While attending the 20th World Society of Cardio Thoracic Surgeons Conference in Chennai, India in October 2010, Dr. Gandhi had both the distinct pleasure and honor of becoming reacquainted with his former Professor and internationally acclaimed Cardiovascular Surgeon, Dr. Gurukumar B. Parulkar, MBBS, MS, FACS, FAMS, FASC, FIACS, FRSM (LON). Dr. Parulkar’s recent message to Dr. Gandhi appears below.

Dr. Gurukumar B. Parulkar, MBBS, MS, FACS, FAMS, FASC, FIACS, FRSM (LON) internationally acclaimed Cardiovascular Surgeon, was born on 1^st December 1931 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

He completed his graduate medical education in 1955 and postgraduate studies in Surgery from G. S. Medical College and K.E.M. Hospital, affiliated to Mumbai University in 1958, with excellent academic performance.

In 1955 he joined the prestigious King Edward Memorial Hospital and G. S Medical College, Mumbai and during more than 5 decades of his Career, he was appointed as resident (1955-58), Lecturer (1959 – 62), Assistant Professor (1962 – 64), Professor (1964 – 74), Director Professor and Head Department of Surgery & Cardiovascular Surgery (1974 – 84), Dean & Director G. S. Medical College and K.E.M. Hospital, and Cardiovascular Center (1984 – 89), Professor Emeritus of Surgery (1990) at G. S. Medical College, KEM Hospital and as Senior Consultant and Chairman Research Council at Heart Institute, Mumbai (1990 – 2011), the post he is currently holding.

Dr. Parulkar after initial training & experience at G. S. Medical College & K E M Hospital Mumbai (1955-65) had his advanced training in Heart Surgery at Baylor, Texas Heart Institute, Mayo Clinic, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Oregon Health Science and Stanford Universities and at National Institute of Health, USA. He was also visiting fellow at 75 leading medical centers in USA, UK and Europe (1966-68).

Dr. Parulkar after returning to India, in 1969 established Cardiovascular Surgery as specialty at Mumbai University and advanced center of Cardiovascular Surgery at KEM Hospital and trained more than 100 Cardiovascular Surgeons and guided 20 students for Doctorate Degree in Medical Biology at Mumbai University, many of whom are now leaders in the specialty. He also trained several surgeons from other centers to establish new heart surgery departments all over India.

Dr. Parulkar has carried out pioneering scientific research & clinical operations in Cardiovascular Surgery for the first time in our country, which include Open Heart Surgery using Hypothermia (1957), using Heart Lung Machine (1962) Direct Myocardial Revascularisation (1963), Surgical management of nonspecific Aortoarteritis, Experimental Heart Transplantation and Preservation of Donor Heart (1964) Development of Left Ventricular Assist Devise (1966), Total Artificial Heart (1967), Human Heart Transplantation operation (1968), Several Innovations in the surgical management of Complex Birth defects in the Heart, Multivalver Heart disease by repair and replacement, Resection of Aneurysms of Aorta, Patch Aortoplasty for Coarctation of Aorta, Cerebral protection by direct Blood cooling of Brain, Coronary Bypass Surgery using vein graft for Coronary Artery Disease (1969-75), Myocardial protection using Cold Potassium Cardioplegia (1978), development of New Electrical Impedance Plethysmogram (1980 - 85), several innovations in New Horizons in Beating Heart Surgery, Minimal Access open Heart Surgery, Total Arterial Coronary Revascularisation(1990-2001), Management of patients with very complex, high risk ,combined, redo and end stage heart diseases(2002 - 2010)

Dr. Parulkar has delivered 697 scientific papers, including 32 esteemed Orations, 35 Guest Lectures at International Congresses and made 305 scientific publications in Journals, several textbooks and monograms, with extensive citations in the literature.

Dr. Parulkar has been honoured as Fellow by several high status National and International societies, which include National Academy of Medical Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, International Council on Artificial Heart, Royal Society of Medicine (London), New York Academy of Sciences, American College of Surgeons, Society of Thoracic Surgeons (USA), Australian Society of Cardiovascular Surgery, World Society of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons.

