THE UNIQUE ACHIEVEMENTS OF A VISIONARY

Amongst the foremost surgeons in the Asia Pacific region, Dr. Raghu Ram Pillarisetti has revolutionised breast cancer care in India through a series of innovative measures. This disease ranks as the number one cancer among Indian women with around 1 in 22 women affected, half of whom will die from the disease.

He established KIMS-USHALAKSHMI Centre for Breast Diseases, which is South Asia’s First purpose built comprehensive Breast Health Centre (www.breastcancerindia.org) and founded Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation – a not for profit charitable Foundation (www.ubf.org.in) to raise awareness of the disease nationwide. He implemented SouthAsia’s largest population-based screening programme in the southern Indian states of Telangana and AndhraPradesh– this programme is currently being rolled out nationwide through the Government of India’s National Health Mission.

Inspired by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India’s digital India dream, he developed the World’s First breast health mobile phone app in English &11 commonly spoken Indian languages, making women across the nation more aware about importance of early detection in a country where the subject is considered to be a ‘taboo’ – so far, it has been downloaded by hundreds of thousands of people all across India. He launched the world’s first Life size augmented integrated reality for breast cancer awareness to further achieve the mission to trans form breast cancer from a“closet” issue to a much commonly discussed one, particularly in rural India, where more than 70% of our population reside.

He adopted a remote village in the southern Indian State of Telangana(Ibrahimpur), where he has been providing life-changing equipment and facilities through his personal philanthropy, which has been recognized with local, regional&national awards.

He is one of the youngest to have delivered Col. Pandalai Oration (2018) instituted by The Association of Surgeons of India, which is the highest academic honour that can be achieved by a surge on practicing in India.

He was recognized in Queen Elizabeth II’s 2021 New Year’s Honours list. He achieved the rare distinction of becoming one of the youngest Surgeons of Indian origin in over 100 years to be honoured by Her late Majesty, The Queen with an OBE – Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. This is the second highest ranking Order of the British Empire award(excluding a Knighthood) conferred in recognition of his outstanding services towards “improving breast cancer care and surgical education in India and to UK/India relations”. Instituted in 1917 by KingGeorge V, The Queens Honours are amongst the most prestigious awards worldwide.

In recognition of his outstanding academic track record, innovative initiatives that have transformed Breast healthcare in India & life transforming philanthropy in his adopted Village, he was conferred the prestigious PadmaShri by Hon’ble President of India (2015) making him one of the youngest surgeons to have been best owed one of the highest civilian awards of the land. He is also one of the youngest Surgeons to be conferred ‘Dr. B.C Roy National Award’ by Hon’ble President of India (2017), which is the highest recognition that can be achieved by a doctor practicing Medicine in India.

He is the youngest ever recipient of the International Gold Medal in the 519 years history of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (2013).He is one of the youngest to have delivered Col. Pandalai Oration (2018) instituted by The Association of Surgeons of India, which is the highest academic honour that can be achieved by a surgeon practicing in India.

Alongside many prestigious professional awards worldwide, he is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and all four surgical Royal Colleges in the British Isles-Edinburgh, England, Glasgow & Ireland. He was conferred Honorary FRCS by the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand(2019), Honorary Fellowship of the College of Surgeons of SriLanka(2020) & Honorary Fellowship of Chinese College of Surgeons (2020)

In July 2021, he achieved the unique distinction to become the first surgeon of Indian origin in over 100 years to be conferred with the Honorary Fellowship of The Association of Surgeons of Great Britain & Ireland, which is the single largest Organisation in Europe that represents the surgical fraternity in the British Isles. In July 2022, he became the youngest Surgeon of Indian origin to have been conferred Honorary FRCS by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, which is one of the oldest & renowned Surgical Colleges in the world.

He is the youngest recipient of the highest honour – Lifetime Achievement award in the 85 years history of The Association of Surgeons of India, which is Asia Pacific’s largest & the world’s second largest Surgical organization (December 2023). He is first person of Indian origin residing outside of the UK to be conferred the Lifetime Achievement award by the Telugu Association of London (April 2023).

In closing, Dr Raghu Ram Pillarisetti’s distinguished academic tract record, love for his motherland and passion for social service are very strong characteristics of the Man. He has been an advocate of best practices in his chosen field, coupled with a human touch and many altruistic values. His significant contribution towards improving breast healthcare and surgical education in India through his strong links with the United Kingdom, have been his trademarks.

Announcing his return to India in 2007, Dr. Raghu Ram stated:

“I would like to echo JF Kennedy’s words to his fellow Americans that relate to Indians through a very poignant and thought-provoking speech given by late Dr Abdul Kalam, the former President of India – ‘Ask what we can do for India and do what has to be done to make India what America and other Western countries are today.’