Achievers

Express Healthcare highlights achievements of doctors and other professionals and contributors to the healthcare industry. To nominate your employees/colleagues for Achievers, mail healthcare@expressindia.com and we will get in touch with you!

Enabling the Disabled

Chennai-based Physiatrist, Dr S Sunder (47), recently won the much-coveted Best Doctor of the Year Award by the Government of Tamil Nadu. The award was in recognition of Dr Sunder's untiring efforts and initiatives towards the betterment of the poor and disabled people all over the state. The award was given to Dr Sunder by KM Karunanidhi, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Though this award may be an official recognition, he has already won a million hearts by his dedicated efforts. "It all started 10 years ago," he recalls, "I was appalled by the sheer state of helplessness of the handicapped poor. Hence, I formed the Freedom Trust with a couple of trustees to help the disabled and poor people in the state to lead a better life," says Dr Sunder, who is the Medical Director of Prem Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Medicines, Chennai. "We first screen the patients and later provide them with crutches, artificial limbs and other support equipment. Till date, there have been 67 free screening camps and 2,500 such beneficiaries. Many of whom have received more than one calipers, all free of cost," remarks Dr Sunder.

This award, he feels, will enable him to make his presence felt in the healthcare industry. "I am basically a professional and not a social worker, hence it gets difficult for me to work towards my trust 24x7, collect funds and highlight our work. Now, we will have credibility in the industry and I expect people to themselves come and donate to our cause," states Dr Sunder. In future, he plans to come up with an in-patient centre for the disabled in Chennai for post-acute phase patients. "Emergency/accident care is wonderful in Chennai, but after saving a person's life, it is equally important to make him independent in his physical activities. I want to fill this gap," he beams. Modesty is usually what most doctors wear, but Dr Sunder begs to differ when he says, "I always knew I would get this award, as the efforts are of an individual more than anything else."

The Southern Pride

Managing Director of Trivitron, Dr GSK Velu (38), was recently conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Shiromani Award for his invaluable contribution to the healthcare sector. The award is given to select individuals of the country in recognition of their outstanding contributions and achievements in the fields of industry, business and public life, administrative, social, educational and cultural services. The award was presented on the 63rd anniversary of the former Prime Minister, late Rajiv Gandhi.

Born in a lower middle-class house, Dr Velu started his schooling in AralVoimozhy (Kanyakumari) in Tamil medium. Later, he graduated from BITS Pilani where he pursued bioengineering. For lack of a strong financial status, Dr Velu saw his career take off in the healthcare industry with the diagnostic and medical equipment vertical in 1988 when he joined at a medical equipment distribution firm at the age of 19. Around 15 years later, with his steady leadership qualities and initiatives, he started Trivitron Group of Companies that has grown by leaps and bounds to become a Rs-10-crore firm. His guidance, in the capacity of a Managing Director, has also helped the Metropolis Health Care Services, the first and the leading international corporate chain of diagnostics laboratories, to become a Rs-100-crore company.

Dr Velu has earned a doctorate in pharmacology from IBMA Kolkata, after his management degree from Loyola Institute of Business Administration. It is his philosophy that, "If everyone moves forward together, then success takes care of itself." The President of the All Indian Medical Diagnostic and Surgical Instruments Manufacturers (AMDSI), Dr Velu has been in forefront in providing leadership to the medical equipment industry. He has been instrumental in pushing the Government to open a medical park in Chennai, the first Government initiative in this field and also pump nearly Rs 200 crore in Phase I of this project in Sriperumbadur, Chennai. With leaders like him, the medical equipment industry would definitely get a boost.

India Shining

That cosmetic surgery market is booming in India is no news. But India being chosen as the venue for the next world meet of plastic surgeons, that too after 20 years, is big news. And it is veteran plastic surgeon and Consultant, Department of Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, Dr Suresh Gupta (73), who will head the International Confederation of Plastic Aesthetic Surgeries as the president. Experts from 90 countries voted this connoisseur, who has been in this field since the last 47 years. "To be honest, this honour did not come as a surprise, as with so many years in this field and with the support of the plastic surgeons of the Indian organisation, it was likely to happen," he says.

It was at this year's World Conference (2007) held in Berlin, where 3,000 plastic surgeons from 90 countries voted and chose India as the venue of the next world congress in 2009 and him as the president. "I am, of course, delighted that I have been chosen to contribute my part. This is a great honour for not only me but our country as well. Surgeons hardly get the opportunity to travel abroad and interact with so many experts at one platform. It would be a great educational event with state-of-the-art lectures and also a good networking venue," he avers. From a time when plastic surgery as a career was a rarity in India, he was one of the first few individuals who pursued this profession.

"The first time I was told to do a plastic surgery way back in 1957, it was quite difficult, as when I looked for some medical literature, I found none," he recalls. The defining moment in his life was when he met the father of modern plastic surgery—Sir Harold Gillies. "He was one of the most fascinating people I had met in my life. After he told me to take this profession seriously, I was determined to make a mark in this area." True to his ambitions, Dr Gupta has earned respect amongst plastic surgeons world over. He is also a member of the British Association of Plastic Surgeons since 1960 which is held in high esteem amongst surgeons. Also, he was President of the Association of Plastic Surgeon of India in 1977.