Dr. Parulkar was invited as a Visiting Professor, to deliver Lecturers and Grand Rounds in several countries including the USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Greece, USSR, Republic of China, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Korea, Malaysia, Jakarta, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore, Kenya and almost all leading Medical centers in India & was successful in establishing close collaboration between scientists and their counterparts in these countries and India.

Dr. Parulkar was invited to serve on several important advisory committees, which included Expert Advisory Panel on Cardiovascular Diseases of World Health Organisation, Geneva, Superspeciality Committee of Ministry of Medical Education, Task Force of Indian Council of Medical Research to define Brain Death and to frame Organ Transplantation Rules, Member Governing council, Academic council, Institute committees and Advisor to important National Institutes such as Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi, Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Srinagar, Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Chennai, Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology, Patna, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences, Trivendrum, Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education, Kanpur, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Tata Memorial Hospital and Research Center, National Health Policy Review Committee of Ministry of Health, Ministry of Science and Technology, Indian council of Medical Research and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, University Grants Commission, Union Public Service Commission and Planning commission, Govt of India.

Dr. Parulkar has held several positions of high eminence for which he was elected unanimously, which include President of Indian Association of Cardiovascular Surgeons (1981), President of Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons of Asia (1983), President of Association of Surgeons of India (1984), President, International Union of Angiology Asia (1989), Chairman of the First and the Second World Congresses on Open Heart Surgery (1985 & 1992), Advisor Chairman Congress of World Society of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons (2010).

Dr. Parulkar has received several highly prestigious national and international awards including, "Padmabhushan", from President of India (1998), Dr. B. C. Roy Sr. National Award, as the Eminent Medical Man of the year (1997), Dr. Bakulev Medal of USSR Academy (1990), British Common Wealth Professorship (1989), Dr. B. C. Roy National Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery (1983), Outstanding Physician of Decade Award (1973 – 82), Dr. Evarts A. Graham Award of AATS (1966-67), National Institute of Health Award (USA) (1967 – 68), Sushruta Award (1964) and several outstanding merit awards including Life Time Achievement Awards from ACTSA (2006),from IMA (2007) from IACTS (2008),from G S Medical College and KEM Hospital (2008) and Marathon Teacher Award of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences(2009).

Dr. Parulkar during his career of over fifty years as passionate supporter of Medico Social Assistance has provided dedicated services with compassion, to thousands of patients from economically weak class from all over India, both from the Rural community and from Urban slums in several states. He has conducted several Heart Disease Detection Camps and has provided free Treatment not only for patients from Maharashtra but also from Goa. Gujarat, Karnataka, Bihar, Orissa, Kashmir. Utter Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam (1962-89). At present as Chairman of Ghadge Maharaj Dhramshala Trust in Mumbai, he is actively involved in improving and providing low cost accommodation, food, and education, for almost 600 serious Cancer patients daily including several children from very low socioeconomic class from all over India (1990 – 2010).

Dr. Parulkar is not only Doyen amongst Cardiac Surgeons but is a highly respected Research Scientist, whose pioneering contributions have been responsible for several advances in the quality of care of Heart Patients, including safety of Open Heart Surgery, Organ Transplantation surgery, and Intensive care management of patients suffering from complex Heart and Vascular Diseases including Babies and Elderly. He has had illustrious career spanning over fifty years as an Eminent Heart Surgeon, Researcher, Author, Educationist, Guru and Mentor of many leading Cardiovascular Surgeons in our country and has been a successful Institutional Builder and has taken keen interest in raising the standard of Medical Education and Training.

Dr. Parulkar, because of his long standing perseverance, Exceptional and Outstanding Medical Services and Contributions, Pioneering work in Experimental and Clinical Research, Progress in Training of Heart Surgeons & related Specialists and his high academic attainment, total and selfless dedication to educating thousands of doctors including several cardiovascular specialists, doing pioneering work in the management and prevention of Heart and Vascular diseases and for the dignity that he has lent to the medical profession with his exemplary professional conduct, bearing, learning and disposition, and modesty is rated amongst the greatest medical men in India, who have made exceptional and outstanding contributions to our Nation and earned for our country the high eminence that it enjoys in the field of Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease management internationally.