Maryslanker at 05:17, 14 January 2026

2026-01-14T05:17:55Z

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{{Short description|Indian cardiac surgeon}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{tone|date=March 2018}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2025}}
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{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox medical person
|name =Jose Chacko Periappuram
|image =Dr.Jose_Periappuram_in_August_2023.jpg
|birth_date =28 April 1958
|birth_place =[[South Paravur]], [[Kerala]], India
|profession =Surgeon
|specialism =[[Cardiothoracic surgery]]<br>[[Heart transplantation]]
|known_for ={{ublist|First successful Heart transplant in Kerala|First successful heart retransplant in India|First successful Beating Heart Surgery in Kerala|First successful TAR (Total Arterial Revascularization)|First Awake Bypass Surgery in Kerala}}
| years_active =Since 1985
| education ={{ublist|[[St. Thomas College, Pala]]|[[Government Medical College, Kottayam]]}}
| work_institutions =[[University Hospital of Wales]]<br>[[Manchester Royal Infirmary]]
}}

'''Jose Chacko Periappuram''' (born on April 28, 1958) is an Indian [[cardiac surgery|cardiac surgeon]] and medical writer who performed the first successful [[heart transplant]] in the state of [[Kerala]], India, as well as the first successful heart retransplant in the country. His other achievements include the first [[Off-pump coronary artery bypass|beating heart]], awake bypass and total arterial revascularization surgeries in the state. Periappuram is a fellow of the [[Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh]], the [[Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow]] and the [[Royal College of Surgeons of London]]. He is the founder and chairman of "Heart Care Foundation", a charitable trust that financially assists poor heart patients. The [[Government of India]] awarded him the [[Padma Bhushan]], the third highest civilian award, in 2025.<ref name=":0" />

==Early life==
Jose Chacko Periappuram was born in [[South Paravur]], a small village in [[Ernakulam district]] of the Indian state of [[Kerala]], born to P. M. Chacko and Mary Chacko.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} His father was a [[botanist]] who was credited with the discovery of two plant species and also served as a principal at [[St. Thomas College, Pala]] from 1979 to 1984.<ref name="St.Thomas College, Palai History">{{Cite web |url=http://www.stcp.ac.in/history_profile.php |title=St.Thomas College, Palai History |date=2018-08-23 |website=www.stcp.ac.in |access-date=2018-08-23}}</ref> [[Fr. Abel]], the founder chairman of [[Kalabhavan]], was his paternal uncle.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} After completing his matriculation studies from St. Ephraim's High School, Mannanam, he joined [[St. Thomas College, Palai]], from where he earned a BSc with botany as the optional subject.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} He passed [[MBBS]] from [[Government Medical College, Kottayam|Govt. Medical College, Kottayam]] in 1985 and after a year of senior house surgeon at the Kottayam Medical College, he proceeded to the United Kingdom for post-graduate education and training.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

He completed his [[FRCS]] part 1 from the [[Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland|Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland]] in Dublin, in 1986 and completed his general surgical training from various hospitals in the [[Republic of Ireland]]. This included the County Hospital, Roscommon, [[Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda|Our Lady's Hospital, Drogheda]], and the [[Mater Misericordiae University Hospital|Mater Misericordiae Hospital]] at Dublin.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

He passed his [[FRCS]] from the [[Royal College of Surgeons]] of [[Glasgow]] and [[Edinburgh]] in the year 1992. His higher cardiac surgical training was mainly at the [[University Hospital of Wales]] and [[Manchester Royal Infirmary]] and passed the [[FRCS]] in cardiac surgery in 1994, he is one of the few cardiac surgeons to secure this degree from all three surgical colleges. His mentor was I. M. Breckenridge, who was a member of the team which led the first heart surgery in England in the 1960s. He further underwent training in cardiac transplantation at the [[Papworth Hospital]].{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

== Heart transplants ==
On his return to Kerala, Periappuram joined [[Medical Trust Hospital]], Kochi, where on 13 May, 2003 a team led by Periappuram performed the first heart transplantation in the state of Kerala, thus making it the third state in India to achieve this feat.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/the-heart-of-the-problem/article28443904.ece | work=The Hindu | title=The heart of the problem | date=28 July 2003 |access-date=2020-07-22}}</ref> He performed a second heart transplant the following year.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/gift-of-life/article27733727.ece | location=Kerala, India | work=The Hindu | title=Gift of life | date=21 December 2004 |access-date=2020-07-22}}</ref>

On 6 March 2014, Periappuram at [[Lisie Hospital, Kochi]] became the first cardiac surgeon to conduct a successful heart re-transplant in India when a patient who had already received a transplant developed a heart valve infection a few months later.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/south/story/kerala-man-now-lives-with-a-third-heart-189047-2014-04-15| location=Kerala, India | work=India Today| title=Kerala man now lives with a third heart| date=15 April 2014}}</ref>

