Dr. Ramakanta Panda
Dr. Panda is more than just a name in Heart Surgery - he’s a legend. Armed with a solid foundation of Masters in Surgery and Heart Surgery from India’s prestigious AIIMS in 1980-85, he further honed his skills at the renowned Cleveland Clinic, the pinnacle of heart hospitals in the USA.
Under the mentorship of cardiac luminaries like Dr. Floyd Loop at the Cleveland Clinic and Transplant Specialist Prof Magdi Yacoub at Harefield Hospital in the UK, Dr. Ramakanta Panda has emerged as one of the greatest and safest Heart Surgeons in the world.
For his pioneering work in Heart Surgery , he is the proud recipient of the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, given for “distinguished service of a high order”.
“Our institution is built on the four unshakable pillars of healthcare - Ethics, Excellence, Experience, and Expertise, to give patients the three most invaluable gifts of life- Hope, Healing and Happiness”
Dr. Ramakanta Panda
Founder & Chairman
Key Achievements
- In 2002, Dr. Panda founded India’s renowned Asian Heart Institute. As of 2023, he has performed about 28,000 successful heart surgeries.
- His 99.8% success rate in bypass surgery is the platinum standard in cardiac surgery across the world. He has repeatedly and successfully operated on high-risk cardiac cases from all over the world after being universally regarded as otherwise inoperable.
- He has performed more than 5,000 extremely high-risk surgeries as of 2023.
- In 2009, he led the team that successfully operated under the then Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh. This was followed by highly complex surgeries on several leaders of Indian politics, such as Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tarun Gogoi, Narasingha Mishra, D. Raja, Rajiv Shukla, and many others. Hollywood, Bollywood, and the thespians of corporate India trust only his hands when it comes to open heart surgery.
- He received the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, in 2010 for his pioneering work in heart surgery.
- Dr. Panda is responsible for establishing India’s position in the world as one of the safest countries for heart surgery and is the first surgeon in India to introduce the concept of ‘total arterial revascularization’, wherein an artery from the patient’s leg or wrist is grafted to the coronary arteries to bypass the blocked portions.
- He holds the world record for performing a 12-graft procedure on a man with 17 blocks in 2014.
The Small Joys
Dr. Panda is an avid wildlife photographer who loves exploring the jungles of India, South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya in search of fascinating creatures to capture on film.
The Larger Cause
Asian Wildlife Charitable Trust, started under the aegis of Dr. Panda, has been at the forefront of supporting forest workers who are fighting to protect wildlife and preserve our natural habitats. Some of the initiatives taken by the trust include:
- Funding activities at the MP Tiger Foundation, Bhopal, that support the upliftment of frontline staff and park improvement .
- The AWT has initiated an eco-friendly holiday resort benefiting 2,000 forest workers in and around the Bandhavgarh National Park. This project, supported by the Madhya Pradesh Government and Forest Minister Dr. Kunwar Vijay Shah, stands as a testament to the Trust’s commitment.
- The trust has also set up a petrol pump at Kanha National Park, where the proceeds generated from it have helped improve the lives of the forest workers in the reserve.
- The Asian Wildlife Charitable Trust provided food aid to the staff at Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, recognising their critical role in safeguarding the wildlife during the COVID pandemic.
- Empowering Women: The AWT donated sewing machines to tribal women residing near the Kanha National Park, providing them with a means to enhance their livelihoods.
Other CSR Work
Uktal Gaurav Foundation (UGF): Supporting its endeavour to build an international school in rural Odisha, UGF is working in the field of education and has been running school programmes for children in Berunapadi village since August 2016.
Sanmati Bal Niketan Sanstha: Contribution towards the activities of Sanmati Bal Niketan, an orphanage for boys run by well-known social worker Sindhutai Sapkal.
Amcha Ghar: Supportingg the educational activities, namely 100 new benches as school infrastructure for 300 children’s seating arrangements in the Amcha Ghar School.
Dr. Panda’s Vision for AHI
- To keep investing in and implementing the latest advancements in cardiac care, including advanced imaging techniques, minimally invasive surgical procedures, and cutting-edge medical technologies, to ensure patients receive the best care possible.
- To keep prioritising patient-centred care by focusing on individualised treatment plans.
- To keep exploring new and better ways to provide remote consultations and care to patients.
- Investing in research and education programmes to advance the field of cardiology.
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