K. M. Cherian (doctor)
Kotturathu Mammen "K.M." Cherian is an Indian heart surgeon. He performed India's first coronary artery bypass surgery and is considered a pioneer of pediatric cardiac surgery in the country. He is also a former honorary surgeon to the President of India and a Padma Shri awardee.He attended Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. He performed India's first coronary artery bypass surgery in 1975. He is the founder of Frontier Lifeline Hospital, where he performed India's second heart transplant surgery in 1995. He also performed the country's first heart-lung transplant and the country's first pediatric cardiac surgery.Awards and honours
He was awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1991, and was honorary surgeon to the President of India from 1990 to 1993.
In June 2000, Cherian received a lifetime achievement award from Kasturba Medical College for contributions made to the field of cardiothoracic surgery in India.
He received a Harvard Medical Excellence Award in 2005, through a panel organised by Harvard Medical School.
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 April3 May 2008.
In 2010, Cherian became the first Indian to be designated president of the World Society of Cardio Thoracic Surgeons.
In May 2016, Cherian was selected to be a member of the "Founder Circle" of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery.Biography
A biography about Cherian titled Hand of God was released in 2015.
