A clinician par excellence and a leader with a passion for innovation, Prof Mohandas left an indelible mark on medical education, research, and public health.
Published Oct 10, 2025 | 10:22 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 10, 2025 | 10:29 AM
Professor K Mohandas.
Synopsis: Eminent anaesthesiologist and distinguished academician Professor K Mohandas (84) passed away in Bengaluru. A clinician par excellence and a leader with a passion for innovation, Prof Mohandas left an indelible mark on medical education, research, and public health.
Eminent anaesthesiologist and distinguished academician Professor K Mohandas (81), former Director of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, passed away on Thursday, 9 October, in Bengaluru.
A clinician par excellence and a leader with a passion for innovation, Prof Mohandas left an indelible mark on medical education, research, and public health.
Known for his exceptional clinical skills and visionary leadership, he was instrumental in shaping SCTIMST into a centre of excellence in healthcare and technology.
A postgraduate in Anaesthesiology from Christian Medical College, Vellore, with an MD from the Medical College, Mysore, Prof Mohandas began his teaching career at Calicut Medical College.
In 1976, he joined the then Sree Chitra Tirunal Medical Centre (the forerunner of SCTIMST) as Assistant Professor of Anaesthesiology. He was the Chief Anaesthetist when the first open-heart surgery was performed at the Centre in 1976 — a milestone moment in Kerala’s medical history.
Rising through the ranks as Professor and Head of the Department of Anaesthesia, he became the Dean of the Institute in 1993 and took charge as its Director the following year.
During his tenure as Director (1994–2009), he steered several landmark initiatives, including the establishment of the Comprehensive Centres for Epilepsy and Movement Disorders, as well as launching pioneering public health programmes such as the Master of Public Health (MPH) course.
His contributions to anaesthesiology earned him international recognition. The Royal College of Anaesthetists, UK, conferred on him the Honorary Fellowship, making him the first Indian to receive this prestigious honour.
Beyond SCTIMST, Prof Mohandas held several illustrious positions in the academic world.
He served as the President of the Association of Indian Universities in 2004 and chaired the Commonwealth Universities between 2005 and 2007, the oldest and largest international association of universities in the world.
He was also the founding Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala University of Health and Allied Sciences (KUHS) and remained the longest-serving Vice-Chancellor until he demitted office on 31 July 2009.
SCTIMST, in a statement, paid “wholehearted homage to the departed soul” and extended its “heartfelt condolences” to his family.
The mortal remains of Prof K Mohandas will be kept at the AMCHSS foyer, SCTIMST, from 9 am to 11 am on Friday for colleagues, friends, and well-wishers to pay their last respects.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Dileep V Kumar.)
