Slew of events planned in memory of K.V. Thiruvengadam in centenary year
The celebrations, in memory of the renowned physician’s extraordinary impact on medicine both in Chennai and beyond, will focus on restoring the art of listening to the patient, examining at the bedside, thinking before ordering a test, and finally, and dwelling on the fundamental question of what it means to be a good physician in an age of extraordinary technology
In commemoration of K.V. Thiruvengadam's centenary year, a series of events are planned to honor the esteemed clinician, teacher, and humanitarian. Beginning on October 11, 2026, the festivities will focus on the importance of patient-centered care, bedside examination, and critical thinking in modern medicine. K.Vardachari Thiruvengadam, affectionately known as KVT, was born in 1926 and completed his medical education from Government Stanley Medical College in 1950.
He went on to teach for 31 years at his alma mater, Madras Medical College, and private institutions, specializing in chest medicine, allergies, and infectious diseases.
Thiruvengadam's career spanned a period of rapid medical expansion, yet he remained committed to teaching bedside examination as a method of thinking, listening, and questioning. He received formal training in chest diseases in the UK under the Colombo Plan and published nearly 100 papers in both national and international journals, focusing on illnesses such as chikungunya fever, neurological complications from influenza, and amoebiasis.
Thiruvengadam worked extensively within the government system, serving the poorest in society, believing that doctors' dedication to service could achieve remarkable outcomes.
The centenary celebration's primary objective is not merely to remember Thiruvengadam, but to translate his philosophy into medical education, emphasizing the need for human clinical reasoning over technology without context. The commemoration aims to impart the significance of history-taking, clinical examination, and clinical reasoning to medical students and postgraduate doctors, preparing them for diagnosis, management, and medical research.
On October 31, S.R. Chandra will deliver the third Prof. K.V. Thiruvengadam Memorial Oration at Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, focusing on the patient's perspective, the doctor's thinking, and the beginning of research. For further information, please contact Dr. Ramachandran at 9443238315 or Dr. Basheer at 9840217486.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
