K. M. Cherian (doctor)

K. M. Cherian (born 8 March 1942 ), in full Kotturathu Mammen Cherian, is an Indian heart surgeon. He performed India's first coronary artery bypass surgery and first heart Lung transplant. and is considered a pioneer of pediatric cardiac surgery in the country. He is also a former honorary surgeon to the President of India and a Padma Shri awardee.

Early life
He started his career in Christian Medical College, in Vellore as lecturer in Surgery. In 1970, he migrated to Australia. He did his FRACS in Cardiothoracic Surgery in 1973. He also worked in New Zealand and was a migrant to the United States.

After his studies, he got the splendid opportunity to work as a Special Fellow in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in Birmingham, Alabama under Dr. John W. Kirklin and in the University of Oregon under Dr. Albert Starr. On his birthday, 50 years ago, he got the most special birthday gift from his mentors in Australia where he performed his first open heart surgery at the age of 26.

As a young migrant in Australia, he had the opportunity to work at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.

Career as surgeon
He attended Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. He performed India's first coronary artery bypass surgery in 1975 at Southern Railway Headquarters hospital, Perambur, Chennai. He is the founder of Frontier Lifeline Hospital, where he performed India's second heart transplant surgery in 1995. He also performed the country's first heart-lung transplant and the country's first pediatric cardiac surgery.

Awards and honours

 * He was awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1991, and was honorary surgeon to the President of India from 1990 to 1993.
 * In June 2000, Cherian received a lifetime achievement award from Kasturba Medical College for contributions made to the field of cardiothoracic surgery in India.
 * He received a Harvard Medical Excellence Award in 2005, through a panel organised by Harvard Medical School.
 * His name is engraved in one of the stones at Kos Island, Greece along with three other Indian surgeons, on the occasion of the 18th World Congress held by the World Society of Cardio Thoracic Surgeons held between 30 April –3 May 2008.
 * In 2010, Cherian became the first Indian to be designated president of the World Society of Cardio Thoracic Surgeons.
 * In May 2016, Cherian was selected to be a member of the "Founder Circle" of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery.

Business ventures
He was the Founding Vice President and Director of Madras Medical Mission (MMM), Founding Chairman of Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences(PIMS). He is the Founder Chairman of Frontier Lifeline Hospital and Frontier Mediville, the first Medical SEZ and Medical Science Park in India. His Charitable Trust has built the St.Gregorios Cardio Vascular Centre, at Parumala, in Kerala and his Educational Trust runs the International CBSE School named “The Study – L’ecole Internationale” in Puducherry.

Dr. KM Cherian Institute of Medical Sciences
He and several other investors set up a hospital in Chengannur, Kerala. It was inaugurated in March 2021. It sits on a 5-acre plot. The name of the hospital is Dr KM Cherian institute of medical sciences.

Biography
A biography about Cherian titled Hand of God was released in 2015 was written by Priya M. Menon.