Sir Sanaratnam Arulkumaran, born Sri Lankan naturalized citizen of London. He is presently a Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics & Gynecology, St. George’s University of London, Global Health Institute, