Bhagawan Koirala

Bhagawan Koirala
Dr. Bhagawan Koirala during an interview (Dec. 2012)
Born	July 24, 1960[1] Palpa, Nepal[1]
Education	Dhaka University Kharkiv National Medical University
Known for	pioneering open heart surgery in Nepal.
Medical career
Profession	Surgeon, Professor[1]
Institutions	Tribhuvan University (T.U.) Nepal Medical College T.U. Teaching Hospital[2] Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center (MCVTC)[3] Shahid Gangalal National Heart Center[4] Norvic International Hospital[5] Civil Service Hospital of Nepal[6] Organ Transplantation Center Development Committee Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP),[1] Cardiac Society of Nepal[7]
Specialism	cardiothoracic surgery[1]
Research	open-heart surgery[1]
Notable prizes	Suprabal Gorkha Dakshinbahu IV Birendra-Aisworya Medal for Outstanding Service Excellence Achiever's Award

Bhagawan Koirala (Nepali: भगवान कोइराला) MD, FACC (July 24, 1960) is a Cardiothoracic surgeon, professor and Social worker.^[1] He is best known for pioneering Open-heart surgery in Nepal, and for starting an operational cardiac care for the public.^[8]

He started a "Poor Patients Relief" program in 2003, with the support of the Government of Nepal, which focuses on providing free Cardiac care for children, elderly and needy.^[9]

Education and background

Koirala completed his schooling from his hometown of Palpa, where he earned his SLC at the young age of 13. He later earned his Certificate in General Medicine from Kathmandu. The interest for a career in medicine took him to Kharkiv, Ukraine, where he graduated from Kharkiv Medical Institute in 1989. He later explained in an interview that he credits his lecturer for encouraging him to earn a career in medicine, specially in the area of Cardiac surgery.

He post-graduated from National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Dhaka University, in 1994, and later completed an unaccredited United States Medical Licensing Examination (Step I) in 1996 and (Step II and III) in 2000.^[1][9][10]

Residency and trainings

He started his residency from a government institution of Nepal, T.U. Casualty and Surgery, in 1989, and got promoted to Senior house officer in T.U. Department of Surgery in 1990. It was followed by the fellowships in the internationally recognized institutions; first as a resident (Cardiothoracic) in Dhaka University in 1991, and later as a resident (surgery) in Baystate Medical Center of Massachusetts in 1998 and 1999.

He also completed his tenure as a Clinical Fellow (Cardiac surgery) in The Hospital for Sick Children of Toronto in 2000.^[11]

Career

Koirala, specializing in pediatric cardiac surgery, started his career from TU Teaching Hospital. He was the Executive Director and Chief of Cardiac Surgery of Shahid Gangalal National Heart Center between 2001 and 2009. He is currently the Executive Director of TU Teaching Hospital.^[1][4][12] also known for being a philanthropic organization. He is also involved with different national and international projects and campaigns to ensure funds and charity for needy patients.^[8][13]

He has performed over 10,000 heart operations, personally or directly supervised, from 2001 to 2012. (need verification, 1000 surgeries / year which is 3 per every single day of 10 years) Being one of the senior-most surgeon and capable administrator, he was appointed the Director of T.U. Teaching Hospital (TUTH), where he first started his career, in November 2012.^[2]

Memberships

Dr. Koirala during an interview, in 2012

Koirala is the member of numerous medical and scientific organizations:-

• Nepal Medical Association
• Society of Surgeons in Nepal^[14]
• Nepal Heart Foundataion^[15]
• Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center^[3]
• Cardiac Society of Nepal^[7]
• Jayanti Memorial Trust^[16][17]
• Bangladesh Cardiac Society^[18]
• America Nepal Medical Foundation^[19]
• Heart Club Nepal^[20]
• Heart to Heart Nepal
• Indian Association of Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgeons^[21]
• American College of Cardiology (FACC)^[22]

Contributions to medicine

Pioneering Open heart surgery in Nepal

Koirala first performed open-heart surgery in 1997. His initiative gave a hope for treating heart diseases inside the country by establishing the first fully operational heart hospital, and also to ensure free service for the needy.

