S. I. Padmavati
Born 20 June 1917 · Andhra Pradesh
Died 29 August 2020
Founded the All India Heart Foundation and directed the National Heart Institute, Delhi.
🔔 Add birthday reminderSivaramakrishna Iyer Padmavati was an Indian cardiologist. She was director of the National Heart Institute, Delhi, and the founder president of the All India Heart Foundation. The institute collaborates with the World Health Organization (WHO) in training students in preventive cardiology. Padmavati was awarded India's second highest civilian honour, the Padma Vibhushan in 1992.
✨ A detail that surprised us
Dr. S. I. Padmavati trained under cardiology pioneers Helen Taussig at Johns Hopkins and Paul Dudley White at Harvard before founding India’s first cardiac catheterization lab in 1954.
1. 🌏 Born in 1917 in Rangoon, Burma, S. I. Padmavati fled Japanese invasion in 1942, escaping with her mother and sisters to Coimbatore, India, leaving male relatives behind until 1945. 2. 🎓 After earning her MBBS from Rangoon Medical College, she pursued advanced cardiology training at Royal College of Physicians, London (FRCP, 1949), then studied briefly in Sweden before joining Johns Hopkins Hospital under Helen Taussig in 1951. 3. 🩺 In 1953, she returned to India to start the country's first cardiac clinic at Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi, and soon initiated the first DM cardiology course with the Medical Council of India. 4. 🏥 In 1962, Padmavati founded the All India Heart Foundation alongside industrialist Ashok Jain to promote cardiac care and preventive cardiology, later establishing the National Heart Institute in Delhi in 1981. 5. 🏆 Awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1967, she simultaneously managed Maulana Azad Medical College, Lok Nayak Hospital, and G.B. Pant Hospital during the 1970s, retiring as Director of MAMC in 1978. 6. 👩⚕️ At age 90, she became a fellow of the European Society of Cardiology in 2007, underscoring her lifelong dedication to cardiology education and research. 7. ❓ What motivated Dr. S. I. Padmavati to return from prestigious institutions in the US and Europe to build cardiac care infrastructure in India, despite opportunities abroad?
Awards & Honours
- 🏅Padma Bhushan
- 🏅Padma Vibhushan
🔍 One thing most people don't know
During World War II in 1942, Padmavati escaped Japanese invasion by fleeing Burma with her mother and sisters, leaving male relatives behind, highlighting the wartime hardships shaping her resolve.
🖼️ Through the Years
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📅 The Journey
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🎥 Speeches & Recordings
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📖 Curated Sources
🌱 What changed because of them
Dr. Padmavati established the foundation for modern cardiology in India by creating the first cardiac clinic and catheterization lab, and initiating the DM cardiology course, essential for specialized medical training. Her founding of the All India Heart Foundation and National Heart Institute linked India’s cardiac care with global preventive strategies, influencing national health policies and training standards. Her leadership roles in major Delhi medical institutions helped integrate cardiology into mainstream medical education and hospital care.
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