The Vice Chancellor of Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, Lucknow is Prof Saroj Chooramani Gopal. Born in July 1944, Dr Gopal graduated from the SN Medical College, Agra in 1966 and completed MS in General Surgery from the same institution in 1969.  Thereafter she did her MCh in Pediatric Surgery from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi in 1973, becoming the first woman pediatric surgeon in the country.  She served on the teaching faculty of the Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi  from 1973 to 2008. She also served this institution in the capacity of  Medical Superintendent of the hospital and Dean, Faculty of Modern Medicine.

Prof Saroj  has served her institution, her profession and patients in a dedicated manner. She established a well equipped modern Department of Child and Newborn Surgery at IMS, Varanasi. She is credited with many low cost innovations for the benefit of low income families, six of these devices being patented by the National Research & Development Corporation, New Delhi. She developed many new operative techniques, three of which are published. She has organized several national & international symposia in pediatric surgery and delivered many a guest lecture.  She has been examiner to many universities for DNB Pediatric Surgery, UGC Inspector and Expert Member of National Academy of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.  She has also held the post of President, All India Association of Pediatric Surgeons(1998). She has 109 research publications in national and international journals.

Prof Chooramani Gopal has a distinguished and brilliant career. She has many notable awards and honours to her credit – including Dr BC Roy National Award by President of India for development of Pediatric Surgery (2002), President of India medal for best woman medical graduate (1966), Sushila Nair Shield for highest marks among women students in final MBBS, Best Junior Doctor of UP Government, Dr Mridula Rohatgi Oration of the Association of Pediatric Surgeons of India (2005), Col Sangam Lal Oration of Indian National Medical Academy (2007), Commonwealth UK Fellowship (1984-85) and Senior Commonwealth Fellowship (1994), Indo Finland Fellowship, Indo German Fellowship (1997) etc.

With all this, Dr Saroj is a simple, soft spoken, approachable, forthright and gracious lady.  The university is all set to make all round development  under her leadership.