Now 101, meet the first lady who took to monitoring hearts in India

Treating patients for over 60 years, Myanmar (then Burma)-born cardiologist Dr Sivaramakrishna Iyer Padmavati turned 101 this month. She is credited as being among the first cardiologists in the country, and set up the India's first cardiac clinic and catheter lab at Lady Hardinge Medical College in Delhi.

She completed her MBBS at the Rangoon Medical College, and moved to London in 1949 where she received a Fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians. She followed it with being a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. Sivaramakrishna also studied at Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Medical School.

Sivaramakrishna's interest in cardiology developed and grew as she practiced at a number of hospitals in London. She returned to India in 1954 and started practicing cardiology.

In India, she not only set up the country’s first cardiology clinic, but also the first cardiology department at an Indian medical college and founded India's first heart foundation to help spread awareness about heart disease

A recipient of the Padma Vibhushan in 1992, Sivaramakrishna still serves as the director of the National Heart Institute, Delhi, and is the Founder President of the All India Heart Foundation. She also collaborates with the World Health Organization to train students in preventive cardiology.

Also read: These 4 women doctors helped change the face of Indian medicine

She recently told Indian CEO,

I still touch, and use my ears and eyes to treat patients, but I have to know technology too. I used to attend at least two global heart conferences in a year to keep myself updated. Treat medicines as your servant. You shouldn’t let them become your master.

In 1967, Sivaramakrishna became the Director-Principal of Maulana Azad Medical College, and set up a cardiology department there. A lady of many firsts, she also set up the cardiology department at GB Pant Hospital. She is also the founding member of the All India Heart Foundation, Delhi, according to The Better India.

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