For many, it was Saturday (January 17, 2025) when former heads of the SCTIMST Cardiology Department, current and former faculty members and cardiologists who have passed through the Institute’s portals came together to celebrate the department’s golden jubilee, 50 years of excellence in patient care, clinical training and research.
Inaugurating the golden jubilee celebrations, SCTIMST Director Sanjay Behari recalled the journey of the department which started in 1976 with limited capacity, has achieved several firsts and is now a nationally recognized center for academic and clinical care in cardiology.
“The cardiology department at SCTIMST has consistently combined patient-centered care with innovation and high-quality training, creating generations of cardiologists who now serve across the country and beyond,” he said, adding that ethical practice and scientific integrity remained its enduring strengths.
Harikrishnan S, Senior Professor and Head of the Department of Cardiology, outlined how the department has played a pivotal role in the development of cardiology in India over five decades. The Golden Jubilee was a celebration of a shared legacy built on clinical excellence, research, innovation and patient-centred care, he said
The Cardiology Department of SCTIMST established one of the first cardiac catheterization laboratories in the country and performed the first radiofrequency ablation of cardiac rhythm disorders in India.
Apart from being a prominent training center in the country, the department is also a major referral center for complex cardiac interventions. Over the past ten years, the department has received nearly ₹30 million in extramural funding from national and international agencies, supporting around 25 major research projects.
The very first Head of the Department KG Balakrishnan and former Heads of the Department Ajit Kumar VK, Jagan Mohan Tharakan, K. Jayakumar among others were among the special guests who graced the occasion and reminisced about the years spent shaping the Cardiology Department.
Kris Gopalakrishnan, SCTIMST President; Sunil Kumar, Head of Autonomous Institutions, DST and KK Narayanan Namboothiri, Senior Faculty Member also spoke.
Alumni and thesis awards were given in recognition of the outstanding contribution of former students and young scientists. The “Down the Memory Lane” special followed the department’s journey from the beginning and included several images from years past.
The program also included a fun quiz in the cardiology department.
Published – 17 Jan 2026 21:50 IST