Panangipalli Venugopal Biography 
Panangipalli Venugopal is an Indian physician, Cardiovascular surgeon and hospital administrator from Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. He is credited to as the chief surgeon of the first successful heart transplant in the country in 1994, soon after organ transplant was legalized in the country. For his services to the field of Indian medicine, government of India honoured him with Padma Bhushan in 1998. He is a recipient of prestigious Dr. B. C. Roy Award, Sivananda Eminent Citizen Award, Indira Priyadarsini Award, Goyal Prize, Vijay Ratna Award, Dr. N.C. Joshi Memorial Oration Award, Dr. Jal R. Vakil Memorial Award, Dr. Pinnamaneni and Mrs. Sithadevi Award, Rashtra Ratan Award, Dhanvantari Award and countless other honours. He got married at the age of 55 and has one daughter.
Venogopal was born at Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh in the year 1942. He secured his MBBS from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, and later completed his post-graduation studies from AIIMS itself. After MS, he also completed MCh in cardiovascular thoracic surgery with honours. In 1970 he joined the Faculty of AIIMS, where he completed his medical studies, and was associated with the medical college for many years till his retirement. He rose to the positions such as Head of the Department, Dean and Director of AIIMS in 2003.
After retirement from AIIMS, he joined Alchemist Institute of Medical Sciences, in Gurgaon, Haryana as the head of the Cardithoracic department. He has been credited to some of the major reforms in Indian medical services and surgeries. As a surgeon, he pioneered heart transplant surgery in India, and till now has completed 26 transplant surgeries. He introduced the stem cell therapy for the first time in India. He performed the first implantation of left ventricular assist device in Asia. He also started the open heart surgery in AIIMS.
Published: November 29, 2018
Updated: November 29, 2018
