Shanmuganathan Rajasekaran better known as Dr. S. Rajasekaran is a distinguished orthopedic surgeon and a globally recognized authority in the field of spine surgery. Based in Coimbatore, India, he has made significant contributions to the advancement of orthopedic science, clinical care, and research. He has won many national and international accolades for his research & is considered among the top 2% of scientists contributing to orthopeaeic and spine surgery. He is the director of the orthopaedic and spine surgery division of Ganga Medical Centre and Hospitals Pvt Ltd, Coimbatore, which is currently one of the largest orthopaedic specialty hospital in South Asia with 650 beds and 35 operating theatres.
Background
Dr. S. Rajasekaran was born to the Late Dr. J. G Shanmuganathan and Kanakavalli Shanmuganathan on June 30, 1958, in Magudanchavadi, Salem, Tamil Nadu. His primary medical school training was at Coimbatore Medical college and postgraduate training was at Madras Medical College. He later went to the United Kingdom & completed his FRCS(Edinburgh)(1989) and MCh (University of Liverpool)(1990). He received a PhD degree for his work from Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University in 2000. He was also awarded the FRCS (Hon) by the Royal College of Surgeons, London in 2009.
Prof. S. Rajasekaran holds the position of visiting professor at Harvard Medical International in Boston, USA. In 2010, he served as the Grand Rounds Lecturer at Mayo Hospital, USA, which is also known as Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Rajasekaran has a distinguished academic career, being the
*Best Outgoing Student of Coimbatore Medical College, 1983
*Ranking First in postgraduate training in MS Orthopedics, 1987
*‘Khazenifer Gold Medal’ and the ‘Norman Roberts Medal’ for best performance during his M.Ch exams in the UK.
Professional & Clinical Work
Rajasekaran and his brother, Shanmuganathan Rajasabapathy, returned from their training abroad and started a specialty center for orthopaedics and plastic surgery. This hospital has grown tremendously under their guidance and is now a multi-specialty institution with 650 beds, 38 operating theatres, >150,000 outpatients, and 26000 major surgeries, which is one of the largest in the whole of South Asia. Although the units introduced cutting-edge technology, they also evolved a ‘Low Cost, High Quality Healthcare model’ to bring the services free or highly subsidised to the poor. Prof. S. Rajasekaran established the Ganga Spine Injury and Rehabilitation Center (GSIRC) for paralysed patients, where more than 1850 paralysed patients have been rehabilitated at a subsidised cost. Ganga Orthopaedic Research & Education Foundation’ (GOREF) was established in August 2002 under his guidance to facilitate and conduct research in all aspects of orthopaedic surgery, in both clinical and basic sciences.
Clinical Practice and Achievements
Dr. Rajasekaran currently serves as the Chairman of the Department of Orthopedics, Trauma, and Spine Surgery at Ganga Hospital in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Under his leadership, Ganga Hospital has emerged as a leading center for orthopedic and spine surgery, offering advanced and comprehensive care for patients with complex musculoskeletal problems. His clinical practice is characterized by a strong emphasis on evidence-based care, patient-centered approaches, and the integration of the latest technological advancements.
He is widely known for his expertise in treating spinal disorders, including scoliosis, kyphosis, spinal trauma, infections, and tumors, as well as degenerative diseases. His surgical prowess, combined with a deep commitment to patient care, has earned him accolades from both peers and patients. Dr. Rajasekaran's innovative surgical techniques have contributed significantly to the field, enhancing patient outcomes and minimizing complications.
Contributions to Research and Education
Dr. Rajasekaran is not only a clinician but also a prolific researcher and educator. He has published over 300 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and has contributed chapters to numerous textbooks on orthopedic and spine surgery. His research interests primarily focus on spinal injuries, spinal deformities, infections, and degenerative conditions. One of his groundbreaking contributions is the development of the "Ganga Hospital Open Injury Severity Score (GHOISS)," which is widely used for assessing the severity of open fractures.
He is the recipient of numerous national and international awards for his research, including the prestigious ISSLS Award from the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine for his work on spinal infections and trauma. Dr. Rajasekaran's research has been instrumental in developing new protocols for the management of spinal injuries and infections, particularly in resource-limited settings.
Social Welfare
The mission statement of Ganga Hospital is to deliver high-quality medical care at a reasonable price, ensuring that the hospital's expertise is accessible to all citizens of the country. In pursuit of this objective, Shanmuganthan Rajasekeran has successfully initiated numerous philanthropic and corporate social responsibility endeavors, including:
Project SWASAM, which translates to "Breath of Life,"
The project was initiated by Former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on 3rd May 2018 and consists of several sub-projects that have had a significant impact on society.
