Chennai: Dr. K. M. Cherian, a world-renowned cardiac surgeon and pioneering figure in India’s medical history, who established the Frontier Lifeline Hospital in Chennai, passed away in Bengaluru, leaving behind a legacy that transformed the field of cardiology and touched countless lives. He was 79 years old.
Dr. Sunil Shroff, a well known surgeon, recalled Dr. Cherian’s historic role in performing the first heart transplant in India in a private hospital, a procedure that involved a Hindu donor, a Muslim recipient, and a Christian surgeon—an act of unity that demonstrated the power of medicine to bridge divides.
PM Modi Expresses His Grief Over Dr. Cherian’s Passing
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over Dr. Cherian’s passing, saying, “Pained by the passing of Dr. K. M. Cherian, one of the most distinguished doctors of our country. His contribution to cardiology will always be monumental, not only saving many lives but also mentoring doctors of the future. His emphasis on technology and innovation always stood out. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this hour of grief.”
Who Was Dr. K. M. Cherian?
Dr. Cherian’s illustrious career spanned decades and countries. He began his medical journey as a lecturer in Surgery at Christian Medical College Hospital in Vellore in Tamil Nadu. In 1973, while living in Australia, he achieved a significant milestone, becoming a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in Cardiothoracic Surgery. His expertise took him to New Zealand and the United States, where he trained under two of the world’s most esteemed cardiothoracic surgeons—Dr. John W. Kirklin in Birmingham, Alabama, and Dr. Albert Starr at the University of Oregon.
Dr. Cherian’s contributions to cardiology were groundbreaking. He performed India’s first successful coronary artery bypass surgery in 1975 and later went on to achieve a series of medical firsts: the country’s first heart transplant after the legalisation of brain death, the first heart-lung transplant, the first pediatric transplant, and the first laser heart surgery (Transmyocardial Revascularization or TMR). His work set the standard for cardiac care in India and inspired a new generation of surgeons.
In recognition of his remarkable achievements, Dr. Cherian received numerous prestigious awards. He was conferred the Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) degree by King George’s Medical University in Lucknow and was honored with the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1991. His contributions to medical excellence were also recognized internationally, with a Wockhardt Medical Excellence Award in 2005. Notably, he was the only Indian to have his name inscribed in stone during the World Congress of the World Society of Cardio Thoracic Surgeons in Greece.
Dr. Cherian was also a key figure in shaping India’s medical landscape. He was the founding Vice President and Director of the Madras Medical Mission, the Founding Chairman of the Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, and the Founder Chairman of Frontier Lifeline Hospital and Frontier Mediville—the first Medical SEZ and Medical Science Park in India. He also established the St. Gregorios Cardio Vascular Centre in Kerala and launched The Study – L’ecole International, a CBSE school in Puducherry, through his Educational Trust.
<!– Published on: Monday, January 27, 2025, 11:11 AM IST –>
<!–
–>
