Dr Ramakanta Panda, who will perform heart bypass surgery on Dr Manmohan Singh [Images] at the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi [Images], on Saturday, is an expert in revision (repeat) bypass surgery.

Dr Panda, who is attached to the Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai [Images], is credited with more than 700 repeat bypass surgeries.

Here is the brief profile on the renowned surgeon who was also honoured for being among the highest tax payers in the country and is also known for his philanthropic activities.

Name: Dr Ramakanta Panda

Present Appointment: Vice-Chairman and Cardio Vascular Thoracic Surgeon, Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai.

Educational Background: 1. Received cardiac surgery training from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

2. Did fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic, USA

3. Dr. Panda has also worked for one year as Senior Registrar at the Harefield Hospital, in the United Kingdom, where he had the opportunity to train under Professor Magdi Yacoub, considered to be one of the foremost cardiac surgeons in the world.

Professional Experience: Over the past 13 years, he has been a consultant cardiovascular surgeon and has operated in most major Mumbai hospitals, including Jaslok, Breach Candy, Lilavati and Nanavati hospitals.

Credentials: Dr. Panda has been awarded the prestigious Rashtriya Samman for being one of the highest taxpayers during the assessment years 1994-95 to 1998-99, by the Central Board of Taxes.

The Pioneer: Dr. Panda is credited and recognised amongst his peers as being among the first surgeons in the country to introduce the concept of 'total arterial revascularisation', as well as being one of the pioneers of "off-pump" bypass surgery, redo bypass surgery, operating on high risk patients and so on.

Under his leadership, his surgical team has performed in excess of 10,000 bypass surgeries, making him one of the highest-volume surgeons in the world. He is also credited with performing more than 700 repeat (redo) bypass surgeries, as well as more than 1,500 high-risk surgeries These surgeries have offered a new lease of life to many patients considered 'inoperable'.

Social Responsibility Initiatives: Dr Panda has helped hundreds of economically handicapped patients by waiving off his professional fees for surgery, as well as setting up the Asian Heart Charitable Trust to help patients. In his home state of Orissa, Dr Panda has set up the Sarla Madan Charitable trust.