Tehemton Erach Udwadia

Tehemton Erach Udwadia (15 July 1934 – 7 January 2023) was an Indian surgeon and gastroenterologist, considered by many as the father of laparoscopic surgery in India. He was a general surgeon at two Mumbai hospitals, Breach Candy Hospital and Hinduja Hospital The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2006 and the third highest civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan in 2017 for his contributions to Indian medicine. He has shared his experience through his book- More than just surgery.

Biography Born in a Parsi family originating from Udvada to Erach Rustomji and Perin Erach on 15 July 1934 in Mumbai, the capital city of the western Indian state of Maharashtra, Udwadia did his early education at St. Mary's School, Mumbai and Wilson College, Mumbai. He graduated in medicine from Mumbai University and started his career as a research fellow at the King Edward Memorial Hospital and Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College in 1958, where he stayed till 1962. During this period, he studied for the postgraduate degree (MS) at the same institution, securing it in 1960. Moving to Grant Medical College and Sir Jamshedjee Jeejeebhoy Group of Hospitals in 1963, he worked there till 1994 till his superannuation and continued his association with the institution as an emeritus professor.

Udwadia was the founder president of the Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endo-Surgeons and presided over the association from 1993 to 1998. and is the author of two books, Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and Laparoscopic Surgery in Developing Countries.

Udwadia received the SAGES Millennium Award from the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons in 2000.

Udwadia died on 7 January 2023, at the age of 88.