About Us

Dr.C.N.Deivanayagam, MBBS, FRCP was born on 15th November 1942 at Kulasekarapatnam village, Thoothukudi District, Tamilnadu.

He completed his school education in the Tamil medium at the Theagarayanagar High School, founded by his paternal grandfather, Thiru. C.D.Nayagam. He passed out as the best outgoing student.

He joined Loyola College for his Pre-University course and passed with distinction. From 1959-1965 he was an undergraduate student of the Madras Medical College. He was awarded the Johnstone gold medal for the best outgoing student in 1966, besides prizes and medals in various subjects. He was awarded the JAS Masilamani gold medal for the highest number of marks in all the University exams in 1965-66. He obatained the 3rd rank in the final MBBS for the whole state of Tamilnadu in 1964. He completed his postgraduate medical education, Member of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh [MRCP(Edin)] with Respiratory Diseases and Tuberculosis as special subjects in 1969. In 1983, he was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP).

He was Senior Research Scientist at the Pneumoconiosis Research Unit of the British Medical Research Council at Wales after his postgraduation. He returned to India, was appointed as Assistant Professor of Chest Diseases in 1971 at the Madras Medical College after being placed in the 1st rank in the Tamilnadu Public Service Commission selection. He was selected by the Union Public Service Commission as Professor of Chest Diseases , Goa Medical College in 1980, but opted to stay back as Reader in Thoracic Medicine and created the Department of Thoracic Medicine at Madras Medical College as a pioneer department in 1981.

He was Honorary Consultant in Chest Diseases at the Voluntary Health Services, Adayar, Chennai, from 1971 to 1981. He was promoted as Dean and Professor of Pulmonology and deputed to the Tamilnadu Medical Science and Research Institute( TAMARAI), Porur, Chennai ,in 1989 for 3 years. He was also Director in charge for 1 year. In 1992 he was made the Superintendent and Professor of Pulmonology at the Government Hospital of Thoracic Medicine, TB Sanatorium, Tambaram. He made pioneering and path-breaking work by treating 40,000 patients by organizing an exclusive HIV/AIDS care service by integrating Siddha drugs along with allopathic drugs in AIDS management. Under his management , the hospital became the largest HIV/AIDS care hospital in South Asia. Has trained more than 60 government medical officers in the diagnosis and management of HIV infection and diseases.

He was the WHO National Consultant in HIV/AIDS management. He was the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and Member , National Council on AIDS. He was also the Chairman of the Siddha Pharmacopoeia Committee, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Government of India., and, Chairman, Scientific Advisory Committee Committee, National Institute of Siddha and a Member of the Key Advisory group of experts, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. He was an examiner for Diploma and MD courses in Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases In various universities across India. He was a member of the Board of Studies at Benares Hindu University, PGI, Chandigarh and VP Chest Institute at New Delhi.

He was an active participant in the weekly Physicians Conference at the GGH from 1970-1989. He was the President of the Tamilnadu Pulmonology Society (TN chapter of the Indian Chest Society) , President of the Indian Medical Association, Tamilnadu Branch in 1986-87. He was a Founder- Member of the Indian Chest Society. He was the Editor of the journal of the Indian Chest Society, LUNG INDIA from 1986-1995. He has authored as well as contributed to numerous textbook chapters, scientific articles, medical journals, newspapers and popular magazines. He was passionate about continuing medical education and in-service training. Has taken part in numerous programmes in radio, television and print media.

Besides his medical service,he was actively involved in education. He was the President of Kalvi Pani, the educational trust started by his grandfather for free school education. He was part of a group of physicians called Physicians for Peace, to clarify and promote medical awareness on the dangers of nuclear radiation. He was president of the TN chapter of the Indian Association on Tobacco and Health, where he addressed numerous school and college students, and the general public, on the dangers of smoking. He was very passionate about the Tamil language. In 1983 he was entrusted and completed the task of translating nearly 20,000 commonly used medical terms from English to Tamil by the Medical Education department. He was an extremely committed physician and teacher with firm convictions, uncompromising moral and professional rectitude, with unflinching concern for the deprived.