Dr. K. M. Cherian: A Pioneer in Cardiac Surgery

Early Life and Education
Kotturathu Mammen Cherian was born on March 8, 1942, in Alappuzha, Kerala, India, to Mammen of the Kotturathu house in Chengannur. He grew up in Munnar, where his father worked as a tea estate staff. Cherian pursued his medical education at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, earning his MBBS in 1964 and MS in 1970. His passion for cardiac surgery led him to seek advanced training abroad, a decision that shaped his illustrious career.

Career and Achievements
Dr. Cherian began his career as a lecturer in surgery at Christian Medical College, Vellore. In 1970, he migrated to Australia, where he earned his FRACS (Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons) in Cardiothoracic Surgery in 1973. He further honed his skills in New Zealand under Sir Brian Barratt-Boyes and in the United States, working as a Special Fellow in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery under Dr. John W. Kirklin in Birmingham, Alabama, and Dr. Albert Starr at the University of Oregon.

Returning to India, Dr. Cherian made history by performing the country’s first successful coronary artery bypass surgery in 1975 at Southern Railway Headquarters Hospital, Perambur, Chennai, on a 39-year-old patient, Kaja Moideen, who lived for another 28 years. He went on to achieve numerous medical milestones, including India’s first heart transplant after the legalization of brain death in 1995, the first heart-lung transplant in 1997, the first pediatric cardiac surgery, and the first transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) laser heart surgery. He is also credited with introducing the Physician Assistant profession to India in 1992, which has grown to over 10,000 professionals.

Dr. Cherian founded several institutions, including Frontier Lifeline Hospital in Chennai, where he performed India’s second heart transplant in 1995, and Frontier Mediville, India’s first Medical SEZ and Medical Science Park. He was the Founding Vice President and Director of Madras Medical Mission (MMM) and Founding Chairman of the Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). His charitable trust established the St. Gregorios Cardio Vascular Centre in Parumala, Kerala, and his educational trust runs The Study – L’ecole Internationale, a CBSE school in Puducherry. In 2021, he inaugurated the Dr. K. M. Cherian Institute of Medical Sciences in Chengannur, Kerala.

Awards and Recognition
Dr. Cherian’s contributions earned him numerous accolades. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991 and served as honorary surgeon to the President of India from 1990 to 1993. In 2005, he received the Wockhardt Medical Excellence Award from a panel organized by Harvard Medical School. In 2010, he became the first Indian to be elected president of the World Society of Cardio Thoracic Surgeons, and in 2016, he was selected for the “Founder Circle” of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, becoming its first Indian member. His name is engraved on a stone at Kos Island, Greece, the birthplace of Hippocrates, alongside three other Indian surgeons, marking his global recognition. He also received multiple lifetime achievement awards, including from the Indian Association of Cardio Thoracic Surgeons and Kasturba Medical College.

Global Impact and Mentorship
Dr. Cherian’s expertise attracted patients from India and 21 other countries, particularly for pediatric cardiac surgeries. He performed over 48,000 surgeries, including complex procedures on newborns and children. His mentorship shaped generations of surgeons, with many crediting him for their training and inspiration. He maintained connections with global pioneers like Christiaan Barnard and conducted experimental research on animals to advance cardiac techniques. His humanitarian efforts included performing surgeries on 20 Iraqi children and aiding in the release of four Indian drivers held hostage in Iraq.

Personal Life and Legacy
Known for his humility and compassion, Dr. Cherian treated patients like family, often charging minimal fees for the underprivileged, as seen in his work with Mother Teresa. His autobiography, Hand of God (2015), written by Priya M. Menon, and Just an Instrument (launched January 24, 2025, at the Kerala Literature Festival), detail his personal and professional journey, including overcoming financial challenges early in his career.

Dr. Cherian passed away on January 25, 2025, at the age of 82, after collapsing at a wedding in Bengaluru. His funeral was held on February 1, 2025, with his body laid to rest at Kilpauk Cemetery, Chennai, following public homage at Frontier Lifeline Hospital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin lauded his monumental contributions to cardiology and his role in mentoring future doctors.

Dr. K. M. Cherian’s legacy endures through the lives he saved, the institutions he built, and the countless medical professionals he inspired. His work elevated India’s standing in global cardiac care, leaving an indelible mark on medicine.