Renowned Cardiologist Dr. Mullapudi Venkataratnam Passes Away at 89
Dr. Mullapudi Venkataratnam, a distinguished cardiologist and the founder of the Usha Mullapudi Cardiac Center, passed away on Monday morning. He was 89.
The veteran surgeon had been suffering from age-related ailments for some time and breathed his last while undergoing treatment at the very hospital he established in Hyderabad. His passing has left a void in the medical fraternity, with many mourning the loss of a pioneer in affordable cardiac care.
Born in 1937 into an agricultural family in Gauripatnam, East Godavari district, Dr. Venkataratnam pursued MBBS driven by a passion for medicine. He later moved to the United States for advanced studies, establishing himself as a reputed cardiac surgeon. He returned to India following an invitation from then-Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao. Upon his return, he served at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) from 1995 to 1997 without accepting any remuneration.
A personal tragedy reshaped his life’s mission when his younger daughter, Usha (19), died in a train accident in the US. To honor her memory, he founded the Usha Mullapudi Cardiac Center in Hyderabad in 2000, focusing on providing low-cost heart care to the poor. Hospital sources noted that during his five-decade career, Dr. Venkataratnam performed over 35,000 heart surgeries.
The final rites were performed on Monday afternoon at Mahaprasthanam in Jubilee Hills. He is survived by his wife, Nalini, and daughter, Jyothi.