Dr. Samuel Mathew Kalarickal, known for revolutionizing cardiac care in India by introducing the stenting procedure, died on Friday at the age of 77. Despite his declining health, Dr. Kalarickal remained dedicated to treating patients until the end, recently publishing a paper just eight days prior to his passing. He is affectionately referred to as the ‘father of angioplasty in India’ for his significant contributions to heart disease treatments.
Born in Kerala’s Kottayam district, Dr. Kalarickal pursued his medical studies at the government medical college and later specialized at Stanley Medical College and Madras Medical College in Chennai. After completing his education, Dr. Kalarickal trained at Emory University in the U.S. under Dr. Andreas Gruentzig, the first cardiologist to perform angioplasty.
Upon returning to India in 1985, he initiated angioplasty procedures at a time when patients primarily had to rely on open-heart bypass surgeries. Dr. Ajit Mullasari, who trained under Dr. Kalarickal, remarked, ‘Very few doctors in the world achieve the pinnacle in a single procedure, and he was one of them. He believed in teaching the procedure to ensure that cardiologists across the country could perform it.’
Dr. Kalarickal’s influence extended beyond India; he trained many cardiologists from neighboring countries, including Sri Lanka, Maldives, Egypt, and Bangladesh. Dr. Mohammed Najeeb Osman highlighted his commitment to India over lucrative opportunities abroad, stating, ‘He wanted to give back to the country. The generations he trained made angioplasty accessible across the nation.’
As an innovator, Dr. Kalarickal held patents for several devices essential for the angioplasty procedure. Dr. Mullasari recalled, ‘I have never seen anyone perform a rotablation angioplasty with the finesse that he did. He taught us that this procedure is as much an art as it is a science.’
Dr. Kalarickal once experienced the procedure he had taught so many. Dr. Mullasari recounted, ‘He called me from Malaysia, expressing chest pains, but insisted on being treated in India where he could direct the procedure himself.’ His legacy continues through the India Live programme, which remains a prominent interventional cardiology conference worldwide.
Numerous patients have expressed gratitude for his impact on their lives. Besides being a dedicated professional, Dr. Kalarickal was also a devoted family man. He received notable accolades, including the Dr. BC Roy Award in 1996 and the Padma Shri in 2000, recognizing his invaluable contributions to medicine in India.
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