Thiruvananthapuram: Padma Shri Prof Dr G Vijayaraghavan, one of India’s pioneering cardiologists, medical educators and researchers, died here on Sunday. He was 84 and was undergoing treatment for age-related ailments, relatives said. Over a career spanning nearly five decades, he made significant contributions to cardiac diagnosis, research, medical education and patient care.Dr Vijayaraghavan was more than a cardiologist, a teacher, researcher and mentor who helped transform cardiac diagnosis and treatment in the country. At a time when advanced cardiac imaging was still in its infancy in India, he was among the specialists who introduced 2D echocardiography to the country in the late 1970s, and led the team that set up India’s first such laboratory.Born in 1942 at Perumpuzha in Kollam to Sanskrit scholar and Sahitya Shiromani M K Govindan, Vijayaraghavan studied at Model School, Thiruvananthapuram. He graduated from Thiruvananthapuram Medical College in 1964, obtained his MD in general medicine in 1969 and his DM in cardiology from Christian Medical College, Vellore, in 1973.He returned to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College in 1976 and pursued research on endomyocardial fibrosis with the Postgraduate Medical School and Brompton Hospital, London. In 1983, he was invited to UCLA as a Doppler echocardiography researcher, co-authoring a pioneering book on the subject before serving at Kuwait University Hospital and heading cardiology at Welcare Hospital, Dubai.Vijayaraghavan headed the department of cardiology at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College until 1998 and served as a University of Kerala research guide. He was also a prolific researcher, author and medical teacher. In 2002, he played a leading role in establishing KIMS Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, serving as its founding director and later vice-chairman. As dean of its academic division, he developed more than 20 DNB programmes and promoted research and medical conferences.He received the Padma Shri in 2009, besides lifetime achievement awards from major cardiology and echocardiography bodies and honorary fellowships from international medical organisations. His contributions to preventive cardiology, patient care, echocardiography and medical education leave an enduring legacy.He leaves behind his wife, Nalini Vijayaraghavan, granddaughter of poet Kumaran Asan; sons Dr Vishnu Vijayaraghavan (Sydney), and Krishnan Vijayaraghavan (Bengaluru); and daughter-in-law Meera Krishnan.His mortal remains will be kept for public homage at Osler Hall, KIMS Hospital, from 8am on Sept 22, then at his residence, Govindam, Kumarapuram, from 11am to 4pm. The cremation will be held at Santhikavadam at 5pm with full state honours.
