With an MBBS in 1964 and an MS in 1968, Dr K.M. Cherian headed for Australia to become a FRACS (Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons). He worked with the Railways and since then has devoted his life to serving humankind. Dr. Cherian has the rare distinction of having performed the first successful heart transplant in India in 1975. He has many more firsts to his name, including the first paediatric heart transplant and more recently, the first heart and lung transplant. He is the Director of the Institute of Cardio-Vascular diseases, Madras Medical Mission, Chennai.

He has held numerous positions both in India and abroad, including Visiting Professor at University of Oregon, USA; Senior Registrar of Greenlane Hospital, Royal Alexandria Hospital and St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia. He is the recipient of several honours including the Padmashri in 1991. He has authored several National and International publications and was the Honorary Surgeon to the President of India from 1990 to 1993. He has performed more than 17,000 operations. A very busy man and yet there is no end to the line of people wishing to consult him. He sees them all.

Dr. K. M. Cherian. Dedication personified.

Dr. MATHEW SAMUEL KALARICAL

Called the pioneer of Angioplasty in the country, Dr. Mathew Samuel Kalarickal of Apollo Hospitals has performed over 5,000 Angioplasties. He is the first Indian Cardiologist to initiate various new techniques in Angioplasty.

Born on January 6, 1948, Dr. Mathew got his M.B.B.S degree from Government Medical College, Kottayam (1974), M.D., Stanley Medical College, Chennai (1978) and D.M. in 1981 from Madras Medical College, Chennai.

Having trained in Coronary Angioplasty under Dr. Andreas Gruentzig at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Mathew is now the visiting Fellow of Interventional Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio (U.S.A) and Interventional Cardiology, Atlanta (U.S.A.).

As the Founder Chairman of National Angioplasty Registry in India, Dr. Mathew has conducted Coronary Angioplasty programmes in most of the important hospitals in the country. He has the distinction of having trained Interventional Cardiologist, all over South East Asia, Australia and India.

Dr. Mathew has a wide clinical research experience. Among the various current academic positions, he is the Director, Interventional Cardiology and Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai.

For his contributions to Cardiology, he has received many awards including the Padmashri in 1999.

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