BANGALORE: Narayana Health Chairman Dr Devi Shetty was awarded an honorary degree of ‘Doctor of Science’ by the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras on Friday for his contributions to the field of medical science. The doctorate was conferred after the IIT’s proposal was accepted by President Pranab Mukherjee.
The honorary degree was bestowed by Prof Bhaskar Rammurthi, Director, IIT-M as part of the 51st convocation at a ceremony held in Chennai.
Receiving the award, Dr Devi Shetty said, “It has been our constant endeavour at Narayana Health to bring down the cost of healthcare and make quality healthcare accessible to all sections of society. Thus, I share this award with all those who have also dedicated themselves for this cause.”
Dr Devi Shetty is also the recipient Padma Bhushan for his contributions in the field of healthcare, especially heart care.
After completing his graduate degree in Medicine and post-graduation in General Surgery from Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, he trained in cardiac surgery at Guys Hospital in the United Kingdom. He performed the first neonatal heart surgery in the country on a nine-day-old baby. In Kolkata, he operated on Mother Theresa after she had a heart attack, and subsequently served as her personal physician.
Dr Shetty founded Narayana Hrudayalaya (now Narayana Health) in 2001.