Bhagwan Koirala epitomizes struggle, from a small village in Nepal to the pinnacle of being a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon across the globe, as he has lived, demonstrated, and served with a vision for the modernization of open heart surgery in Nepal.

QUICK FACTS

• Pioneer of Heart Surgery in Nepal: Koirala is celebrated for pioneering open-heart surgery in Nepal.
• Leadership: He served as the Executive Director of the Shahid Gangalal National Heart Center and the Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center.
• Education: He obtained his medical degree from the Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University in Nepal, and later specialized in cardiac surgery in the United States.
• Awards and Honors: Koirala has received numerous national and international awards for his contributions to medicine, including the Suprabal Jana Sewa Shree, one of Nepal’s prestigious honors.
• Social Contributions: He is known for organizing free cardiac surgery camps in rural areas of Nepal to help those who cannot afford medical care.
• Advocacy: Koirala is an advocate for healthcare reform in Nepal, aiming to improve the quality and accessibility of medical services.
• Academic Role: He has been involved in teaching and training the next generation of cardiac surgeons in Nepal.
• Publications: Koirala has published numerous research papers and articles in national and international medical journals.
• Global Recognition: He is recognized internationally for his contributions to cardiac surgery and has been invited to speak at various global conferences and seminars
• .Philanthropy: Beyond his medical practice, Koirala is involved in various philanthropic activities aimed at improving healthcare infrastructure in Nepal

Early Life

Bhagwan Koirala was born on July 24, 1960, in the district of Palpa, Nepal. His early education was in his home village. From his early days, he was interested in medical sciences, so he took his interest ahead and completed a “Certificate in General Medicine” from the Institute of Medicine in Kathmandu. He further went on to get a higher education on the subject of his passion, cardiac surgery. He graduated in 1989 in the field of medicine from Kharkiv Medical Institute, Ukraine. After that, he also completed his post-graduation in cardiothoracic and vascular surgery from the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases of Bangladesh​.

Advanced Training

His passion for cardiothoracic surgery took him to the United States, where he completed a surgical residency at the Baystate Medical Center. He also undertook a fellowship program in pediatric cardiac surgery at the prestigious Hospital for Sick Children at the University of Toronto in Canada. Even though he was offered high-paying jobs abroad, he still moved back to Nepal to work in the medical sector of his homeland.

Bhagwan Koirala Career Achievements

After returning to Nepal, he became the executive director at the Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre. The hospital gradually blossomed into an exemplar institution for cardiology and cardiac surgery in Nepal. He even managed to secure government funding for free heart surgeries for children under 15 with the intent of saving poor families. 

Dr. Koirala then went on to become executive director at the Teaching Hospital of Tribhuvan University. He did everything within his power to root out corruption and restructure the management of the hospital. Even though he faced huge challenges and political pressure, he managed to reform and stabilize the management of the hospital. After this, he had no option but to resign from the position due to political hurdles.

Bhagwan Koirala Personal Life

The personal life of Dr. Koirala mirrors his professional commitment to the field of cardiothoracic surgery in Nepal. His family has always been supportive of his desire to transform healthcare in Nepal. He is also renowned for his humility and compassion; he has often offered free consultations and even surgeries after his retirement from Bir Hospital, Kathmandu. His commitment to serving the underprivileged people of Nepal has won him widespread admiration and respect among his peers and patients.

Impact on Open-Heart Surgery in Nepal

Dr. Koirala is highly regarded as a pioneer of open-heart surgery in Nepal. He inspired Nepali surgeons to be the first to perform various successful and complex heart surgeries and helped to highly modernize the facilities of cardiac care in Nepal. Dr. Koirala dreams of setting up affordable pediatric hospitals in different parts of Nepal to ensure proper and complete care of children and reduce the hassle of transferring a patient from one hospital to another.

Legacy and Influence

Dr. Bhagwan Koirala—meaningful to the field of cardiothoracic surgery in Nepal—has set many new levels in the health sector of Nepal. Koirala is a great inspiration for the new generation of medics. He has continually educated and mentored his colleagues in open-heart surgery. The story of his life is penned in his book “Hridaya,” which takes an individual to become a top cardiology specialist in Nepal. Dr. Bhagwan Koirala’s life and career will be an example of dedication, compassion, and skill for the health sector in Nepal.

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