Madras ENT Research Foundation Private Limited

Professor Mohan Kameswaran, is the Managing Director & Senior Consultantof Madras ENT Research Foundation Private Limited, Honorary Distinguished Professor, The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University & Honorary Professor, Department of ENT, SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Chennai.

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He has been a recipient of the ‘PADMA SHRI’ National Award from the Former President, His Excellency Bharat Ratna Late Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, Government of India in recognition of his distinguished and exceptional service in the field of Medicine in 2006.

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He has also been a recipient of the prestigious award from Medical Council of India ‘Dr. B.C.ROY NATIONAL AWARD FOR THE YEAR 2008’ for the development of specialties in different branches in medicine from the Former President of India, His Excellency Bharat Ratna Shri. Pranab Mukherjee in 2016.

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Apart from being an Internationally renowned Otorhinolaryngologist (ENT Surgeon), he has had a significant role in upgrading the specialty of Otorhinolaryngology in India and its delivery to society.

 

Service to Society:

He has been the foremost champion of curing deafness particularly in children and has pioneered the use of latest technology to combat congenital deafness – one of the commonest congenital anomalies to affect our children. Thus, he has been one of the pioneers of Cochlear Implant surgeries in India.

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Not only does he have a very large personal series of over 5,000 surgeries (one of the largest series by an individual in the world) but also has been personally responsible for mentoring over 56 centers in India and abroad.

 

One of his greatest accomplishments was to convince the Government to make Cochlear Implants to all sections of the society, free of cost through the Government run free health care scheme. This ensured that children from families living below the poverty line had access to this high end technology to gain hearing and speech, giving them a secure future. Over 6,000 children have received the gift of hearing through this scheme initiated by him and this scheme has become a trail blazer and a model which had been adopted by many states across the country.

 

His crowning glory came in 2005 when he performed the first Auditory Brainstem Implant in South Asia (One of the most complex surgeries for hearing restoration) soon after he performed the first Auditory Brainstem Implants in children in Asia and Asia- pacific region. Presently the Pediatric Auditory Brainstem Implant surgery has also been made free for all children under the Government scheme.

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The medical revolution for hearing restoration of the underprivileged which he help start in Tamil Nadu was soon replicated in many other states which started similar Cochlear Implant programs and many of this were personally mentored by him.

He has conducted 370 free ENT hearing screening camps across rural India and has also initiated Cochlear Implant programs in Nepal, Srilanka, Bangladesh and Nigeria.

 

Service during the Pandemic:

He played a major role during the Covid pandemic not mindful of his status as a senior citizen and was actively involved in managing the Mucormycosis (black fungus) epidemic within the Pandemic. The Tamil Nadu Government in 2021 made him a member of the Apex committee/Task force entrusted with the task of evolving a common strategy for combating this lethal disease.  The policies evolved by this task force helped reduce the morbidity and mortality in Tamil Nadu to one of the lowest in India.

 

 

Awards and Honors:

International:

He has received several International awards in recognition of his selfless service to society from countries like USA, UK, Australia, Srilanka and Bangladesh.

1. He was invited by World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2018 to address the World Health Assembly on World Hearing Day.

2. He was awarded the ‘Gold Medal of Honour’ in recognition of being One of the Ten Best ENT Surgeons in the World by the International Federation of Otorhinolaryngological Societies (IFOS) (which is the highest International ENT Body comprising ENT Associations of all countries of the World) at the World Congress, Dubai, February 2023.

3. The American Academy of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck surgery named him ‘Good Will Ambassador for India’ in its annual convention in Vancouver in 2013.

4. The American Academy of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck surgery also awarded him ‘The Nikhil J. Bhatt International Humanitarian Award’ at its 122nd Annual convention in Atlanta, USA in October 2018.

5. The American Academy of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck surgery also honoured him as ‘One of the Four Honorees around the Globe’ for his contribution to the Specialty’ in Nashville, USA in October 2023.

6. He has been the recipient of ‘Indo Australian Award’ for meritorious service in 2006.

7. The President of Srilanka awarded him ‘The Award for Excellence of Service’ in 2006 for his contribution to pioneering Cochlear Implant program in Srilanka.

8. He also received the ‘Award for Service’ from Vidya Jyothi Sir Arthur C. Clarke, Srilanka in 2006.

9. In recognition of his contribution, he was appointed as a ‘Visiting Professor in Otology’ by the Royal Society of Medicine, London, UK in 2015.

10. He is the recipient of ‘Outstanding Leadership Award’ in recognition of his pioneering spirit in the field of Cochlear Implants at the first World Congress on Cochlear Implants in emerging countries, Dubai, 2016.

11. SAARC ENT Association conferred on him ‘The Lifetime Achievement Award’ at its 10th SAARC ENT Conference at Dhaka, Bangladesh in November 2016.

12. He is the Past President of the Asia Pacific Symposium of Cochlear Implants and Allied Sciences.

13. He is the Past Executive Member of the Governing Council of the Politzer Society (the highest International body for Ear related diseases).

14. He is the Regional Secretary for South and Western Asia of the International Federation of Otorhinolaryngological Societies (the Apex Body for ENT Associations of all countries of the World).

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National:​

1. He was awarded the Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by 3 Universities namely:

   • The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R Medical University, Chennai in 2008.

   • Saveetha University in 2013.

   • SRM Institute of Science and Technology in 2018.

2. He was conferred the prestigious ‘Tamil Nadu Scientist Award’ by the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology, Government of Tamil Nadu in 2008.

3. He was conferred ‘The Award of Excellence’ by His Excellency, The Governor of Kerala in 2006.

4. The National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) conferred:

   • Honorary FELLOWSHIP (FAMS) in 2005.

