Shantilal C. Sheth | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1912-10-29)October 29, 1912 |
| Died | January 24, 1990(1990-01-24) (aged 77) |
| Occupation | Pediatrician |
| Years active | 1937–1990 |
| Spouse | Hiralaxmi Sheth |
| Children | A son and a daughter |
| Parent | Chhaganlal Narandas Sheth |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan |
Shantilal Chhaganlal Sheth (1912–1990) was an Indian pediatrician and the president of several medical institutions including theMedical Council of India, the apex body for matters related to medical administration and education in India.[1] An honorary surgeon commander at theIndian Navy, he served as the honorary physician to the President of India.[2] The Government of India awarded him the third highest civilian honour of thePadma Bhushan, in 1972, for his contributions to medicine.[3]
Born on 29 October 1912 atPalitana, in the Indian state ofGujarat in aJain family[4] to Chhaganlal Narandas Sheth, an auditor, Sheth did his early education at Harris High School, Palitana and graduated in medicine fromGrant Medical College and Sir Jamshedjee Jeejeebhoy Group of Hospitals, Mumbai in 1937.[2] After his residency at his alma mater, he secured a post graduate degree in pediatrics (DCH) from theUCL Institute of Child Health in 1947 and joinedTopiwala National Medical College and B. Y. L. Nair Hospital in 1948 as an honorary director and the head of the pediatrics department where he worked for a while. Later, he also worked at Kasturba City Fever Hospital and the Bhatia General Hospital, both local hospitals in Mumbai.[2]
Sheth was involved with medical administration in India in various capacities. His efforts were reported in the formation of theIndian Academy of Paediatrics by the merger of the Indian Paediatric Society and the Association of Paediatricians of India in 1962,[5][6] after which he served as the general secretary and the president of the academy.[7] When theMinistry of Health and Family Welfare constituted theCommittee on Essential Drugs in 1966, he was nominated as a member though the tenure was short.[8] He was the president of theIndian Medical Association (IMA) during 1965–66[9] and served as the president of theMedical Council of India from 1965 to 1975.[2] On the academic front, he published several medical papers in peer reviewed national and international journals.[10][11] An honorary fellow of theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics and theRoyal College of Physicians of London,[2] he was elected as a fellow of theIndian Academy of Sciences in 1965.[12] He served as the honorary physician to the President of India and theIndian Navy honored him with an honorary rank of the Surgeon Commander.[2] The Government of India included him theRepublic Day Honours list in 1972 for the civilian award of thePadma Bhushan.[3]
Shantilal Sheth was married to Hiralaxmi and the couple had a son and a daughter.[13] The son, Shirish Sheth, is a known gynecologist and medical academic[14] while the daughter, Leena Dasani, is a chartered accountant.[2] Sheth died on 24 January 1990, at the age of 77.[2] The Academy of Pediatrics, Manipal, has instituted an annual oration,Dr. Shantilal C. Sheth Guest Oration, in his honor.[15][16]
