Sri Lankan-born Dr Indran B. Indrakrishnan is an acclaimed gastroenterologist whose exemplary work and tireless efforts at creating cancer awareness and improving the lives of cancer patients have earned him plenty of accolades and awards, the latest being a Day in his name declared by the Georgia State Assembly on February 20, 2024.  He is the first American of South Asian descent to receive this honour on multiple occasions and has also been named among the 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia twice- in 2016 and 2018.

A product of Royal College, Colombo and the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, he was also awarded the Tamil American Pioneer (TAP) Award for 2023 by the Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America (FeTNA). The TAP Award recognizes exceptional professional achievement by Tamil Americans in North America. Dr Indrakrishnan donated the US$ 1,000 he received from the TAP Award to New Opportunities for Wounded, Widowed, and Orphans of War, a charity that serves impoverished areas of Sri Lanka.

In this wide-ranging interview, Dr Indrakrishnan, who currently works at Gwinnett Digestive Clinic, PC, in Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA, is an adjunct professor at Emory University School of Medicine and sits on the Georgia Board of Healthcare Workforce, talks about his journey from Royal College Colombo to becoming an acclaimed gastroenterologist with his own private practice clinic and endoscopy centre in Atlanta, Georgia, cancer awareness, the sorry state of healthcare in Sri Lanka, the TAP Award and the fond memories he has of Sri Lanka.

Excerpts of the interview

Question: The Georgia State Assembly recently passed a resolution recognizing your service. Can you elaborate on this and how do you feel about it?

Answer: The Georgia State Assembly passed a resolution on  February 20, 2024, declaring February 20, 2024, as Indrakrishnan Day in the state of Georgia to honour my multi-faceted services to the state and country. I am honoured, blessed and proud to receive such a recognition.  I am the first American of Sri Lankan descent, first Tamil and first American of Indian subcontinent descent in the history of the Georgia State Assembly to receive the distinguished honour of having a day declared after his name, for service to the nation and state. This is a bipartisan resolution and was co-sponsored by both Republican and Democrat Legislators.  I am happy that both political parties appreciate my service to the state and nation. This is an honour to be cherished by all the Sri Lankans in Sri Lanka and around the world. I have already received hundreds of messages from Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims around the globe congratulating and thanking me for bringing Sri Lanka to the spotlight on the world map in a dramatic manner.

Q: Can you tell us about your medical journey?

A:  My journey began at Royal College, Colombo, from where I entered medical school at the University of Colombo, moved to England for postgraduate studies and obtained my Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians (MRCP), then moved to the USA  for further higher studies and specialized training to become a gastroenterologist.  I have established my private practice clinic and endoscopy centre in Atlanta, Georgia. I also have an adjunct professor appointment at the Emory University School of Medicine.

My medical journey has gradually transformed in the past 10 years to a service-oriented one beyond a typical doctor’s work, with more time devoted to philanthropy and education.  I am involved in uplifting the lives of less fortunate and poor people by being on the board of directors of several not-for-profit organizations.  For example, I am part of an organization called Rainbow Village which rehabilitates single women with children who have been abandoned by their husbands or who made a wrong choice in their younger years. We provide housing, education, and vocational training, find them job opportunities and let them stand on their own without any support from the government or third parties. At another level, the Governor of Georgia appointed me to the Healthcare Workforce board to improve healthcare facilities in rural areas. A considerable portion of my time is spent on this as well.

In the past, I have served as the president of the Georgia Gastroenterological & Endoscopy Society and Georgia Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage. I have also served as the Governor of the American Tamil Medical Association, Georgia Chapter and in the Council of Legislation of Medical Association Georgia. I am also on the editorial boards of national and international medical journals. Periodically, and on the invitations of medical organizations and associations,  I deliver lectures at medical conferences at the national level. This is my current medical journey!

Q: The Georgia Senate Resolution specifically mentions your contribution to cancer awareness.  Can you elaborate on this?

A: Yes, the Georgia Senate also passed a separate resolution previously honouring my medical and other services to the community. And they recognized my contribution to cancer awareness. At my request, the Governor of the State of Georgia has proclaimed March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month for the past 10 years.

NASDAQ stock exchange invited me and other board members of our fight colorectal cancer organization to ring their opening bell recognizing our advocacy in preventing colon cancer. I am also on the steering committee of the Georgia colorectal cancer round table.

Q: Can you share your thoughts on the importance of cancer awareness?

A: Four cancers are reasonably preventable if detected early in the disease process. These are colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and cervical cancer.   Being a Gastroenterologist, I am more into advocacy of colon cancer awareness.

Q: Do you think there is sufficient awareness among people about colon cancer?

