Sivapatham Vittal

Sivapatham Vittal (30 August 1941 – 26 November 2024) was an Indian surgical endocrinologist, considered by many as the Father of Surgical Endocrinology in India. The Government of India honored Vittal in 2011, with the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri.

Early life and education Sivapatham Vittal was born in Madras, Madras Province, British India on 30 August 1941. He graduated in medicine from Madras Medical College from where he also obtained his post graduate degree. and was a member of the editorial boards of journals such as Indian Journal of Surgery, Thyroid Surgery, International Surgery.

Awards and recognitions Sivapatham Vittal was a recipient of the 1995 Dr. B. C. Roy Award, the highest Indian award in the medical category. Two years later, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh honored him with the Silver Medallion and the next year, in 1998, the Government of Tamil Nadu awarded him the Tamil Nadu Scientist Award. In 2001, he received the Human Excellence Award from the Vivekananda Institute of Human Excellence.

The Association of Surgeons of India conferred Dr B M Sundaravadanam Best Teacher Award on Vittal in 2005, and the same year he received the Overseas Gold medal from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. The Teachers' Teacher Award reached him in 2007 and Madras Medical College awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from Madras Medical College in 2010. The next year, the Government of India included Vittal in the Republic day honours list for the award of Padma Shri.