Tehemton Erach Udwadia (15 July 1934 – 7 January 2023) was an Indian surgeon and gastroenterologist,[1] considered by many as the father of laparoscopic surgery in India.[2][3] He was a general surgeon at two Mumbai hospitals, Breach Candy Hospital[4] and Hinduja Hospital[2] and was the founder president of the Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endo-Surgeons.[5] The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2006[6] and the third highest civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan[7] in 2017 for his contributions to Indian medicine.
Udwadia was the founder president of the Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endo-Surgeons and presided over the association from 1993 to 1998.[5] He has served as the president of the Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy of India, Association of Surgeons of India and the Society of Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia.[10] He has been the president of the Indian chapter and the World body of the International College of Surgeons.[4] He has published over 90 articles in peer reviewed journals[11] and is the author of two books, Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy[12] and Laparoscopic Surgery in Developing Countries.[13]
Udwadia received the SAGES Millennium Award from the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons in 2000.[4] The same year, he was awarded the Dr. B. C. Roy Award, the highest Indian award in the medical category, from the Medical Council of India.[10] The Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endo-Surgeons awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. In 2006 he was awarded the civilian award of the Padma Shri from the Government of India[4][10]
Udwadia died on 7 January 2023, at the age of 88.[14]