A: No!  Bowel motions are not something people want to talk about! It is a taboo! Unfortunately, colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths. But the good news is it is preventable, treatable and curable if detected early enough. Lower stomach pains, blood in the stool, and changes in bowel habits can be some of the symptoms of colon cancer, but frequently there may not be any symptoms or signs in the early stages. Proper tests like stool tests, X-rays, and colonoscopy can detect colon cancer early and save lives.

Q:  What are your thoughts on Sri Lanka’s present medical environment and needs?

A: Sri Lankan medical schools are excellent. Doctors are great. However, the current healthcare status is not favourable.  I get requests for medicines and medical equipment from all over the country on behalf of various entities. While I understand and agree that help from the diaspora can improve healthcare in Sri Lanka, the underlying key reasons for this pathetic status need to be corrected for good long-term outcomes. There is too much corruption and arrogance at the high level – in the higher administration and political circles.

The recent immunoglobulin scandal is an example. Playing with human lives is atrocious, despicable and unacceptable. And another problem is the brain drain of the well-trained doctors and nursing staff.  This is at least partly due to the high cost of living and lack of job satisfaction. Not an easy thing to correct overnight, but policies need to be changed at various levels to keep the highly skilled healthcare staff satisfied and happy so that they don’t leave the country.  My one suggestion is to appoint senior or/and retired physicians with administrative experience to decision-making higher authoritative posts directly under the minister and let them do their jobs without political interference. This may help ease part of the current problems.

Q:  Are you in contact with the Sri Lankan medical sector?

A: Yes, to a certain extent but I wish I could do better! I made a Zoom presentation at the annual convention the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists held at the Galadari Hotel, Colombo in 2023; I am in touch with Prof. R. Surenthirakumaran, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna and my Royal College classmates, who are in Sri Lanka. Most of these friends are Sinhalese. I am also in touch with Dr and Minister Sudharshini  Fernandopulle, who is my medical school classmate.

Q: You donated the TAP Award funds in 2023 to the women and children affected by the war in Sri Lanka.  Can you elaborate on your actions?

A:  I am the second Sri Lankan descent Tamil to receive the TAP Award, the first being Gary Aanandasangari MP from Canada. Several thousands of Tamils from all over the world gather at the Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America (FeTNA) annual convention, the largest annual Tamil gathering in the world outside Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.  It is a tradition that the president of FeTNA talks about the TAP Award recipient’s fame during the award ceremony. I requested him to instead talk about the widows and orphans of the Srilanka war and request the audience to donate to the organizations which care for them and announced the donation of my entire award money of 1000.00 US dollars to the WoW organization. Why widows & orphans you may ask? Martyrs are celebrated annually but these people are forgotten!

Q: Your memories of Sri Lanka?

A: I have mixed feelings but will share only the fond memories! I left Sri Lanka in 1986. I was a student until then, with a busy life in high school and then medical school. I lost my mother when I was quite young.  My father, brother and sister took care of me during the latter part of my student life. My fond memories are mainly from when I was little before even reaching the age of 10!

During school holidays, we used to visit Jaffna from Colombo frequently as a family and spend time with our relatives.  Keerimalai was my favourite place.  My father was a director of at the Ministry of Industries & Scientific Affairs. Through his connections, we were very good family friends with  the (then)  famous families of Colombo  like the Cyntex Gnanam (Industries), K.G. Gunaratnam ((Cinemas), Nawaloka Steel Industries, Hirdaramani,

Nagindas and many more.  I used to call these legendary men “Uncles” and spent very pleasurable and enjoyable times at their homes. I was very small then, and had no idea how big they were in the community! But after a couple of decades with my maturity, I read and realized about their hard work and how they rose to the top in their respective fields from nowhere and remain an inspiration for many, even now.

Being able to have very close interactions with those legends was a real privilege as a kid for me and these were some of my fond memories!

When I was little, my father took me to his office for fun.  Many ministers used to come and pass friendly comments to me. Being not even 10 years old, I had no idea at that time how powerful these ministers were those days! Now I recall and laugh! The former minister of fisheries, Festus Perera used to tell me that if you just have only 10% of your father’s brain, you will do well in your life and I  now am confident that I do have that 10 % of my father’s brain!

Another unforgettable moment is watching MGR movies on the very first day first show, cutting schools on Fridays even while in medical school! I am a die-hard MGR fan.  I still jokingly recall the incident with my Royal College classmates who joined me as a group to see ‘Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban’ on the very first day at the Capitol Cinema, where we got baton charged by the police! We still made it, but on the following day, the Virakesari carried a news item that one person died in the stampede at the theatre on the day.  My parents were shocked and I had to console them!

-ENCL