India’s First & Oldest Woman Cardiologist Dead aged 103

India’s first and the oldest woman cardiologist Dr Padmavati Sivarama Krishna Iyer fondly known as Dr Padmavati passed away in Delhi aged 103 on Sunday.

The country’s first woman cardiologist even in her 80s was noted to still be swimming to keep fit and remained active till almost the very end, advising patients and doctors alike.

Dr Padmavati contributed over 300 articles to medical journals and was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1967 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1992.

She was also the recipient of Harvard Medical International Award, Dr BC Roy Award and Kamla Menon Research Award. After retiring from Government of India in 1981, she was the founding director of the National Heart Institute in Delhi.