His social initiative came at the time when Nepal completely lacked resources to treat heart patients, and the rate of heart related diseases were increasing in the region. According to a National Report on NCDs and CVDs compiled by NHRC in 2010;

Distribution of NCDs in terms of socio demographic variables (age, sex, ethnic groups, and geographic area) was calculated. Data shows that out of the total admitted patients, 36.5% patients suffered from NCDs.Out of total NCDs, 38% were having heart diseases followed by COPD (33%), where as diabetes and cancer accounted for 10% and 19% cases respectively.^[23]

MCVTC, headed by Koirala, is famously known for providing medicines at lower prices than the suggested retail price.^[24] He also represents the team of Cardiovascular Surgery for Asia Pacific Society of Cardiology's Scientific Council (May 2011 to Feb 2013).^[3][18]

Humanitarian Projects

He is involved with a charity venture for child heart patients in Nepal, called "Bal Dhadkan".^[20] On the venture, he quotes;

"No child of this country shall die of heart disease because of poverty.”

Bhagawan Koirala is also a board member of the NGO Helping Hand for Nepal^[25]

Honors

Koirala has been felicitated and recognized by various institutions over the years.

• Mrigendra-Samjhana Medical Trust Honor, 2012^[15][26]
• Suprabal Jana Sewasree III, Government of Nepal, 2012
• Excellence Achiever's Award, Youth Asia, 2012^[27]
• Manager of the year, Management Association of Nepal, 2008^[28]
• Hem Bahadur Malla Honor" for outstanding hospital services, Public Administration Association of Nepal, 2006^[29]
• Science and Technology Talent Award Grade "A", RONAST, 2005^[30]
• Dharma Pahari Medical Services award, NMA, 2003
• Suprabal Gorkha Dakshinbahu IV, 2001
• Birendra-Aisworya Medal for Outstanding Service, 2001
• Best Paper Award, IV International Surgical conference of Surgeons in Nepal, 1998
• Best Doctor Award, T.U. Teaching Hospital in 1996
• Honors for Academic Performance in MD

Personal life

Koirala was born in Palpa, Nepal. He is married to Sandra Koirala, a zoology professor, with whom he has a son, Nirabh Koirala, currently a student at Grinnell College in Iowa.^[9]

