children | Sanjay Cherian (son) Sandhya Cherian (daughter) |
| Awards | Padma Shri in 1991
Wockhardt Medical Excellence Award in 2005 Lifetime Achievement from KMC |
Kotturathu Mammen Cherian[1][2] (8 March 1942 – 25 January 2025) was an Indian heart surgeon. He performed India's first coronary artery bypass surgery and first heart-lung transplant and is considered a pioneer of pediatric cardiac surgery in the country. He was also a former honorary surgeon to the President of India and a Padma Shri awardee.
Background
[edit]Cherian was born to Mammen of the Kotturathu house in Chengannur, Kerala, on 8 March 1942.[3][4] He started his career in Christian Medical College, in Vellore as lecturer in Surgery. In 1970, he migrated to Australia. He did his FRACS in Cardiothoracic Surgery in 1973. He also worked in New Zealand and was a migrant to the United States.
After his studies, he got the splendid opportunity to work as a Special Fellow in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in Birmingham, Alabama under Dr. John W. Kirklin and in the University of Oregon under Dr. Albert Starr. On his birthday in 1968, he got the most special birthday gift from his mentors in Australia where he performed his first open heart surgery at the age of 26.
As a young migrant in Australia, he had the opportunity to work at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney.
Cherian died in Bengaluru, Karnataka on 25 January 2025, at the age of 82.[5] He is survived by his son Sanjay, daughter Sandhya and many grandchildren. His wife Celine predeceased him in 2020.
Career as surgeon
[edit]Cherian attended Kasturba Medical College, Manipal.[6] He performed India's first coronary artery bypass surgery in 1975 at Southern Railway Headquarters hospital, Perambur, Chennai.[7] He was the founder of Frontier Lifeline Hospital, where he performed India's second heart transplant surgery in 1995.[6] He also performed the country's first heart-lung transplant and the country's first pediatric cardiac surgery.[7] Dr.K.M.Cherian is also credited with introducing the Physician Assistant profession in India in the year 1992. Today, the profession has grown to over 10,000 graduate PAs with over 25 universities conducting the program. [8] The Indian Association of Physician Assistants celebrates Dr.K.M.Cherian as the father of the PA profession in India.[9]
Awards and honours
[edit]- He was awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1991,[1][2] and was honorary surgeon to the President of India from 1990 to 1993.[7]
- In June 2000, Cherian received a lifetime achievement award from Kasturba Medical College[10][11] for contributions made to the field of cardiothoracic surgery in India.[12]
- He received a Harvard Medical Excellence Award in 2005, through a panel organised by Harvard Medical School.[13]
- His name is engraved in one of the stones at Kos Island, Greece along with three other Indian surgeons, on the occasion of the 18th World Congress held by the World Society of Cardio Thoracic Surgeons held between 30 April – 3 May 2008.[14]
- In 2010, Cherian became the first Indian to be designated president of the World Society of Cardio Thoracic Surgeons.[15]
- In May 2016, Cherian was selected to be a member of the "Founder Circle" of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery.[16]
Business ventures
[edit]Cherian was the Founding Vice President and Director of Madras Medical Mission (MMM), Founding Chairman of Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). He was the Founder Chairman of Frontier Lifeline Hospital and Frontier Mediville, the first Medical SEZ and Medical Science Park in India. His Charitable Trust has built the St.Gregorios Cardio Vascular Centre, at Parumala, in Kerala and his Educational Trust runs the International CBSE School named “The Study – L’ecole Internationale” in Puducherry.
Dr. K. M. Cherian Institute of Medical Sciences
[edit]
Cherian and several other investors set up a hospital in Chengannur, Kerala. It was inaugurated in March 2021. It sits on a 5-acre plot. The name of the hospital is Dr. K. M. Cherian institute of medical sciences. [17]
Biography
[edit]A biography about Cherian titled Hand of God was released in 2015 and was written by Priya M. Menon.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Padama Awards: Previous Awardees". Padma Awards Ministry of Home Affairs. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ a b "Ministry of Home Affairs (Public Section) Padma Awards Directory (1954-2017) Year-wise List: 1991" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs (India). Archived from the original (pdf) on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ "A doc whose heart is in the right place". News Today. 9 March 2006. Archived from the original on 14 November 2006. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ "A doc whose heart is in the right place". News Today. 9 March 2006. Archived from the original on 14 November 2006. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ "Dr. KM Cherian, pioneer of India's first coronary bypass surgery, passes away at 82". The News Minute. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
- ^ a b c "Dr Cherian releases his biography". The Times of India. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
- ^ a b c Warrier, Shobha (8 March 2004). "Healing hearts". Rediff.com. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ Kuilman L, Sundar G, Cherian KM. Physician assistant education in India. J Physician Assist Educ. 2012;23(3):56-9. doi: 10.1097/01367895-201223030-00010. PMID: 23072073.
- ^ "Update".
- ^ "Alumni meet to witness reunion of 500 students". The Times of India. 7 December 2010.
- ^ Annual report of Manipal university has references to the Alumni get together with references to Dr Cherian https://apply.manipal.edu/content/dam/manipal/mu/documents/MU%20Annual%20Report/Annual%20Report%202016.pdf
- ^ "Dr Cherian gets award for surgery". The Tribune. United News of India. 14 June 2000. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- ^ "7 doctors get Wockhardt awards". Business Line. 9 February 2005. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ Reddy, Amrutha. "World Society of Cardio Thoracic Surgeons 18th World Congress" (PDF). Indian Medical Parliamentarians' Forum. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ "New Honor for Eminent Cardiac Surgeon Cherian" (PDF). People Watch. Asia Pacific Biotech News. Vol. 14, no. 11. World Scientific Publishing Co. November 2011. p. 47. ISSN 0219-0303. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ "The American Association For Thoracic Surgery (Aats) Admits Dr K M Cherianas Its Founder Circle Member". The Hans India. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
- ^ "KM Cherian Institute of Medical Science (KMC)". KMC. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
Further reading
[edit]- Menon, Priya M (2015). Hand of God. Narrated by K.M. Cherian. The Times Group. ISBN 978-9-384-03864-9.
External links
[edit]- Profile Archived 23 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine on Frontier Lifeline Hospital official website
- Cherian, K.M. (8 October 2017). "I really worked hard: K.M Cherian". The Hindu. Interviewed by Geeta Padmanabhan. – October 2017 interview
- Cherian, K.M. (19 October 2010). "We are putting India on a different plane". Rediff.com. Interviewed by Shobha Warrier. – October 2010 interview
- Cherian, K.M. (13 March 2014). "Cultural, Ethical, and Humanitarian Affairs: an interview with Dr K.M. Cherian, MS, FRACS, Dsc, Cardiac Surgeon, Chairman and CEO, Frontier Lifeline Hospital, Chennai, India". Cardiology in the Young. 24 (4). Interviewed by Tom R.Karl. Introduction by Suresh Rao. Greenwich Medical Media (published August 2014): 701–713. doi:10.1017/S1047951114000699. ISSN 1047-9511. PMID 24809253. S2CID 206307292.