Dr S Padmavati was born in Burma and received training in Cardiology in the UK, USA and Sweden. She is now Director of the National Heart Institute and President of the All India Heart Foundation. She has done research on high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and rheumatic heart disease and has many publications to her credit. She is an Emeritus Professor of Medicine and Cardiology of the University of Delhi. She is the recipient of many awards including Padma Vibhushan, Harward Medical International, BC Roy award, Kamla Menon Research award, and D.Sc (Hon) Madras University among many others.