Publications and literature

• Impalement Injury to Heart, Kathmandu University Medical Journal
• Chow G, Koirala B, Armstrong D, McCrindle B, Bohn D, Edgell D, Coles J, de Veber G (2004). "Predictors of mortality and neurological morbidity in children undergoing extracorporeal life support for cardiac disease". European Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery. 26 (1): 38–43. doi:10.1016/j.ejcts.2004.04.010. PMID 15200977.
• Latest Advancement in Cardiac Surgery (Lecture)'', XI International Surgical Conference of Society of Surgeons of Nepal
• Sapkota R, Koirala B (2014). "Traumatic Pseudoaneurysm of the Heart". Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg J. 64: 101–104. doi:10.1007/s11748-014-0391-0.
• Koirala B, Shrestha KR, Thapa B, Sayami P (Sep 2012). "Migration of a piece of shrapnel: femoral vein to superior vena cava-azygous junction". Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 42 (3): 584–6. doi:10.1093/ejcts/ezs267. PMID 22761493.
• Pradhan S, Sapkota R, Shrestha UK, Amatya R, Koirala B (2011). "Impalement injury to the heart". Kathmandu University Medical Journal. 9 (33): 80–2. PMID 22610817.
• Pradhan S, Gautam NC, Singh YM, Shakya S, Timala RB, Sharma J, Koirala B (2011). "Tricuspid valve repair: DeVega's tricuspid annuloplasty in moderate secondary tricuspid regurgitation". Kathmandu University Medical Journal. 9 (33): 64–8. PMID 22610813.
• Shrestha P, Koirala B, Shrestha N, Thapa P (2009). "A study on complication and monitoring of warfarin in post-valve surgery". JNMA. 48 (174): 111–5. PMID 20387349.
• Sharma J, Sherchan S, Pradhan S, Rajbanshi B, Koirala R, Timala R, Pokharel J, Uprety MR, Koirala B (2011). "Primary Cardiac tumours: Our Experience". Nepalese Heart J. 8: 8–11.
• Kandel NP, Koirala B, KC MB, BC RK, Basnyat SR (2007). "Laboratory tests for infective Endocarditis among patients visiting Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre, Bansbari Kathmandu, Nepal". Journal of Nepal Health Research Council. 5: 1–4.
• Kandel NP, Basnyat SR, Koirala B, KC MB, Shrestha S (2007). "Bacteriological of patients with infective endocarditis". Journal of Institute of Medicine. 29: 9–11.
• Acharya B, Koirala B, Ong SK (2007). "Comparison of direct homogenous measurement of low density lipoprotein cholesterol with Friedwald calculation". Clinical Chemistry. 53 (6): A44.
• Sharma D, Bkc M, Rajbhandari S, Raut R, Baidya SG, Kafle PM, Baral B, Rajbhandari R, Bhatt YD, Malla R, Maskey A, Limbu Y, Regmi SR, Koirala B (2006). "Study of Prevalence, Awareness,and control of Hypertension in a Suburban Area of Kathmandu, Nepal". Indian Heart Journal. 58 (1): 34–7. PMID 18984928.
• Chow G, Koirala B, Armstrong D, McCrindle B, Bohn D, Edgell D, Coles J, de Veber G (2004). "Predictors of mortality and neurological morbidity in children undergoing extracorporeal life support for cardiac disease". European Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery. 26 (1): 38–43. doi:10.1016/j.ejcts.2004.04.010. PMID 15200977.
• Bahadur KC, Sharma D, Shrestha MP, Gurung S, Rajbhandari S, Malla R, Rajbhandari R, Limbu YR, Regmi SR, Koirala B (2003). "Prevalence of rheumatic and congenital heart disease in schoolchildren of Kathmandu valley in Nepal". Indian Heart Journal. 55 (6): 615–8. PMID 14989511.
• Koirala B, Merklinger SL, Van Arsdell GS, McCrindle BW, Borger MA, Caldarone CA, Coles JG, Williams WG (2002). "Extending the usable size range of homografts in the pulmonary circulation: outcome of bicuspid homografts". The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 73 (3): 866–9; discussion 869–70. doi:10.1016/s0003-4975(01)03559-7. PMID 11899193.
• Dellgren G, Koirala B, Sakopoulus A; et al. (2001). "Pediatric Heart Transplantation : Improving Results in High Risk Patients". Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 121: 782–91.
• Shrestha UK, Joshi PR, Ghimire RK, Sharma GP, Sayami P, Koirala B, Timala R, Sharma J (2001). "Post-tracheosotomy Tracheal Stenosis: Primary resection and Anastomosis". Journal of Society of Surgeons of Nepal. 4: 50–52.
• Shrestha BMS, Sayami P, Timila R, Shrestha UK, Sharma J, Koirala B, Sharma GP (2001). "Role of Feeding Jejunostomy in the Surgical Treatment of Esophageal Cardinoma". J. Nep Med Assoc. 40: 23–28.
• Rana A, Manandhar B, Gurung G, Koirala B; et al. (2001). "Maternal Cardiac Diseases Complicating Pregnancy: a Review of 105 Cases". Journal of Institute of Medicine. 23: 13–20.
• Singh B.M, Koirala B.; et al. (2000). "Joshi P.R. et al. Superior Vena Cava Syndrome due to metastatic transitional cell carcinoma". Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann. 8: 280–2.
• Koirala B (1998). "Beginning of Open Heart Surgery in Nepal". J Nep Med Assoc. 37 (125): 447–8.
• Koirala B. and Sharma AK. Surgery of Heart and Blood vessels . In: Sharma AK(editor ). Principles of surgery. Kathmandu. Educational Enterprises(P) Ltd. 1997;187-99
• Koirala B. and Sharma AK. Surgery of the chest. In : Sharma AK(editor). Principles of Surgery. Kathmandu. Educational Enterprises(P) Ltd.1997;178-86
• Sayami P, Singh B.M, Koirala B, Sharma GP (1997). "Surgery of Lung cancer in T.U. Teaching Hospital". J. Nep Med Assoc. 3: 182–85.
• Sayami P., Ghimire RK, Sayami G, Koirala B, Sharma GP, Shrestha HG. (1997). "Diagnosis and historical pattern of lung cancer in Nepal: an analysis of 527 Cases". J. Nep Med Assoc. 35: 39–44.
• Sayami P., Koirala B. Sayami G. Sharma G (1996). "Retrospective analysis of lung cancer initially treated as tuberculosis". Journal of Institute of Medicine (Kathmandu). 18: 144–48.
• Ashan S, Rahman Z, Koirala B, Islam S, Khan NA (1995). "Conservative approach to chest Trauma Management". Chest and heart Bulletin (Bangladesh). XX (1): 9–13.
• Singh B.M. Sharma G. Sayami P. Koirala B. Joshi B.D. Pokharel B.M. (1995). "Retrospective study of Empyema Thoracis in T.U. Teaching Hospital". J. Nep Med Assoc. 33: 177–87.
• Adhikari AB, Khan SR, Koirala Habib A, Mahmood B. Ali M., Jahan L. (1994). "Mitral valve replacement with preservation of chordae tendinae and papillary muscles- case report". Bangladesh Heart Journal. 9 (2): 63–65.
• Khakurel M., Koirala B. (1991). "Cholecystectomy - to drain or not to drain". J Nep Med Assoc. 29: 248–50.