Project Helpline: Project Helpline offers complimentary repair procedures for limb malformations in children from impoverished socio-economic backgrounds, regardless of the cause.
Project ‘Straight Spine’: The 'Straight Spine' project aims to address the health issues faced by children with increasing and severe abnormalities, including as cardiorespiratory disorders, neurological deficits leading to paralysis, and a life of disability. The objective of this project is to offer secure repair of spine abnormalities to underprivileged youngsters.
GSIRC: The Ganga Spine Injury and Rehabilitation Center (GSIRC) was founded to provide rehabilitation services for those with spinal injuries. To far, over 1850 paralyzed people have received subsidized treatment at the center.
UYIR: Dr. Rajasekaran, the Managing Trustee, played a crucial role in establishing a charity trust named 'UYIR' (meaning Life). UYIR is a grassroots movement dedicated to promoting road safety. The organization implements multiple initiatives throughout the city of Coimbatore to foster public awareness on road safety. The project has implemented a distinctive program called 'Kutty Cops', which has trained approximately 425,000 children to act as 'Little Policemen' at home. Their role is to ensure that the adults in their households do not use their mobile phones while driving, do not violate traffic signals, do not exceed speed limits, wear helmets, and fasten seat belts. The initiatives of UYIR have resulted in a decrease in the number of accidents within the city of Coimbatore.
A significant achievement in the area of road safety was the Public Interest Litigation filed against the Union Government of India in the Supreme Court (Rajasekaran Vs Union Govt of India- Writ Petition (Civil) No.295 of 2012). This is the most consequential intervention and directive issued by the Supreme Court regarding road safety to date.
Leadership Roles and Affiliations
Dr. S. Rajasekaran has held several leadership roles in national and international orthopedic and spine societies. He has served as the President of the Indian Orthopaedic Association (IOA), the Association of Spine Surgeons of India (ASSI), and the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine (ISSLS), President, Asia Pacific Spine Society, Past Chair, AO Spine International, Past President of SICOT - International Society for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Past President- Cervical Spine Research Society – Asia Pacific, Past President of the World Orthopaedic Concern (WOC), Past President of the Association of Spine Surgeons of India for four years (2008 – 2012), Chairman, Constitution Review Committee of Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Association, President, Association of National Board Accredited Institutions. His leadership has been pivotal in fostering collaboration, education, and research in orthopedic surgery globally.
Additionally, Dr. Rajasekaran is a founding member of the "AO Spine," a global community of spine surgeons committed to advancing spine care through research, education, and clinical practice. He has also served on the editorial boards of numerous prestigious journals, including Spine and the European Spine Journal.
Awards and Recognitions
Dr. S. Rajasekaran's exceptional contributions to orthopedics and spine surgery have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. He has been awarded few nation awards such as Sir JC Bose Lifetime Achievement Award 2023, Hari Om Ashram Alembic Research Award 2017, Dr B C Roy Silver Jubilee Research Award 2004, Hari Om Ashram Alembic Research Award for 2000 by Medical Council of India, Tridecennial Award for Teachers for 2012 by National Board of Examinations New Delhi, and Scroll of Honor for 2012 by The Tamilnadu Dr MGR Medical University.
Prof. S. Rajasekaran is also the recepient of some International awards such as North American Spine Society Outstanding Research Award consecutively for three years -2019, 2020 and 2021, ISSLS Best Paper Award for Basic Science, 2021, ISSLS Best Paper Award for Clinical Science, 2021, Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Association – Best Presentation Award- Infection Category–2021, Asia Pacific Spine Society Best Clinical Research Award for 2019, Asia Pacific Spine Journal Award for Best Clinical Paper for 2019, Asia Pacific Spine Society Basic Science Research Award for 2019, Asia Pacific Spine Journal Award for Best Basic Science Paper for 2019, ISSLS Prize for Spine Research for the year 2017, Walter P. Blount Humanitarian Award 2005, ISSLS Prize for Spine Research for the year 2013, ISSLS Prize for Spine Research for the year 2010, ISSLS Prize for Spine Research for the year 2004, ‘Euro Spine Open Paper Award’ for 2008 for his research demonstrating that disc nutrition in spine can be modified by calcium channel blockers, Macnab LaRocca Research Award of ISSLS in 2005, Sofamer Danek Award for the best Scientific presentation internationally by the International Society for the Study of Lumbar Spine thrice for the years 1996, 2002 & 2006, and Harald Tscherene Teaching Award by the German Trauma Society in 2019.
