Born on March 8, 1942, Dr Cherian worked for over 50 years in cardiology

Cardiac surgeon KM Cherian, who performed India’s first coronary bypass surgery, died in Bengaluru.

Born on March 8, 1942, Dr Cherian worked for over 50 years in cardiology. He is credited with performing the first heart-lung transplant in India and the second cardiac transplant.

He also set up Frontier Lifeline Hospital in Chennai and Frontier Mediville.

Dr Cherian started his career at Christian Medical College Hospital, in Vellore as a lecturer in surgery. He did his FRACS in Cardiothoracic Surgery in 1973 while in Australia.

He was awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1991. Dr K.M. Cherian was an honorary surgeon to the President of India from 1990 to 1993. He received a Harvard Medical Excellence Award in 2005, through a panel organised by Harvard Medical School.