==Other surgical achievements ==
[[File:OPCAB.png|thumb|Off-pump coronary artery bypass (beating heart surgery)]]
He was the first heart surgeon to commence a beating heart surgical program in Kerala. He is also the first surgeon in Kerala to perform bypass surgery using arterial grafts and also TAR.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/TAR-Technique-to-Mend-Ailing-Hearts-Remains-Untapped-by-Medicos/2014/05/15/article2225694.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814212448/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/TAR-Technique-to-Mend-Ailing-Hearts-Remains-Untapped-by-Medicos/2014/05/15/article2225694.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=14 August 2014 | location=Kerala, India | work=The Indian Express | title=TAR Technique to Mend Ailing Hearts Remains Untapped by Medicos | date=15 May 2014 }}</ref> Another group of patients who, due to lung diseases, could not have their surgeries done were helped by a novel technique called awake bypass surgery.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/rare-heart-surgery/article27629752.ece | work=The Hindu | title=Rare heart surgery | date=20 June 2004}}</ref>

==Heart Care Foundation==

His charitable trust called the Heart Care Foundation helps government medical colleges in Kerala enabling poor patients to have heart surgeries done, by helping them financially. They also aim to educate the common people of India about the heart diseases.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/call-to-impart-lessons-on-basic-life-support-to-all/article2486900.ece | location=Kerala, India | work=The Hindu | title=Call to impart lessons on basic life support to all | date=26 September 2011}}</ref> The Heart Care Foundation has multiple projects in operation.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article459615.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814212822/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article459615.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=14 August 2014 | location=Kerala, India | work=The Indian Express | title=Save a life, save a life time | date=24 March 2011 }}</ref> They have donated organs to various Government Medical College Hospitals. They have also conducted charity runs and mini-[[marathons]]<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/minimarathon-for-healthy-life/article172268.ece | location=Kerala, India | work=The Hindu | title=Mini-marathon for healthy life | date=30 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Run for Heart|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Run-for-Heart/2015/10/07/article3066275.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122155626/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Run-for-Heart/2015/10/07/article3066275.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 November 2015|work=The New Indian Express|date=7 October 2015}}</ref> and have organized the [[World Heart Day]]<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/slew-of-programmes-to-mark-world-heart-day/article792298.ece | location=Kerala, India | work=The Hindu | title=Slew of programmes to mark World Heart Day | date=24 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article1280866.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814214706/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article1280866.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=14 August 2014 | location=Kerala, India | work=The Indian Express | title=World Heart Day observed | date=1 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/world-heart-day-observed/296836-60-122.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812211615/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/world-heart-day-observed/296836-60-122.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=12 August 2014 | location=Kerala, India | work=IBN live | title=Various events mark World Heart Day Observance | date=1 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/world-heart-day-to-be-observed-on-sunday/186756-60.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813171037/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/world-heart-day-to-be-observed-on-sunday/186756-60.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=13 August 2014 | location=Kerala, India | work=IBN live | title=World Heart Day to be observed on Sunday | date=24 September 2011}}</ref> countless times.

One of such projects aims to help 1000 patients undergo heart surgeries over 10 years at various Government Hospitals in Kerala. "Save a heart, save a life" is focused on educating people about the importance of [[Basic Life Support]] (BLS). [[Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation]] (CPR) will be shown and taught to small groups all around [[Kerala]] so that the life support at basic level can be affected in times of need to save lives.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/new-procedure/article1982890.ece | location=Kerala, India | work=The Hindu | title=CPR at Le Meridien | date=1 May 2011}}</ref>

They also publish a quarterly publication of the Heart Care Foundation called "Caring Hearts" which carries extensive information about heart diseases, its prevention, causes, and tips and also covers the progress of the activities of Heart Care foundation's activities on a regular basis.
Their efforts have led to implementation of AED devices in the Cochin airport.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kochi Airport installs 2 lifesaving AEDs|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article343228.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310071321/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article343228.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 March 2016|work=The New Indian Express|date=11 March 2012}}</ref> Heart Care Foundation organized a musical evening 'Hridyam' in connection with the release of the educational audio video album 'Mi Corazon" aimed at educating people about organ donation, basic life support and also to inculcate charity among young minds.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article1509804.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814214658/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article1509804.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=14 August 2014 | location=Kerala, India | work=The Indian Express | title= Music straight from the heart | date=21 March 2013}}</ref> to spread awareness on CPR and heart disease emergencies.

