Ashok Rajgopal

Ashok Rajgopal
Born India
Occupation Orthopedic surgeon
Awards Padma Shri
* Knee Ratna Award
Bharat Shiromani Award
Distinguished Service Award
Website www.rajgopalkneesurg.com/Official%20web%20site

Dr. Ashok Rajgopal is an Indian orthopedic surgeon, credited with close to 10,000 Arthroscopic and over 3,200 Total Knee Arthroplastic surgeries[1] and reported to be one of the most experienced in his trade in India.[1] He was honoured by the Government of India, in 2014, by bestowing on him the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for his services to the fields of education and literature.[2]

Biography

X-ray of total knee replacement, anterior-posterior (front to back) view.
X-ray of total knee replacement, lateral (side) view.
The incision for knee replacement surgery

Ashok Rajgopal was born on September 30, 1953, in Pune, in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. He graduated in medicine (MBBS) from the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune University in 1974 and went for higher studies the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi from where he obtained Master of Surgery (MS), in 1979. This was followed by a stint of studies at the University of Liverpool and, in 1983, secured the degree of MCh.[3] He is also a Fellow of International Medical Sciences Academy - FIMSA (1996) and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (2010).[1][4][5][6]

Ashok Rajgopal did his internship at the Central Hospital of Northern Railways at New Delhi, on January 1, 1975 and completed the mandatory on the last day of the same year. He continued his residency in orthopedics at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, after which he did his post graduate degree there. In March 1979, he did his senior residency at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi for a year and a half, till August 1980.[1][7] Thereafter, he continued his higher studies, followed by another senior residency at the Ormskirk General Hospital, Lancashire, United Kingdom, till 1985.[5]

After returning to India, in 1985, he worked at Sehgal Neurological Research Institute, New Delhi briefly, and got associated with Moolchand Hospital, New Delhi, as the Senior consultant orthopedic surgeon. From 1996 onwards, he worked as a consultant surgeon at Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research, New Delhi, too.[1][5][7] In 2004, he joined Fortis Hospital, New Delhi where he worked as the Director of Orthopedic Department till he joined Medanta, in 2009.[1][3][5][6] In between, he also had a short stint at Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.[1]

In October 2009, Dr. Ashok Rajgopal joined Medanta, a multi speciality hospital in Gurgaon, Haryana[8] and is now serving as the Chairman and Head of the Bone and Joint Institute, in the hospital.[1][4][9] He is also associated with Health N Heal,[10] an organization promoting medical tourism, which offers medical treatment packages to patients the world over, as an Advisory Board member.[6]

Achievements

Dr. Ashok Rajgopal, whose specializations are in Orthopedic Surgery, Joint Replacement Surgery and Knee Surgery,[3] has, reportedly, performed close to 10,000 arthroscopic, over 3200 arthroplasty[3] and over 100 Minimally Invasive Total Knee Replacement (TKR) Surgeries,[6] making him one of the most prolific orthopedic surgeons[1][3] and, considered by many, as the best bone and joint surgeon in India.[1] He is reported to have performed the first bilateral total knee replacement surgery in India, in April 1987.[11] Five years later, in March 2002, he became the first Indian surgeon to perform a Minimally Invasive Unicompartmental partial knee (MIS) replacement surgery.[1][3] He is reported to have good success rate in hip and joint replacement surgeries,[12] a favourably comparative with that of any other surgeons in the world.[1]

Dr. Rajgopal uses a special technique called Zimmer Protocol, developed by Dr. Zimmer.[12] The system is generally known as Persona Knee.[13][14] The protocol envisages an MRI prior to the surgery and preparation of special cutting blocks to ensure the implants fit perfectly.[11][12] He is a member of a panel of knee surgeons involved in designing new techniques and implants.[11]

Dr. Ashok Rajgopal was the honorary surgeon to the President of India, in 1997, during the term of Shankar Dayal Sharma.[6] As an expert in sports medicine, he has also treated a number of sports persons. He is famous for treating Pullela Gopichand and helping him get back on the court when the badminton player suffered a career threatening knee injury while playing doubles at the 1994 National Games at Pune.[15] It is reported that on realizing Gopichand's inability to pay the fees, Dr. Rajgopal, a badminton enthusiast,[3] waived off the fees[16] and asked for an All England title in return. Gopichand went on to win the All England Badminton Championships in 2001 and, years later, said that Dr. Rajgopal was one of the first persons he thought of after winning the championship point against Chen Hong.[15][16][17]

Dr. Rajgopal has attended many national and international conferences in places such as Brisbane, China, Cairns, Dundee and Singapore[3] and have delivered keynote addresses. he has also published many articles in Indian and internationals journals.[6]

Awards and recognitions

Dr. Ashok Rajgopal is a recipient of Padma Shri award from the Government of India, which was bestowed on him, in 2014, for his services to the field of medicine.[2] He has also received other awards such as:

Positions

Dr. Ashok Rajgopal has held, or holds several key positions and memberships, some of the notable ones are:

He holds permanent registration with the General Medical Council (UK).[3][7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Joint Replacement India Profile". Joint Replacement India.com. 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Padma Awards Announced". Circular. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. January 25, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Forerunners Healthcare". Forerunners Healthcare. 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Chairman - Medanta Bone & Joint Institute". Medanta Bone & Joint Institute. 2014. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Sehat Profile". Sehat.com. 2014. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Zoom Info Profile". Zoom Info. 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "MyDocAdvisor". MyDocAdvisor. 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  8. "Medanta". Medanta. 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  9. "Medanta - Bone and Joint Institute". Medanta. 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  10. "Health N Heal". Zoom Info. 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 "rajgopalkneesurg". rajgopalkneesurg.com. 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 "Dr Ashok Rajgopal - Knee Replacement Surgeon in India". Video. YouTube. 7 May 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  13. "Persona Knee". Zimmer.com. 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  14. "A new knee implant that’s like ‘normal’ knee". Times of India. September 29, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  15. 1 2 Sudhir T S (2012). Saina Nehwal : An Inspirational Biography. Westland. pp. 231 pages. ISBN 9788190657037.
  16. 1 2 "Gopi’s rise: How parents supported a sports protege". First Post. December 9, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  17. Manish Kalra (December 16, 2013). "The Incredible Journey of India’s Star Badminton Player & Coach – Pullela Gopichand". The Better India. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  18. "ISHKS". ISHKS. 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  19. "IASM". IASM. 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  20. "APAS". APAS. 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  21. "ISAKOS". ISAKOS. 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.

External links

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