Sivapatham Vittal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1941-08-30)30 August 1941 |
| Died | 26 November 2024(2024-11-26) (aged 83) |
| Alma mater | Madras Medical College |
| Occupation | Surgical endocrinologist |
| Awards | Padma Shri Dr. B. C. Roy Award Tamil Nadu Scientist Award Dr B M Sundaravadanam Best Teacher Award Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Gold Medal Teachers' Teacher Award MMC Lifetime Achievement Award Human Excellence Award |
Sivapatham Vittal (30 August 1941 – 26 November 2024) was an Indian surgical endocrinologist, considered by many as the Father of Surgical Endocrinology in India.[1][2][3][4] TheGovernment of India honored Vittal in 2011, with the fourth highest civilian award ofPadma Shri.[5][6]
Sivapatham Vittal was born inMadras,Madras Province,British India on 30 August 1941. He graduated in medicine fromMadras Medical College from where he also obtained his post graduate degree.[2]
Joining his alma mater as a faculty member, Vittal is reported to have been instrumental in establishing the Department of Endocrinology at Madras Medical College in 1987, known to be the first such department in India[1] and was its first head of the department, a post he held till 1999.[7][1]
Vittal, the founder president of the Indian Association of Endocrine Surgeons, was a president of the Association of Surgeons of India and theInternational College of Surgeons, India chapter.[2][1][3] He served as the surgical tutor at theRoyal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and held the chair of its India chapter.[2][1][3] He was also a member of the British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons[2][1][3] and the International Medical Sciences Academy.[3] He is credited with a book and articles on Endocrinology[8] and was a member of the editorial boards of journals such asIndian Journal of Surgery,Thyroid Surgery,International Surgery.[1] He also delivered key note addresses at several conferences and seminars and served as the visiting professor at many universities.[3]
An emeritus professor of theTamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University,[4] Sivapatham Vittal, post his retirement from Madras Medical College, is associated with theApollo Hospitals, Chennai as an endocrine surgeon.[4][3] He was also one of the founders of Sree Sai Krishna Hospital, Chennai.[3] He was a Fellow of theRoyal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and theInternational College of Surgeons, the International Medical Sciences Academy.[4]
He was a member of the board of trustees of theEthiraj College for Women, Chennai.
Vittal died on 26 November 2024, at the age of 83.[9]
Sivapatham Vittal was a recipient of the 1995Dr. B. C. Roy Award, the highest Indian award in the medical category.[2][4][3][1] Two years later, theRoyal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh honored him with theSilver Medallion and the next year, in 1998, theGovernment of Tamil Nadu awarded him theTamil Nadu Scientist Award.[2][4][3] In 2001, he received theHuman Excellence Award from the Vivekananda Institute of Human Excellence.[4][3]
The Association of Surgeons of India conferredDrB M Sundaravadanam Best Teacher Award on Vittal in 2005,[2] and the same year he received theOverseas Gold medal from theRoyal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.[2][4][3][1] TheTeachers' Teacher Award reached him in 2007[2] andMadras Medical College awarded theLifetime Achievement Award fromMadras Medical College in 2010.[2][1] The next year, theGovernment of India included Vittal in theRepublic day honours list for the award ofPadma Shri.[4][2][5]
