Dr. K K Talwar

Kewal Kishan Talwar did his MBBS from the Punjabi University, Patiala (1969), and MD (Medicine) (1973) and DM (Cardiology) (1976) both from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. He received his advanced training in ‘electrophysiology’ as WHO Senior Research Fellow from University of Gotherburg, Sweden. He joined the PGIMER Faculty (1977) and subsequently joined Faculty, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi (1980). He became Professor of Cardiology (1992) and Head of the Department (2002) at AIIMS. Subsequently, he joined as Director, Professor and Head, Department of Cardiology, PGIMER (2004).

Academic and Research Achievements: During 1986, Talwar established Endomyocardial Biopsy (EMB) technique at AIIMS and used it to evaluate patients with various tropical heart muscle diseases to understand the pathogenesis and to evaluate newer forms of therapy. His contributions in the tropical heart muscle diseases are well recognized. For the first time in world literature, he documented, using EMB, the occurrence of inflammatory myocarditis in patients with Takayasu arteritis resulting in heart failure and demonstrated that this myocardial dysfunction is reversible with the use of immunosuppressive therapy. This work has been recognized at both national and international level. He also published histomorphological analysis in restrictive cardiomyopathies, using EMB, rheumatic heart disease and dilated cardiomyopathies. He has published more than 240 articles in reputed journals and also contributed chapters in various books.

Other Contributions: Talwar is first in the country to establish the technique and facility of radiofrequency ablation to cure arrhythmic disorders at AIIMS. He is again the first in India and South Asian region to introduce the therapy of automatic implantable cardioverter and defibrillator (ICD). He also introduced the technique of multisite pacing system as a therapy for heart failure in the country. He is recognized as one of the pioneers in the field of electrophysiology, pacemaker and heart failure. He worked for the development of Heart Transplant Programme at AIIMS. He has been Patron of the Heart Rhythm Society of India and President of Heart Failure Society of India.

Awards and Honours: Dr Talwar received many prestigious awards, notably: Dr BC Roy National Award (2000), Basanti Devi Amir Chand Award by ICMR (2003), Norman Alpert Award by International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences (2005), Ranbaxy Research Award (1997), Goyal Prize for Science by Kurukshetra University (2002), Amrut Mody Unichem Award by ICMR (I993), Professor Sujoy B Roy Memorial Investigator Award by CSI (1986), Shyam Lal Saksena Award by NAMS (1988) and Searle Award by CSI (1987). He also received various oration awards: Dr KL Wig Oration by NAMS (2000-01), Dr Menda Oration by Indian Medical Association (2005), Sphere Oration by CSI (1989), Glaxo Oration by NAMS (1996), Dr Austin Doyle Memorial Lecture Award (1996), Dr Devi Chand Memorial Oration by Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla (1992), RS Tiwari Oration (1999), Dr RN Chatterjee Memorial Oration (2003), Professor Raman Vishwanath, VPCI Oration, New Delhi (2007), and Indian Doctors Forum - Kuwait Medical Association Oration, Kuwait (2007). In recognition of his significant contributions in the field of medicine, he was awarded Padma Bhushan (2006). He was elected Fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences.