Dr. M.K. Mani, Chief Nephrologist, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, has been honoured with the Dhanvantari Award, 2011

Dr. M.K. Mani, pioneer in nephrology in the country and Chief Nephrologist at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, has been honoured with the 40th Dhanvantari Award. Dhanvantari Medical Foundation president and eminent cardiologist Dr.B.K. Goyal said that Dr. Mani pioneered innovative techniques and a new regimen in the management of kidney disorders.

Dr. Mani is the recipient of many awards, including the Padma Bhushan and the Rabindranath Tagore Award and has more than 125 publications to his credit. He has been awarded the honorary Doctorate of Science by several universities.

Dr. Mani became well-known after he gave a fresh lease of life to Jayaprakash Narayan, who was suffering from a kidney ailment and had a cardiac arrest at the Jaslok Hospital here, Dr. Goyal said.

The prestigious award, which recognises contribution in medical science, is awarded annually since 1972. The recipients include Denton A Cooley of Houston and pioneer heart transplant surgeon Christiaan Neethling Barnard of South Africa.