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| Dr.Vijayaraghavan, KIMS, Thiruvananthapuram |
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Many illustrious alumni of Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram have been serving at noted institutions in the world. The significance of cardiologist Dr.Vijayaraghavan is that he has been able to stride the West and East with his path breaking and compassionate care.
After completing MD in 1969, he proceeded to Christian Medical College, Vellore, for post doctoral studies. When he came back to the parent institution, he initiated noteworthy changes in the mode of treatment. Earlier, a patient was advised bed rest for 3 weeks after suffering a heart attack. Dr.Vijayaraghavan introduced the now common approach of making the patient walk on the 3rd day.
It was during this period that he was deputed to attend on the then Leader of Opposition in Parliament, A.K.Gopalan. This foray into the circle of the influential, led him later to treat patients like EMS, C.Achutha Menon, E.K.Nayanar, A.P.Udaya Bhanu etc.
Considered the father of Echo Cardiography in India, Dr.Vijayaraghavan co-authored a book on the subject with Dr.Praveen Shah. An indication of the significance of this book is that it was brought out by John Weely, USA, the publisher of many tomes of Nobel laureates.
Declining an offer to continue his career in USA, he came back to Kerala and was instrumental in setting up the first 2D Echo Lab in India and the first Digital Cath Lab in the State. An invitation to set up Doplar Echo Lab in Kuwait University saw him embark on his forays into countries, both West and East. During this period he delivered lectures in Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Brazil, Sri Lanka and Jordan besides USA and UK.
The man who used to walk to the hospital when he worked in Los Angeles, has this to say to the youth: “Keep walking to maintain health and fill the mind with happiness. Walk to enjoy the beauty of Nature. You should not waste this God-given gift.”
Courtesy:
Dr.T.V.Gopalakrishnan
(text), Mathrubhumi Arogyamasika, August, 2005
Contributed by: Administrator