   • He received the ‘Shri Shyam Lal Saxena Award’ in 2005 – 2006 for the Best Published work in the field of Biomedical Engineering by a Biomedical Scientist.

   • Achanta Lakshmipathi Award and Oration 2012 – 2013.

5. He received LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS in recognition of his work from:

   • The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University in 2016.

   • The Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) TANCARE 2022.

   • Association of Otorhinolaryngologists of India, Coimbatore Chapter in 2017.

   • Upgraded Institute of Otorhinolaryngology Golden Jubilee 1972 – 2022. Madras Medical College, 2022.

6. The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R.Medical University awarded him:

   • Best Doctor Award in 2011.

   • Scroll of Honour in 2012.

7. Tamil Nadu Government conferred on him ‘The Best Doctor Award’ in 2017.

8. He was the recipient of the ‘Dronacharya Award’ at the 43rd Annual Conference of The Neuro Otological and Equilibriometric Society of India (NESCON) at Kolkata, 2025.

9. He was awarded the ‘Charaka Award’ from the Rotary Club of Guindy in recognition of his yeoman service for the year 2014 – 2015.

10. He was honoured for ‘Dedicated Services’ at Upgraded Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Madras Medical College, 2013.

11. Indian Academy of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery conferred on him:

    • Honorary Fellowship in 2016.

    • Award of Appreciation in 2023.

12. He was also bestowed the ‘Doyen of Ear Surgery’ at Government Stanley Medical College & Hospital in February 2024.​

 

Academic Achievements:

Not withstanding his achievements as a pioneering Cochlear Implant surgeon and the First surgeon to have performed the Auditory Brainstem Implant in South & South East Asia, Prof. Mohan Kameswaran has also pioneered several new developments in the specialty.

Thus,

• He was the FIRST surgeon in Asia Pacific region to have performed the Totally Implantable Hearing Device surgery.

• He also introduced the advanced KTP Laser in ENT for the FIRST time in India 1997 and more recently in 2025 the BLUE Laser.

• He was one of the earliest surgeons to introduce Skull base surgeries and Surgery for Snoring and Sleep Apnoea in the country.

• He is a prolific researcher and has contributed and edited several text books and chapters.

• He has over 215 publications in major International & National journals.

• He has delivered over 100 Orations and presented papers in over 685 International and National conferences.

• He has visited over 50 countries for various academic meetings.

• He has been invited to deliver orations and key note talks in American Academy, British Academy and World Congress.

• He has been a PhD guide at The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R.Medical University.

• He has been an Examiner in ENT for several Universities in the country and abroad.

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Mentorship:

He has been a Mentor for hundreds of ENT Surgeons from all over the Country as well as abroad.

Notably, he has trained successive generations of ENT specialists and Consultants of the Armed Forces of India, many of whom are holding key positions in the Armed Forces.

He has mentored 57 Institutions in India and 7 centers overseas in Cochlear Implants and Brainstem Implants including prestigious Institutions like:

• Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore

• Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh.

• Madras Medical College, Chennai

• Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH), Guwahati

• Savai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur

• Kolkata Medical College, Kolkata

• Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Imphal East, Manipur

• Army Research & Referral Hospital (R & R Hospital), New Delhi

• and many others.

 

Founder of Associations:

He has founded several key academic associations in the field of ENT Surgery to help young surgeons develop interest in research and academic exchange. This includes:

• Tamil Nadu Association of Otolaryngologists in 1998.

• Cochlear Implant Group of India in 2003.

• Indian Association of Surgeons for Sleep Apnoea in 2012.

• Indian Academy of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery in 2014.

 

Founder of Institutions:

He has founded several Institutions which have made their mark at the International and National level;

1. Madras ENT Research Foundation Private Limited in 2001.

2. MERF Institute of Speech & Hearing in 2006.

 

Charitable Trust:

He also started the Madras ENT Research Foundation Charitable Trust in 1997 which has been funding:

• FREE ENT camps across rural India

• FREE ENT surgeries for underprivileged children and adults including high end technologies like Cochlear Implants and Auditory Brainstem Implants.

• The Trust also underwrites scientific conferences and workshops to train doctors and other hearing care professionals.

 

Early career:

He graduated from Madras Medical College in 1977 with distinction and obtained his DLO and MS in 1981 from the same Institution. He received several Gold Medals including the Chipperfield Gold Medal for Surgery and Dr. P.V.  Cherian Gold Medal for the best outgoing MS student in the University.

He is a FELLOW of  the Royal  College  of  Surgeons (Edinburgh), FELLOW of  the International College of Surgeons and FELLOW of Tamil Nadu  Academy of Sciences. He is the youngest ENT Surgeon to become a FELLOW of Academy of Medical Sciences.

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His Family:

Prof. Mohan Kameswaran hails from a distinguished family of Doctors – he’s a fourth generation doctor.  His Father, Late Prof. Shanmugham Kameswaran was an eminent ENT surgeon and Professor and also a Padma Shri Awardee making them the only Father – Son duo to have been conferred the National Award in the field of Medicine.

His Mother, Late Prof. Lalitha Kameswaran was the First Lady Dean of Madras Medical College and the Founder Vice Chancellor of TWO Medical Universities namely The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R.Medical University and Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed University).

Both parents of Prof. Mohan Kameswaran were recipients of Dr. B.C.Roy National Award making them the only family of Father, Mother & Son to have been conferred the highest National Award for Medicine.

His wife Mrs. Indira M. Kameswaran is the Executive Director of Madras ENT Research Foundation Private Limited and is a well-recognisedphilanthropist and social activist. She shares her husband’s passion and vision for eradicating deafness in children in India.

 

He is a surgeon and teacher, greatly admired by his students and patients. In short, he is an embodiment of a dynamic surgeon, brilliant academician, great leader, good teacher and an inspiration for young surgeons.