DR. T. S. KLER
MD DM F.R.C.P. (U.K.) FACC (USA), D.Sc (Honoris Causa)
(Awarded Padma Bhushan – 2005)
Dr. T.S. Kler hails from Amargarh, a small village in Punjab, where he had his schooling. He pursued his MBBS from Patiala and his MD in Medicine & DM in Cardiology from PGI Chandigarh. Thereafter he worked in Saudi Arabia, establishing a Cardiology unit in one of their tertiary care centres. Dr. Kler then proceeded to do his MRCP from UK before returning to India and has been associated with Escorts Heart Institute & Research Centre, New Delhi since its inception. Dr. Kler underwent a Senior Fellowship programme at Milwaukee, USA, which allowed him to extend his expertise beyond the area of Interventional Cardiology into Electrophysiology. This fellowship enabled Dr. Kler to establish the dedicated department of Electrophysiology & Pacing at Escorts Heart Institute, first of its kind in India, in 1993.
After working for 28 years at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi, last 12 year in the capacity of Executive Director, Dr. Kler has recently joined, (August 1st, 2017) as Chairman Pushpawati Singhania Heart Institute, New Delhi. Where he has established state of the art Cardiovascular Medicine Department.
Dr. Kler has been recognized for his outstanding work with many awards, the prominent ones being, Conferred Doctorate of Science (D.Sc) 2007, by Punjab University, Chandigarh. `IMA AMS Distinguished Service Award’ for contribution to the society in general and medical profession in particular, given by Indian Medical Association, Academy of Medical Specialties on June 30th, 2007, Lifetime Achievement Award 2006’ for outstanding contribution in the field of Cardiology at the World Congress of Clinical & Preventive Cardiology (WCCPC), `Distinguished Service Award 2005’, by WCCPC. `The Great Son of India Award’ given for Internationally Recognized Talented Indians (FIRTI) by Sahibzada Ajit Singh Academy, Roopnagar, Punjab in February 2003; `The Citation Award’ on behalf of Escorts Heart Institute, Delhi by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (President of India) in December 2002 & the `Vijay Ratna Award’ given by India International Friendship Society for Enriching Human Life and Outstanding Achievements & above all the prestigious Padma Bhushan Award by president of India in 2005. Recently (August 2014) he has been awarded `Delhi Medical Association Centenary Award’.
Dr. Kler is a Member of Heart Rhythm Society (USA); Fellow of American College of Cardiology (FACC); Fellow of Royal College of Physicians (FRCP, UK) and member of various Indian professional bodies like ICC, CSI, API, IMA & DMA. He was the founder president of Indian Heart Rhythm Society (IHRS), He is Honorary Professor of Cardiology for Banaras Hindu University, (BHU). He is also a scientific advisor to various multinational companies like Boston Scientific, Medtronic, & St. Jude, all incorporated in USA.
Dr. Kler has many firsts to his credit, establishing the 1st dedicated Electrophysiology Department in India at Escorts Hospital; being the 1st one to implant an ICD in S.E. Asia; the 1st to implant a Heart Failure Device (Bi-ventricular pacemaker) in S.E. Asia; the 1st to implant a Combo device in S.E. Asia & being the 1st one to perform Radio Frequency Ablation in Sri Lanka & Bangladesh. Dr. Kler was first to implant an ICD in Punjab Institute of Cardiology, LAHORE & also started Radiofrequency Ablation programme in that institute. Dr. Kler also did the First HIS Bundle Pacing in India in 2016. He has also helped to establish Cardiology & Electrophysiology Departments at various centres in India, thus bringing quality medical care to people outside the metropolitan cities.
Dr. Kler is a very active interventional cardiologist and has performed more than 20,000 coronary, renal & peripheral angioplasties. He is an expert electrophysiologist, doing maximum number of Radio Frequency Ablations & is one of the highest implanter of ICD’s & Combo devices in the country. He has about 270 national & international journal articles to his name & has been on the editorial board of Indian Heart Journal. Dr. Kler is regularly invited as a guest faculty to various National & International conferences like HRS & ACC and has been a guest faculty in USA, France, Australia, Pakistan, Srilanka, Bangladesh & Singapore. Over the last 28 years Dr. Kler has personally trained more than 300 cardiologists from India & abroad to perform advanced techniques of angiography, angioplasty & electrophysiology.
Dr. Kler’s constant endeavour is to improve Interventional Cardiology & electrophysiology facilities in the country and bring them at par with western standards. His ambition in life is to bring quality heart care facilities to the common man in the country at affordable prices.
