Renowned cardiac surgeon Marthanda Varma Sankaran Valiathan passed away on Thursday at the age of 90 in Manipal. Dr. Valiathan, a former President of the Indian National Science Academy and the National Research Professor, was born on May 24, 1934, in Mavelikkara, Alappuzha. His illustrious career spanned several decades and was marked by his relentless pursuit of medical innovation and education. After earning his medical degree from the University of Kerala in 1956, he specialized in cardiac surgery, training at prestigious institutions like Johns Hopkins University and the University of Liverpool.
Dr. Valiathan played a pivotal role in establishing the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) in Thiruvananthapuram, where he served as Director and later as Honorary Advisor. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to medicine and healthcare, he was made a Chevalier in the Ordre des Palmes Académiques by the French government in 1999. He was also awarded several prestigious honors, including the Padma Vibhushan in 2005 and the Dr. Samuel P. Asper International Award from the Johns Hopkins University Medical School in 2009.
