Know Your Doctor

Dr. N. Balamurugan is a Senior Consultant neurologist with 25 years of clinical experience. He is a full-time consultant and Founder Director of the SIMS Neuro team. He is a renowned clinician, academician and teacher. He completed his MBBS and MD in Tanjore Medical college and went on to complete his DM in world renowned neurology research centre – NIMHANS in Bangalore. He has presented many research papers in the field of epilepsy, stroke and Parkinson’s disease in many international forums and has special inclination towards Tamil language. His patient education books on Parkinson’s and Different types of headache written in Tamil is a gem and is highly sought after one. He has also published papers in couple of leading journals like Journal of Indian Society of Toxiology, AM J Med, AM J Emerg Med, CRIT CARE Med etc.,

History

Son of Shri Namasivayam (retired Cooperative sub registrar) and Srimathi Gnamabal (Home maker), born on 30^th June at District General Hospital, Cuddalore. He was the last among the 5 siblings. He was initially brought up in Cuddalore, started his kindergarten schooling at St Mary’s Matriculation school (for Girls!) near Government Hospital. Again, due to financial constraints, he was shifted to St Joseph Matriculation Hr. Sec. school, Manjakuppam and completed 3^rd to 5^th std in the same school. As his father was transferred to Kattumannar koil – a taluk headquarters near his native village, the family shifted to Kattumannar koil. He continued his schooling at PRGHSS, Known as Gurukulam in Kattumannar koil and completed his 12^th Std, state board, Tamil medium in 1986.

During his school days, he was known as a good orator and writer. He won lot of prizes at district level competitions. Received “Individual championship’ in 1985 at district level. He was School second in SSLC exam with centum in Mathematics. In 12^th standard he got school first, again with centum in mathematics. He was the first student from that area to get MBBS on merit. It took nearly 10 year for the juniors of that school to cross his total marks as shown in the school merit board.

He joined at Thanjavur Medical College and got just pass in the first semester. He had difficulties because of English medium and ragging in those days. Later had good friends to share and build his academics. He was basically a shy person during his under graduation. In final year, he was selected as College Magazine Student Editor. Under his leadership, the team released a College Magazine named as COMA 90. He had difficulties with the administrators as one of the articles in that magazine was against the administration, but it was students view. He was very firm in his stand and published as it was. He became popular by his stand among his juniors. Though one of the examiners was the administrator, he cleared the exam with the help of honest and unbiased other examiners.

After clearing his MBBS, he had tough time. Though, within a year he was selected for MD gen medicine by Tamilnadu Government, it was cancelled after 6 months! During this time, he worked under Prof Dr. S Vanchilingam, Dr. A Radha Krishnan and Dr. PS Ganesan, the trios inthe neurology department of Thanjavur Medical College. He recalls this period as most crucial in his academic life. He learnt clinical neurology from the legends. Later he got DMRD in Madurai, within a month switched to MD Gen Medicine, as a response to his Writ petition against controller of PG examination. After 8 months at Madurai, got transferred to Thanjavur medical College. Did his Thesis and course under Prof Dr. V Gopalan, the great teacher and clinician at Thanjavur medical College. He continuously associated himself with the neurology department during his post-graduation in Internal Medicine, to sharpen his clinical neurology. He was one of the favorite students of his Teacher and so cleared the MD with Gold medal. Immediately after exam, in May 1997, got married. In June 1997, started his carrier as lecturer in Medicine Department, Raja muthiah Medical College, Annamalai University, Chidambaram. He had good colleaguesand students and enjoyed teaching neurology.

His keen interest in neurology made him to compete and get the one among four seats for neurology training in the premier institute of neurology, NIMHANS, Bangalore. There he learnt advanced neurology under the leadership of Prof Gowri Devi, Prof HS Swamy, Prof D Nagarajan, Prof Sathish Chandra and Prof Taly. He learnt electrophysiology from Prof Veerendra kumar and Prof Anisya Vasant. Developed interest in Movement disorders by Uday Muthane and Pramod K Paul. Working hours during his residency, continuous 36 hours once in a week without post duty off, made him to learn crisis management and time management. He did his thesis in Guillian-Barre syndrome and urodynamics in myelopathies under Prof Dr. AB Taly. After completing his DM Neurology, in 2001, started his neurology practice at Sri Gokulam Hospital, Salem. He showed keen interest in developing neurology department. He started documenting all rare and challenging cases and presented in various meetings. He regularly presented clinical neurology case in the hospital monthly meeting.

He worked as Consultant neurologist at Sri Gokulam Hospital from 2001 to 2011, then from 2011 to 2014 as Head department of Neurology, Manipal hospital, Salem. In 2015, with like-minded doctors, started SIMS Chellum hospital with focus on high end neurological, neurosurgical and rehabilitation care.

Pioneer in Neurology care in Salem district

• He was the first to start IV thrombolysis in stroke in Salem city.
• He was first to introduce botulinum toxin therapy in Salem and surrounding districts.
• He was first to start exclusive Epilepsy clinic in Salem
• His team was first and only one to start Deep brain stimulation (DBS)therapy for Parkinson’s disease in Salem district.

Academic activities:

• Contributed neurology chapters in 5 books
• Published 20 papers in indexed journals
• Had 6 international presentations
• Has 25 national presentations
• Has given more than 100 lectures in various medical meetings
• Authored two books in Tamil, one on Headache, other on Parkinson’s disease

Social activities:

• Is an active member in API Salem and Tamil Nadu branch
• Hon. Secretary and then Chairman of API Salem for 6 years
• Hon. Secretary of IMA Salem 2016

Hobbies:

• Reading Books on Tamil literature and history
• Travels all over the word – Visited all continents except America and Antarctica
• Farming

Appointment Schedules

• Mon - Sat : 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
• Mon - Sat : 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

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