==Positions held==

* Consultant and Head of Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery [[Lisie Heart Institute]],<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.lisiehospital.org/departments?did=3| title=Cardio Thoracic Surgery department }}</ref> Kochi, Kerala, India
*Chairman, Heart Care Foundation
* Joint Secretary, Heart Failure Society of India
* President, Quality Forum Kerala
* Director, Kalabhavan Studios Ltd, Ernakulam
* Trustee, Kalabhavan Talent Residential School, Kochi
* Secretary of the Kerala Medical Association in 1981
* National Organizing Secretary of the Indian Association of Cardiovascular Conference in 2005<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/18/stories/2005021815720300.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050514203630/http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/18/stories/2005021815720300.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=14 May 2005 | location=Kerala, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=IACTS meet begins | date=18 February 2005}}</ref>
* An executive committee member of the Indian Cardio-Vascular Association for three years from 2005 to 2008

==Awards==
*[[Mother Teresa Award]], 2003{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}
*[[Indira Gandhi]] Award, [[Kuwait]], 2006{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}
*[[Padma Shri]] award in 2011<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in/ |title=Padma Awards |date=2018-05-17 |website=Padma Awards |publisher=Government of India |access-date=2018-05-17 |archive-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015000149/http://www.dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[Padma Bhushan]] award in 2025 <ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2025-01-25 |title=Full list of Padma Awards 2025 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/full-list-of-padma-awards-2025/article69141094.ece/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Books==

Besides the numerous medical and non-medical articles that have been published, he has presented a large number of clinical studies at the various national conferences. He has also written an educational book about heart diseases in [[Malayalam]] called 'HRIDAYAM' (The Heart).
In 2021 The Malayala Monorama publications published his book called "hrudayam thottu'(ഹൃദയം തൊട്ടു) which is a collection of his experience with treating the sickest of sick patients in his career.

==Other==
He spoke on the need for coordination between hospitals with elaborate heart care departments at a press meeting on an uncommon multiple surgery and introduced the orator. P.V. Louis for a speech on the need for accreditation of hospitals to ensure quality. He explained the need of bypass surgery in women<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/09/30/stories/2002093000370200.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021122150001/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/09/30/stories/2002093000370200.htm | url-status=usurped | archive-date=22 November 2002 | location=Kerala, India | work=The Hindu | title=Why women bypass their heart | date=30 September 2002}}</ref> and the need for the youth to take their health into consideration.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/25/stories/2006092501640200.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108184437/http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/25/stories/2006092501640200.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=8 November 2012 | location=Kerala, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Time to take 'matters of the heart' seriously | date=25 September 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article113438.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814212736/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article113438.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=14 August 2014 | location=Kerala, India | work=The Indian Express | title=Take time to live | date=30 June 2009 }}</ref>

Several workshops<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article186803.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814211724/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article186803.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=14 August 2014 | location=Kerala, India | work=The Indian Express | title=Workshop on haemodynamics held | date=26 July 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/coordinated-efforts-for-cardiac-care-urged/article753923.ece | location=Kerala, India | work=The Hindu | title=Co-ordinated efforts for cardiac care urged | date=22 April 2010 }}</ref> on the various types of surgeries such as beating heart surgery and CPR have been conducted. He has also participated in many seminars on topics like ethics of health care<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/10/stories/2005071014670300.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618102427/http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/10/stories/2005071014670300.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=18 June 2008 | location=Kerala, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Seminar on ethics in medical care | date=10 July 2005}}</ref> in many prestigious institutions. He addressed the academic session on heart transplantation at a CME programme<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/08/15/stories/2004081507020400.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101002121341/http://www.hindu.com/2004/08/15/stories/2004081507020400.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=2 October 2010 | location=Kerala, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Briefly | date=15 August 2004}}</ref> in Kottayam.
He also presented a paper on the need of hospitals for women and children and a paper on hybrid perspective in the management of aortic aneurysm'.

Sudansu Bhattacharya performed a surgery on beating heart at the Lisie Heart Institute along with chief cardiac surgeon Jose Chacko Periappuram which was telecast live to the conference room at the Lisie Hospital, enabling over 25 cardiac surgeons from the state assembled there to discuss and clarify doubts.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article94011.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814212707/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article94011.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=14 August 2014 | location=Kerala, India | work=The Indian Express | title=Heart surgery telecast live at Lisie Heart Institute | date=12 July 2009 }}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Cite web |url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jose_Periappuram |title=Jose Chacko Periappuram |date=2018-08-23 |website=ResearchGate |language=en |access-date=2018-08-23}}
{{Padma Bhushan Award Recipients 2020–2029|state=collapsed}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Medicine}}
{{Padma Award winners of Kerala}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Periappuram, Jose Chacko}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:People from Ernakulam district]]
[[Category:University of Kerala alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in medicine]]
[[Category:Indian cardiac surgeons]]
[[Category:Scientists from Kerala]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian surgeons]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in medicine]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian surgeons]]

Jose Chacko Periappuram - Revision history

Maryslanker at 05:17, 14 January 2026