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Melbourne’s Indian health physician honoured with an OAM award
MELBOURNE, JULY 6. Austin Health physician and clinical pharmacologist, Dr Sadanand Anavekar, has been recognized for his services to medicine and the Indian community with a medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honors list.
Dr S N Anavekar, an eminent Cardiologist and Consultant Physician from Melbourne, is a Gold medalist in MBBS from Karnataka Medical College, India.
He migrated to Melbourne in 1968 and pursued his post graduate studies in Austin Health – University of Melbourne.
Dr Anavekar has dedicated his services to the medical field, commonly known as Heart Specialist, according to a press release sent by Umesh Kotur, Executive Producer, Chandana TV, Channel 31.
Dr Anavekar has been the secretary of Victorian branch of Indian Medical Association (AMA). He also been a member of Indian associations, such as Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria (FIAV); Australia India Society of Victoria (AISV); and Melbourne Kannada Sangha.
Dr Anavekar has also been one of the active members of Hindu Society of Victoria in mobilizing the Indian community in the construction and establishment of the biggest Hindu Temple in the southern hemisphere - Sri Shiva Vishnu Temple at Carrum Downs, Victoria.
Dr Anavekar started his medical career as a registrar at the Austin Hospital in 1970.
“Whatever I have achieved in life, particularly in the field of medicine, I owe to the Austin, to my mentors, Professor Doyle, Professor Louis and Professor Johnston, to my parents and my wife Shalini” Dr Anavekar was stated as saying.
Dr Anavekar has more than 50 published articles in reputable cardiovascular journals. He has been both a National Health and Medical Research Council and a National Heart Foundation Research Fellow conducting ground-breaking research into the role of autonomic nervous system in the hypertension. The research included trials of new drugs such as beta blockers, calcium antagonists and ACE inhibitors that are now common treatments for hypertension.
“As a result of that research, hypertension treatment has become simpler and effective” Dr Anavekar was quoted as saying.
Dr Anavekar has a passion for teaching and continues to teach and mentor undergraduate and postgraduate students and junior medical staff.
“When he first migrated to Australia, Dr Anavekar said the Indian community was made up of only 100 or 200 families. There was a need for the community to have its religious as well as its cultural needs maintained, so we built a Hindu temple at Carrum Downs that is now doing really well. We are now going to build a cultural centre with a wedding reception hall, library and a school for teaching Hinduism.” he said.
I am a naturalized Australian and I am really thankful to the Australian people – and to the Austin – for all their encouragement and support. Despite some of the recent troubles we have had, this is one of the best countries in the world,” Dr Anavekar said.
