Prof Dr.Mathangi Ramakrishnan passed away at 91 years today 27 oct 2025 after living a life fullfilled with service to society and being a pioneer in Burns treatment as well as a teacher and Professor who nurtured hundreds of able plastic surgeons , specially many in field of Burns subspeciality .
When we saw her as medical students madam looked more like a film star with her bright beautiful face .
In undergraduation we do not get speciality surgery postings , its only for PG Surgicals and those keen on plastic surgery fellowship .
She was too big a professor for us , though I remember my first medical conference in life at Adayar Gate the new five star hotel just started in Madras in around 1982 I think ,it was a Burns conference organised by madam who was kind enough to invite even medical students for a session .
She was profesor and HOD of plastic surgery and Founder director of Burns institute her project first of its kind in Kilpauk medical college my alma mater .
Those days AC wards were rare even in Govt medical college hospitals but madam built a state of art burns unit
Airconditioning is vital to maintain temperature prevent infections in Burns patients .
Madam herself did her MBBS in Madras Medical College later advanced training in plastic and reconstructive surgery in UK and in US .
She would retire as Prof of plastic surgery and Burns in Kilpauk medical college ,
She associated with Central leather research institute Chennai to invent a collagen dressing for burns patient
Some of my classmates would be her students in thier career of becoming plastic surgeons .
What struck us then was madams charisma and she dressed well always rare for a Doctor then and now !
most are sloppily dressed .
But her skills were far beyond her cosmetic good looks .
Madam would author several books ,publish many articles and do frontline research in her speciality .
She would nurture many students , be the examiner for many ,was in the boards of many institutes ,got so many awards including
Padma Sri ,Avayyar award ,BC Roy national award ,lifetime achievement award from national academy of Burns India, Susrutha Gold medal from Association of surgeons of India ,G Whitaker International Burns prize Palermo Italy amongst others .
She was associated with national and international medical and plastic surgery and Burns assns .
Finally even in death she served humanity by donating her eyes to Sankara Nethralaya.
Rest in peace madam
you deserve it
