First Cardiologist of India – Dr Shreenivas

First Cardiologist of India – Dr Shreenivas 

Dr Srinivas was born in Birsinghpur village in Bihar’s Samastipur district in 1919 in a family of landlord. Srinivas who died in 2010 at the age of 91 got primary education in King Advard High School in Samastipur district and later joined Patna Science College in 1936. He did MBBS course from Pince of Wales Medical College & Hospital, which is now called Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).

Went to US to study Cardiology

Dr Srinivas went to the United States in 1948 to study cardiology. There he studied in Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and also got an opportunity to take training from Dr Paul Dudle White, a world famous Cardiologist and Professor at Harvard University. The only other trainee Cardiologist from India, who had worked with Dr White at that time, was Dr Padmawati. He also studied under Dr Frank N Wilson, Father of modern Electro-Cardiography.

In 1952 he returned to India and set up Hospital for Cardio-vascular diseases. In 1971 he became the founder-director of Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology and served on that post till 1976. He brought with him the first Cardiology (ECG) machine to India.

Considered Father of Polypathy

In 1977 he along with Dr B Bhattacharya, noted Homeopath and some Ayurveds initiated the concept of Polypathy having under one roof all the modalities of treatment be it Allopathy, Homeopathy, Unani, Ayurved, Yoga, Tibbi, Naturopathy, Acupuncture etc. There are 151 ways of treatment which come under Polypathy. In 1997 he organized a Polypathy Conference.

Introduced ECG machine in India

In 1952 he returned to Bihar and joined PMCH. At that time there was no separate department of cardiology and general physician had to tackle heart patients. Going out of way he established Hospital for Cardio-vascular diseases in Patna which is now called Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology.

He brought with him the first Cardiology (ECG) machine to India. Dr Srinivas also established the fact that two persons could be identified with the ECG machine as both would have different reports.