Educational Qualifications:

• MBBS (2nd Rank, University of Calicut) – 1973
• MD (Medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh) – 1977
• DM (Gastroenterology, University of Kerala) – 1982
• M Med Sci (Clinical Epidemiology, University of Newcastle, Australia) – 1987
• FRCP (Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh) – 2017

Professional Experience:

• Head, Department of Gastroenterology, Sree Gokulam Medical College
• Former Head and Director, Dept. of Gastroenterology & Clinical Epidemiology Research and Training Centre, Trivandrum Medical College
• Core faculty for Clinical Epidemiology Unit and Research & Training Centre
• Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kerala (2007–2009)
• PhD Guide at University of Kerala: 7 awarded, 5 ongoing
• Member, Planning Committee, School of Health Policy and Research Cell, KUHS
• Examiner for multiple universities and the National Board

Research Specializations

• Tropical Pancreatitis
• Hepatitis B and C
• Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
• Intestinal and Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Public Health Contributions

• Member, Ministry of Health (India and Kerala)

Contributor to:

• Health Vision Kerala 2025
• Health Policy Draft 2014
• State Coordinator for Communicable Diseases
• Outbreak Investigations: Leptospirosis, Dengue, Viral Hepatitis

Participant in:

• Modernising Government Program
• Drug Formulary
• Biomedical Waste Disposal Policy\
• UNFPA and European Commission Projects

Lead Investigator for:

• Verbal Autopsy Study (Government of India)
• Macroeconomics and Health Project
• Primary Health Care Reform Projects

International Collaborations:

• Coordinator, Global Medicine Program (Karolinska Institute, 1995–2006)
• Coordinator, Linnaeus-Palme Exchange Program (2001–2006)
• Trained over 500 students through international programs
• Implementing Officer, Telemedicine Unit, Trivandrum Medical College

Current Positions:

• Chairman, GI Task Force Projects, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi
• Executive Director, Population Health and Research Institute

Key Publications :

Published in top journals: BMJ, Lancet, NEJM, Indian Journal of Gastroenterology, World Journal of Gastroenterology, UEG Journal

Topics include:

• Hemorrhagic Ascites
• Hepatitis B Virus Subgenotypes
• Metadoxine treatment for NASH
• Diagnostic markers for Intestinal TB
• GERD and H. pylori relationships
• INASL Guidelines on Hepatitis B
• Mortality due to tobacco (Million Death Study)
• H. pylori and periodontal disease