Padma Shree Awardee
Dr. (Prof.) D. S. Gambhir
MD, DM, FAMS, FICC, FCSI, FSCAI(USA), FACC(USA)
Dr. Prof. D.S. Gambhir is one of the icons in the field of clinical as well as interventional cardiology in our country. He is a graduate and post-graduate (MD) from Maulana Azad Medical College, University of Delhi. After obtaining his doctorate degree (DM), he joined the Department of Cardiology, G.B. Pant Hospital, New Delhi and rose to the position of Professor at the young age of 44 years. Presently, he is working as the Group Director of Cardiology, Kailash Group of Hospitals, New Delhi & Noida.
Dr. Prof. Gambhir is one of the pioneers in the field of interventional cardiology, having performed more than 20,000 coronary interventions. He has not only treated countless number of patients by his masterly skills on complex and multivessel angioplasties, but also trained a large number of doctors in the field of interventional cardiology by performing Live Demonstrations in several teaching courses in India and abroad. He has many firsts to his credit in our country. He has successfully performed the largest number of stentings for left-main coronary artery stenosis - one of the most challenging in the field of nonsurgical treatment of coronary artery disease, thus obviating the need for bypass surgery in hundreds of patients.
Prof. Gambhir has not only treated thousands of patients by his clinical acumen and technical expertise on coronary angioplasty and stenting during span of four decades. He worked tirelessly, and fearlessly during two years of Covid pandemic without break and treated hundreds of patients who alongwith Covid infection, developed heart attack and needed immediate angioplasty and stenting.
By his innovative skills and research-oriented mind, Dr. Gambhir was the first Indian cardiologist to develop a drug-coated stent almost two decades ago. Presentation of clinical data on this new drug coated-stent, in one of the largest meetings of interventional cardiologists in Paris, not only won him great appreciation but also brought laurels to India, which earned the reputation of second country in the world to develop this device.
Prof. Gambhir is a dedicated teacher and an intense researcher. He has published over 125 original papers in national and international journals, contributed chapters in various text books besides editing ‘Cardiology Update’ under the aegis’s of Cardiological Society of India in 2002. He has served as the Hon. Editor of Indian Heart Journal for six years (1995-2000) and a member of the Editorial Board of many indexed international journals including the Heart (UK) and CCI(USA). He has been a Principal Investigator of several multicentric national and international drug and devices trials.
Prof. Gambhir has been associated with Cardiology Society of India in several positions for over four decades. As a tribute to his scientific acumen and organizational skills, he was unanimously elected as the President of Cardiological Society of India for the year 2003. He has been one of the founding members of Indian College of Cardiology (ICC) and rose to the position of its President for the year 2007-08.
For his valuable contributions in the field of cardiology for almost three decades, he was conferred the Honorary Fellowship of National Academy of Medical Sciences (FAMS, 2003), Indian College of Cardiology (FICC, 2005), Cardiological Society of India (FCSI, 2006) and College of Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology (2007). He has also been awarded Fellowship of the American College of Cardiology (FACC, 2007) and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, USA (SCAI, 2008). For his outstanding national and international contributions, Prof. Gambhir has received several honours and awards from various professional and social organizations including State Award by the Government of Delhi, and “Distinguished Physician Award” from the Association of American Cardiologists of Indian Origin, USA. As a tribute to his contributions in Cardiology, Prof. Gambhir was bestowed with ‘Life Time Achievement Award’ by the Cardiology Society of India in December, 2022.
For his distinguished services to the patients suffering from heart diseases, Prof. Gambhir was conferred the Padma Shri Award by the President of India in January 2016.
Above all, Prof. Gambhir is a very sincere, compassionate and honest professional who leaves no stone unturned for rendering medical services to his patients. He is not only admired but also respected by his patients, colleagues and fellow professionals for his immense contributions in cardiology, scientific research, teaching and patient-care over the last four decades, he has brought laurels to our country.
