Pioneer of Cardiology in Jharkhand, Dr. H. D. Sharan conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award

Ranchi: Dr. H. D. Sharan, a distinguished alumnus of the 1968 MBBS batch of Raipur Medical College, began his medical career with exceptional academic brilliance, graduating as a gold medalist.

In recognition of his immense contribution to the development of cardiology in the state, the Cardiological Society of India, Jharkhand Chapter, honored Dr. H. D. Sharan with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented by Shri Sanjay Seth, Minister of State for Defence, Government of India, at a ceremony held on 17 January 2026—an enduring tribute to a life dedicated to advancing cardiac care in Jharkhand.

He went on to complete his MD in Medicine from the same institution in 1977. From the very beginning, his ambition was to pursue super-specialization in Cardiology—a dream strongly encouraged by his professors. However, in those days, DM Cardiology seats were extremely limited and available only in major metropolitan cities. Though this proved to be a significant setback, it did not deter his resolve to pursue cardiology in spirit and practice.

After a brief tenure in government service in Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Sharan moved to Ranchi due to family reasons and joined MECON Hospital. At the time, it was a small hospital with limited scope for advanced clinical work. Yet, the position offered him two crucial opportunities: the freedom to attend national and international conferences and workshops, and the institutional support to procure advanced medical equipment if he could convince the company’s leadership.

Cardiology practice in Ranchi during that era was at a very nascent stage. The ECG was the only diagnostic tool available for heart diseases—an investigation now known to have significant limitations. Dr. Sharan seized the opportunities available to him and installed the first Treadmill Test (TMT) machine in Ranchi at MECON Hospital. He also became the first physician in the city to start Holter monitoring for cardiac patients. To gain mastery in these techniques, he attended several workshops and training programs in the United States. Along with Dr. Anil Kumar, he also pioneered the use of clot-dissolving injections in acute heart attacks in Ranchi, another first for the city.

Subsequently, Dr. Sharan resigned from service to begin private practice. He became the second doctor in Ranchi to introduce echocardiography and later received specialized training in Colour Doppler Echocardiography in Boston, USA, along with Dr. Arun Sarkar. Upon returning, he introduced Colour Doppler Echo at Dr. K. K. Sinha’s centre, further elevating the standards of cardiac care in the region.

In 1999, Dr. Sharan organized the first state-level cardiology conference in Ranchi as its Organizing Secretary. Following the formation of Jharkhand as a separate state, the late Dr. R. C. N. Sahay inspired him to establish the Jharkhand Chapter of the Cardiological Society of India (CSI). This vision was realized successfully, and on World Heart Day in 2003, the Jharkhand Chapter was formally inaugurated by Justice Gupta, then Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court.

Dr. Sharan served as the Founder Secretary of the chapter and later went on to become its President. Today, Ranchi boasts around 20 cath labs and a large number of practicing cardiologists—a testament to how far the field has progressed. Yet, the foundational work of pioneers like Dr. H. D. Sharan continues to be deeply respected.