About Principal

BIODATA of Prof. Dr. Prathap Somnath M.S., MCh. (Paediatric Surgery)

Currently working as the Principal of Govt Medical College Ernakulam since June 2023. Also worked as Principal of Govt Medical College Kannur in2022-23, and Principal of Govt Medical College Thrissur in 2021-22 and as Vice Principal of Govt. Medical College, Kozhikode for 5 and half years before that.

As an alumnus of Govt Medical College Trivandrum, attained MBBS degree in 1986, MS Surgery in 1990 and MCh Pediatric Surgery in 1994, all from Trivandrum.

As a Medical College teacher and Paediatric Surgeon for more than 33 years, had performed more than 8000 paediatric surgical operations. Passionate in simplifying the teaching of the subject.

Was awarded the best doctor-teacher in the Superspeciality sector of Kerala Medical College teachers

(KGMCTA) by the Hon. Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri. Pinarayi Vijayan in October2023.

Worked as Professor & Head of the Dept. of Paediatric Surgery at the Govt. Medical College, Kozhikode for 12 years from 2009 onwards and thus taught and trained 18MCh post doctoral PGs among the 55 such professionals who got trained from the centre over the last 41 years since its inception.

Brought revolutionary changes in the Dept. at Kozhikode improving the infrastructure & protocolising the management of various paediatric surgical conditions esp. paediatric urology. And started the Paediatric Urology division in the state in the Government sector.

Performed a rare surgery – colonic substitution of vagina in vaginal atresia in the state in 2009.

First to design an innovative method of kidney saving urinary diversion and also revolutionize the management of obstructive uropathy in newborns and infants thereby preventing renal failure & presented in the National Conference of Paediatric Surgeons as early as in 2011. Now successfully completed 373 such operations over 12 years and the original and pioneer work was published in an indexed Paediatric Surgery journal in March 2022.

Could perform a very rare surgery twice in the history of Kerala State—Siamese/Conjoined Parasitic

Twins separation in 2013 & 2014 at Kozhikode.

Described & published a new entity called “Partial Gastric Fundal Volvulus ” in newborns.

Guest Speaker in the National Paediatric Nephrology Conference in 2011 and in the National Paediatric Gastroenterology Conference in 2009 & 2014.

Presented papers in the National Paediatric Surgery Conferences in 2006, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and secured best paper awards in several of them.

Regular Speaker in various Conferences.

National level PG teacher for Pediatrics Post graduates for the last 12 years.

One of the Surgeons to have performed a good no. of intersex & gender conversion surgeries in the state over the last 28 years — more than 100 cases.

Was the Health Education Co-ordinator for nearly 10 years at SAT Hospital, Medical College, Trivandrum & developed around 30 health education programmes & telefilms meant for the public.

Gave health talks in television & AIR on 11 different occasions.

Wrote chapters in Paediatric Surgery in the textbooks in Paediatrics.

Published a “Handbook of Pediatric Surgery”, the first one of its kind in the state, in the year 2018.

Personally designed restrainer like appliances to aid in the surgery for cleft lip & cleft palate.

Playing jazz drums is a pastime.

August 2024.