Renowned endocrine surgeon S. Vittal passes away

He was instrumental in establishing endocrine surgery department in Madras Medical College

Sivapatham Vittal, regarded as the father of endocrine surgery in India, passed away on Tuesday. He was 83. The last rites were performed on Wednesday at the Besant Nagar crematorium. He is survived by his wife Rajakumari Vittal and three children, son Sai Krishna Vittal and daughters V. Saimanjulavalli and Sai Vishnupriya Vittal. 

A recipient of the Dr. B. C. Roy award and the country’s third highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, the distinguished surgeon was instrumental in creating the speciality of endocrine surgery at the Madras Medical College (MMC), the first such department in the country.  

He played a pivotal role in advancing the field of endocrine surgery in several other institutions across the country as well. 

Born on August 30, 1941, he completed MBBS and master’s training at MMC. He received the FRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, where he was a surgical tutor. 

Dr. Vittal was the past president of the Association of Surgeons of India, the International College of Surgeons, Indian section, and a member of the British Association of Endocrine Surgeons. He also edited and published a book on Surgical Endocrinology and was invited to join the advisory board of the British Journal of Surgery, and the International and Indian Journal of Surgery. 

He was a recipient of the Tamil Nadu Scientist Award, the Dr. B.M. Sundaravadanam Best Teacher Award among others.  

The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University conferred on him the Doctor of Science Honoris Causa. The Indian Association of Endocrine Surgeons, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry chapter of the Association of Surgeons of India and the Chennai City branch of the Association of Surgeons of India have instituted orations in his name. 

M. Senthil Kumar, chief civil surgeon and senior endocrine surgery faculty at MMC, recalled that he was a third year PG student at MMC when the endocrinology department was established. He was “a surgeon who held a knife and had a sense of humour” and had developed a distinct speciality for endocrine tumour, Dr. Senthil Kumar said. “The clarity in his lectures calmed students as they proceeded to take their exams,” he added.  

Dr. Vittal was a member of the board of trustees at Ethiraj College for Women, said V.M.Muralidharan, chairman of the college.  “As a board member for over a decade, Dr. Vittal’s contributions to Ethiraj College Trust were immense. His wisdom, astute guidance on the finer points, and unwavering commitment to the institution shaped many key developments, and his presence was a source of strength to the trust board. To many like me, Dr. Vittal was more than a mentor—he was a father figure who inspired all with his humility, vision, and steadfast dedication.”

Published - November 27, 2024 06:27 pm IST