Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s medical fraternity is mourning the demise of Dr. G. Venugopal, a pioneer in urology and kidney transplantation, who passed away on Monday at the age of 68. He had been under treatment for liver disease and was in intensive care at a private hospital in the city since last week.
A Trailblazer in Kidney Transplant Surgery
Dr. Venugopal is best remembered for performing the first-ever kidney transplant surgery in the government sector in Kerala. The landmark procedure was carried out in 2012 at the Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, where he served as Head of the Urology Department. The achievement was hailed as a milestone in public healthcare, expanding access to advanced organ transplantation services.
Career and Contributions
After completing his MBBS from Kottayam Medical College in 1981, Dr. Venugopal pursued MS in General Surgery in 1989 and later specialized with an MS in Urology in 1992.
Over his career, he worked at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College and also served at leading private hospitals including Ananthapuri, Gokulam, J.J. Hospital, and Shankars, making significant contributions to urology and surgical care.
He was also actively associated with several professional organizations, including the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the Association of Surgeons of India, and the Urological Society of India.
Personal Life
Dr. Venugopal hailed from the Changanassery Morkulangara Shanmuga Sadanam family and was a resident of Uthradam near Kochullur Temple Arch. He had been battling liver-related complications for the past four years before succumbing on Monday afternoon.
He is survived by his wife, Dr. S. Aruna (Retd. Gynaecologist), and son, Dr. Aravind Varun. The funeral was held at Thycaud Shanthi Kavadam.
