Thiruvananthapuram: Dr G Vijayaraghavan, the Padma Shri-winning cardiologist and founder and vice-chairman of KIMS Healthcare, Thiruvananthapuram, passed away on Sunday. He was 84.

A pioneer in cardiology, Vijayaraghavan was credited with establishing a two-dimensional echocardiography laboratory in India. He also served as president of the Society for Continuing Medical Education and Research, Kerala.

The Government of India conferred the Padma Shri on Vijayaraghavan in 2009 for his contributions to medical sciences. He was also the recipient of Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Indian Academy of Echocardiography, the Indian College of Cardiology and the Cardiological Society of India.

Born at Perumpuzha in Kollam district on September 18, 1942, Vijayaraghavan was the son of Sahithya Siromany M K Govindan, a Sanskrit scholar.

He completed his early schooling at Thiruvananthapuram Model School before graduating in medicine from Thiruvananthapuram Medical College in 1964. He obtained his MD in General Medicine in 1969 and went on to pursue higher studies at Christian Medical College, Vellore, where he earned his Doctorate in Cardiology (DM) in 1973.

Vijayaraghavan began his academic career at CMC Vellore as an associate professor. In 1976, he returned to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, where he continued his research into endomyocardial fibrosis, a form of heart disease found commonly in Kerala.

His research was conducted in association with the Postgraduate Medical School and Brompton Hospital in London.

Through his clinical work, teaching and research, Vijayaraghavan played a significant role in the development of cardiology and echocardiography in Kerala and India.