Dr. Raghu Ram Pillarisetti, Founding Director of the KIMS-USHALAKSHMI Centre for Breast Diseases, Hyderabad, has achieved the rare distinction of becoming the youngest surgeon from South Asia to receive the Honorary FRCS (Glasgow) from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (RCPSG).
Having earned FRCS (Glasgow) by examination in 1997, Dr. Pillarisetti now holds a unique global honour — he is the only surgeon worldwide to be both an FRCS (by examination) and an Honorary Fellow of the same College.
Prestigious Ceremony in Glasgow
As per the press release, The College, which has a 425-year-old legacy, formally bestowed the honour on Dr. Pillarisetti on 10 September 2025. The ceremony, held in the historic College Hall in Glasgow, was led by Prof. Hany Etiba, President of RCPSG. The event concluded with a formal sit-down dinner celebrating the conferment of Honorary Fellowship.
Prof. Etiba, while addressing the guests, said:
“I am delighted to confer upon Dr Pillarisetti the Honorary Fellowship, the most prestigious honour of the College. For over two decades, he has dedicated himself to his community, bringing hope to millions in the fight against breast cancer. By building strong links with surgeons in the UK, India, and worldwide, he has been integral to our mission of advancing health and professional standards in surgery. We are immensely proud to welcome him into our College community and look forward to strengthening the bond between the UK and India.”
Citation Highlights Transformative Contributions
Prof. Abhay Rane, Registrar and Trustee of RCPSG, read the official citation, which praised Dr. Pillarisetti’s:
- Transformative work in breast cancer care in India over two decades
- Pioneering efforts in convening 12 overseas FRCS/MRCS preparatory courses in Hyderabad, helping more than 2,000 trainees from across South Asia succeed in these prestigious examinations
- Strategic guidance to the College’s academic initiatives in India
Expressing his gratitude, Dr. Pillarisetti said:
“I am deeply grateful to the President of RCPSG for conferring this highest honour. I dedicate this singular recognition to my family, my patients, and my motherland.”
RCPSG: A 425-Year-Old Legacy
Founded in 1599, RCPSG is the only multidisciplinary Royal College in the British Isles, representing over 15,000 surgeons, dentists, and professionals in podiatry and travel medicine from 97 countries. The College is renowned for awarding globally recognised qualifications such as MRCS and FRCS to doctors completing rigorous training and examinations.
Recognitions and Global Honours
Dr. Pillarisetti is among the most decorated surgeons globally, having been conferred Honorary Fellowships from seven other world-renowned surgical colleges. He is also a recipient of the Padma Shri and the Dr. B.C. Roy National Award.
He is the only surgeon worldwide to have received the highest honours from all three Surgical Royal Colleges in the UK and the British Government, including:
- OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 2020) – second-highest British Empire award (excluding knighthood)
- Honorary FRCS (England), 2022 – highest honour of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
- Honorary FRCS (Glasgow), 2025 – highest honour of RCPSG
- International Gold Medal (RCS Edinburgh), 2013 – highest honour for a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh residing outside the UK
Revolutionising Breast Cancer Care in India
Over the past 18 years, Dr. Pillarisetti has transformed breast cancer care in India through multiple path-breaking initiatives:
- Establishing South Asia’s first comprehensive Breast Health Centre
- Founding a charitable foundation to raise nationwide awareness about breast health
- Implementing South Asia’s largest population-based screening programme in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, now being rolled out across India
- Playing a key role in forming the Association of Breast Surgeons of India, South Asia’s only professional body representing breast surgeons
His work extends beyond hospitals. He adopted the remote village of Ibrahimpur in Telangana and provided life-changing equipment and facilities through personal philanthropy. Multiple awards at local, regional, and national levels have recognised this contribution.
Continuing a Legacy of Surgical Excellence
RCPSG has a long tradition of association with some of history’s most influential surgeons, including:
- Prof. Peter Low – founder of RCPSG and author of the first surgical textbook in English (1597)
- Sir William Macewan – “father of neurosurgery,” who performed the first successful brain tumour removal
- Prof. Joseph Lister – father of antiseptic surgery
- Prof. Sir Graeme Teasdale and Prof. Bryan Bennet – co-founders of the globally used Glasgow Coma Scale
- Prof. Jamini Sen – first female Fellow of the College (1912) and an Indian trailblazer
By joining this distinguished lineage, Dr. Raghu Ram Pillarisetti strengthens the bridge between Indian surgery and global surgical excellence. He continues to inspire future generations.