Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow Conferred Prestigious Honor for Transformative Contributions to Breast Cancer Care
Hyderabad: Dr. Raghu Ram Pillarisetti, Founding Director of the KIMS USHALAKSHMI Centre for Breast Diseases, Hyderabad, has achieved the rare distinction of becoming the youngest surgeon from South Asia to be conferred the Honorary FRCS (Glasgow) by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (RCPSG).
Having earned the FRCS (Glasgow) by examination in 1997, Dr. Pillarisetti now holds the unique distinction of being the only surgeon worldwide to be both an FRCS (by examination) and an Honorary Fellow of the same esteemed College.
The highest honor from the 425-year-old RCPSG was formally bestowed on Dr. Pillarisetti by Prof. Hany Etiba, President of RCPSG, at a prestigious ceremony held in the historic College Hall in Glasgow on 10 September 2025, followed by a formal sit-down dinner.
Global Recognition of Transformative Work
Professor Hany Etiba lauded Dr. Pillarisetti for his unwavering commitment to breast cancer care and medical education:
“For over two decades, Dr. Pillarisetti has dedicated himself to his community, offering hope in the fight against breast cancer while fostering strong global medical collaborations. We are proud to welcome him into our College community.”
The citation read by Prof. Abhay Rane, Registrar and Trustee of RCPSG, recognized Dr. Pillarisetti’s pioneering role in organizing 12 overseas FRCS/MRCS preparatory courses in Hyderabad, enabling over 2,000 South Asian trainees to succeed in these prestigious examinations. His leadership also helped strengthen the College’s academic programs in India.
Expressing his gratitude, Dr. Pillarisetti remarked,
“I am deeply honored by this recognition, which I dedicate to my family, patients, and motherland.”
A Legacy of Innovation and Philanthropy
Dr. Pillarisetti revolutionized breast cancer care in India by:
- Establishing South Asia’s first comprehensive Breast Health Centre.
- Launching the region’s largest population-based breast cancer screening program across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, now expanding nationwide.
- Founding the Association of Breast Surgeons of India, the first organization representing breast surgeons in South Asia.
- Adopting the remote Telangana village of Ibrahimpur, providing essential medical infrastructure through personal philanthropy.
He is also the only surgeon to have received top honors from all three Surgical Royal Colleges in the UK and the British Government:
- OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire – 2020).
- Honorary FRCS (England) – 2022.
- Honorary FRCS (Glasgow) – 2025.
- International Gold Medal (RCS Edinburgh) – 2013.
Legacy of RCPSG
Founded in 1599, RCPSG has a proud legacy, including luminaries like Prof. Peter Lowe (first surgical textbook in English), Sir William Macewan (father of neurosurgery), and Prof. Joseph Lister (father of antiseptic surgery). It remains the only multidisciplinary Royal College in the British Isles, representing over 15,000 medical professionals from 97 countries.
