Originally from a corporate background, even while still working with Madura Coats, he found time to initiate the Karnataka branch of the Indian Cancer Society. As the Founder Managing Trustee his main, and continuing activity since 1994, is the setting up and running of the Bangalore Hospice Trust (Karunashraya)“ the caring centre for terminally ill cancer patients and their families. This is a totally charitable activity providing free care and counselling for cancer patients in their last stages of life. More than 12,500 such patients and their families have benefited from this centre and as many as 7,000 patients have died in their care “ free from pain and in peace. As a result of advice and training provided by KARUNASHRAYA seven more such independent units have been set up in Chennai, Vellore, Nagpur, Shimoga, Kallianpur, Mangalore, and Puttur in South Kanara.

With over 30 years of experience in Clinical Pathology, Hematology and Blood Transfusion his main domain of interest is Diagnostic work, Teaching, Training and staff development. His current focus is on improving the clinical laboratory services in hospitals.

A chemical engineer and materials expert, he was the Professor of Metallurgy in IIT Madras and then worked with the National Aeronautical Laboratory. He has more than 53 years of experience in teaching, guiding academic research, technology development, plant design, and project and Research management. One amongst his several achievements is the design and development of the indigenous Chitra Heart Valve.

She completed her post graduation from M.S. University, Baroda as a Gold medalist, in Foods and Nutrition in 1977 and since then involved in academics. As Professor and Head of the Department of Home Science Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, she started & coordinated the UGC vocational course in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics (First one in Karnataka in 1994); was instrumental in making Mount Carmel College as the nodal center for Indira Gandhi National Open University post graduation in health and nutrition. Recently, she has written course material for a certificate course in Nutrition and Dietetics for Mysore University. She was a member of registered dieticians board for four years, a regulatory body which conducts the RD examination for dieticians all over India. At present she is involved in a number of voluntary activities related to education.