Sundaram Medical Foundation

Dr. S. Rangarajan
Memorial Oration

Instituted 1998 · Delivered annually during FORUM

Honoring our founder's legacy by celebrating distinguished individuals whose life's work has significantly benefited public health across India and the world.

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan Prof. Gagandeep Kang Dr. Mammen Chandy Prof. K.S. Srinath Reddy Dr. Armida Fernandez Dr. V. Mohan Dr. Zarir Udwadia Dr. T. Sundararaman Dr. Vikram Patel Dr. Evita Fernandez Dr. Soumya Swaminathan Prof. Gagandeep Kang Dr. Mammen Chandy Prof. K.S. Srinath Reddy Dr. Armida Fernandez Dr. V. Mohan Dr. Zarir Udwadia Dr. T. Sundararaman Dr. Vikram Patel Dr. Evita Fernandez

About the Oration

A Living Tribute to Community-Centred Medicine

First instituted in 1998, the Dr. S. Rangarajan Memorial Oration is an annual tradition that honours our founder's enduring vision — that medicine must reach beyond the clinic and into the community it serves.

Each year, a distinguished speaker is invited to address topics that bridge high-level clinical expertise with community-focused delivery, reflecting the ideals at the heart of Sundaram Medical Foundation.

Alongside the oration, a Community Service Award is presented to individuals or organisations whose work has made a transformative impact on public health.

Bridging Expertise & Community
The oration platform connects frontier medical knowledge with the realities of grassroots healthcare delivery in India.
Celebrating Public Health Champions
Honorees are chosen for their sustained commitment to the public good — often working in under-resourced settings with transformative results.
Reinforcing SMF's Core Ethos
Responsive, caring, and community-based healthcare delivery — the oration annually reaffirms these founding values through living example.
2025
Dr. John Cherian Oommen
Vice Chairman, Council of Christian Medical College, Vellore & Public Health Consultant, Azim Premji Foundation, Bangalore
"Seeing from Another Side: Stories and Insights from 30 Years in Health-Care in South Odisha"
2024
Dr. Pavitra Mohan
Executive Director, Basic Healthcare Services, Vidhya Bhavan Rural Institute, Udaipur
"Prioritizing Primary Healthcare in India – Putting the Last First"
2023
Dr. Mathew Cherian
Chief of Radiology Services, Kovai Medical Centre, Coimbatore
"Seven Short Stories"
2022
Dr. Sudha Seshayyan
Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai
"Postgraduate Medical Education – Fresh Directions"
2021
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan
Deputy Director General, World Health Organisation (WHO), Geneva (virtual)
"Emerging Concepts in Infectious Disease — Controls & Management"
2019
Prof. Gagandeep Kang
Head, Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory & Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore
"Rotavirus Vaccines for and by India"
2018
Dr. M.S. Seshadri MD, PhD, FRCP (Edinburgh)
Consultant Physician, Endocrinologist & Honorary Medical Director, Thirumalai Mission Hospital, Ranipet
2017
Dr. K.S. Jacob MD, PhD
Consultant Psychiatrist & Professor of Psychiatry, Christian Medical College, Vellore
"Mental Health in Older People – The Need for Contextual Understanding"
2016
Dr. Evita Fernandez FRCOG
Medical Director, Chief Consultant Obstetrician, Fernandez Hospital, Hyderabad
"Human Rights in Childbirth – An Urgent Need for India"
2015
Dr. Z.F. Udwadia
Consultant Chest Physician, Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai
"MDR TB – Who Let the Genie Out of the Bottle?"
2014
Dr. V. Mohan
Director, Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre
"Diabetes is Preventable – Together We Can Do It"
2013
Mr. Thulasiraj Ravilla
Director – Operations, Aravind Eye Care System
"Eye Care – Making Community Work Existing & Viable: Are There Replicable Lessons?"
2012
Dr. T.S. Ravikumar
Director, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Puducherry
"Patient Safety – The Central Concern of Healthcare Quality"
2011
Dr. T. Sundararaman
Executive Director, National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC)
"Human Resources in Health Care: The Crisis & Options"
2010
Dr. Vikram Patel
Professor of International Mental Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; UK Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow in Tropical Medicine
"Closing the Treatment Gap for Mental Health Disorder in India"
2009
Dr. S. Rajasekaran
Director & Head, Department of Orthopaedics Trauma & Spine Surgery, Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore
"Achieving Excellence in Trauma Care"
2008
Dr. V. Kumaraswami
Scientist 'F', Officer-in-charge; Head, Department of Immunology, Tuberculosis Research Center, Chennai
"Parasites, Poverty & Public Health"
2007
Dr. M.K. Mani
Chief Nephrologist, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai
"Socioeconomic Aspects of Renal Failure"
2006
Dr. Jayaprakash Muliyil
Principal, CMC Vellore; Professor & Head, Department of Community Health
"Health Care Sans Ethics – A Dangerous Trend"
2005
Prof. A. Rajasekaran MS, MCh (Urol), FRCS
President, National Board of Examinations, New Delhi
"Postgraduate Medical Education – Fresh Directions"
2004
Prof. B.M. Hegde FRCP(E), FRCG(P), FRCP(Lon), FRCP(Dublin), FACC
Visiting Professor of Cardiology, London University
"Ancient Indian Wisdom and Modern Scientific Medicine"
2003
Prof. Patrick Yesudian
Professor of Dermatology (Retd.), Madras Medical College, Chennai
"Dermatology – Myths & Realities"
2002
Dr. Ravi Narayanan
Community Health Advisor, Bangalore
"Towards a Family & Community Oriented GP – The Elusive Goal of Medical Education in India"
2001
Dr. S. Suresh
Director, Mediscan System, Chennai
"Ultrasound – Past, Present & Future"
2000
Prof. K. Srinath Reddy
Professor of Cardiology, AIIMS, New Delhi
"Global Epidemic of Cardiovascular Disease – Lessons for India"
1999
Prof. M.K.C. Nair
Director, Child Development Center, Thiruvananthapuram Medical College
"Teenage Care & Counselling – Need of the Day"
1998
Prof. Mammen Chandy
Professor and Head of Haematology, CMC, Vellore
"Approach to Anaemia in Clinical Practice"
2019
Dr. Ravi Kannan
Cachar Cancer Hospital & Research Centre
2021
Dr. Manoj Kumar
Mental Health Action Trust (MHAT)
2022
Drs. Lalitha & Regi George
Tribal Health Initiative, Dharmapuri District
2023
Drs. Shyla & Nandakumar Menon
Project ASHWINI, Adivasi Hospital, Gudalur

The Community Service Award honours individuals and teams working on the frontlines of healthcare — often in the most challenging, under-served settings — exemplifying the spirit of selfless service that Dr. S. Rangarajan stood for.

"The oration reinforces SMF's values and ethos of community-based, responsive, and caring healthcare delivery — celebrating those who have dedicated their lives to the public at large."

Sundaram Medical Foundation · Since 1998