Vallalarpuram Sennimalai Natarajan

Vallalarpuram Sennimalai Natarajan is an Indian geriatric physician, considered by many as the Father of Geriatric Medicine in India and known to be the first Indian Professor in the discipline. He was honored by the Government of India, in 2012, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.

Biography About 30 to 40 per cent of memory loss is treatable, but many senior citizens suffer its impact without seeking treatment. Pneumonia, which troubles so many elders can be prevented by a vaccine that gives protection for 10 years,says Natarajan, Properly handled, old age can be a good period of life. UK. During his tenure at the Government Hospital, Chennai, he was successful in establishing an out patient centre dedicated to geriatric healthcare. The clinic is known to be the first of its kind in Chennai and has a declared mandate to identify issues related to memory loss of people over 50 years and mapping them to distinguish and segregate the cases into medical and ageing problems. The clinic runs free weekly consultations at different villages around Chennai. The service has been kept open to persons over 70 while people over 60 are also accommodated in case they suffer restricted mobility. The plans are afoot to widen the canvass of services to other cities such as Madurai and Tiruchi. a web portal trying to provide information and guidance services to the elderly citizens, working as the chief consultant of their information wing. Natarajan has also authored several books on the topic of geriatric medicine and healthcare for the elderly.

After 60 Burden of Love An Update on Geriatrics Healthy Nutrition for Healthy Ageing Marathiku Goodbye (Goodbye to Old Age) Meendum Oru Vasantham (Another Spring) Mind Your Mind Oru Alamarathin Kadhai (The Story of a Banyan Tree) Parkinson's syndrome Play the Innings as you like it Healthy Ageing: A Guide to Good Health in the Later Years

Awards and recognitions Naarajan is a recipient of the B. C. Roy National Award in 1994. awarded a Gold Medal to Natarajan, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. in 2009, from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2010 and from the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, the same year. In 2012, the Government of India included Natarajan in the Republic Day honours list for the civilian award of Padma Shri.