Dr. Thomas Pathros Matthai, fondly known as Dr. TPM, was one of the pioneers of nephrology in India and a physician remembered as much for his humility, integrity and compassion as for his professional accomplishments.
He completed his MBBS at SCB Medical College, Cuttack, and his MD in General Medicine from PGI Chandigarh in 1966. Under the mentorship of Prof. K. S. Chugh, his interest in nephrology was ignited through research on thrombotic tendencies in uraemic patients. In 1967, he underwent advanced training in dialysis at UCLA at a time when dialysis was still in its infancy. He returned to India to contribute to the early development of nephrology services and one of India’s earliest haemodialysis programmes, at the Christian Medical College, Vellore.
Dr. TPM returned to Kerala in 1970 to establish the state’s first dialysis unit at Caritas Hospital, Kottayam. He pioneered the use of haemodialysis in the management of acute kidney injury following snake envenomation, developing treatment protocols that significantly improved patient survival. His research received international recognition through presentations at meetings of the American Society of Nephrology and the International Society of Nephrology.
A dedicated clinician, teacher, and mentor, Dr. TPM combined academic excellence with an unwavering commitment to community-based healthcare. He co-founded the Kerala Kidney Research Foundation, served as the founding patron of the Nephrology Association of Kerala, and was a founding member of the Southern Chapter of the Indian Society of Nephrology. Dr. T. Pathros Matthai’s legacy lives on through the countless physicians he mentored, the institutions he helped build, and the lives he touched with his commitment to compassionate patient care.
Dr TPM is survived by his three daughters, all of whom were inspired by his dedication to medicine and chose to pursue careers in medicine and are now established consultants in pathology, paediatrics and ophthalmology respectively. They are all married to doctors and several of his grandchildren are now pursuing careers in medicine continuing his remarkable legacy.
The Dr. T. Pathros Matthai Oration honours his pioneering contributions and enduring commitment to excellence in nephrology.