Being The Rare One

Senior Consultant for ENT, Head & Neck Surgeon of KKR ENT Hospital & Research Institute, Chennai, Dr Ravi Ramalingam was recently conferred with the much sought-after Fellowship of Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS), Glasgow, without even appearing for the conventional test. The 36-year-old ENT surgeon bagged this honour for his pioneering work in endoscopic sinus surgery and "systematic approach" to tackle chronic suppurative otipus media, an infection of the middle ear.

Getting the degree without appearing for the exam is a rare feat. "Ninety nine per cent of FRCS is given after clearing the exam and only one per cent bags it without appearing for the exam," explains Dr Ramalingan. The only other Indian in recent times to have bagged this is Dr P Hazarika from Bangalore-based Manipal Hospital. Incidentally, it was for ENT.

An advisor to Prevention of Deafness and Hearing Impairment with World Health Organisation (WHO), New Delhi, Dr Ramalingam is lobbying for a national programme for the deaf. He is also a part of the research team for the DRDO that is working on developing an indigenous cochlear implant in Vizag. "Patients cannot afford cochlear implant as they are priced between Rs 5 to Rs 10 lakh. The Indian version will be cost-effective as it will be priced below Rs one lakh."