References

1. "Bhagwan Koirala bio". SGNHC.org.np. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
2. "T.U. Teaching Hospital Payroll". Teaching Hospital of Nepal. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
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4. "Koirala's credentials". SGNHC.org.np. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
5. "Norvic Intl. Hospital's team". NorvicHospital.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
6. "Cicil Service Hospital of Nepal's team". CivilServiceHospital.org. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
7. "Committee members of Cardiac Society of Nepal". CSN.org.np. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
8. "Koirala being interviewed by Reader's Club of Nepal". Retrieved 2012-12-28.
9. "Dr. Koirala being interviews in a National TV". VideoChautari.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
10. "Bhagawan Koirala in the making". NepaliTimes.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
11. "Pediatric Heart Transplant in Toronto 2000". CTSNetJournals.org. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
12. "Dr. Koirala's Bio". CTSNet.org. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
13. "Sahid Gangalal Hospital's Annual Report (2007" (PDF). Sahid Gangalal Hospital. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 20, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
14. "Koirala's membership in a national medical foundation". SSN.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
15. "Koirala receives MSMT honor, 2012". MSMT.org. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
16. "Koirala's membership in a national medical foundation". NepaliTimes.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
17. "Koirala's membership in a national medical foundation". JMT.org.np. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
18. "APSC Scientific team" (PDF). APSCardio.org. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
19. "Koirala's membership in Intl. medical foundation". ANMF.net. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
20. "ECS's (Magazine) cover-story on Koirala on his social venture". ECS.com.np. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
21. "Koirala's membership in a Intl. medical foundation" (PDF). IACTS.org. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
22. "Koirala's membership in Intl. medical foundation". NorvicHospital.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
23. "Report on Non-communicable disease" (PDF). NHRC.org.np. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
24. "Koirala and his institution providing drugs at cheapest cost". MyRepublica.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
25. Helping Hand for Nepal: Board Members
26. "Koirala being honored in a local program, 2012". Ekantipur.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
27. "Koirala felicitated with Excellence Achiever's Award 2012". MyRepublica.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
28. "Koirala been awarded Manager of the Year". MyRepublica.com. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
29. http://paan.org.np/download/paan_newsletter.pdf
30. "Koirala felicitated with Science & Technology Award". WebChautari.net. Retrieved 2012-12-28.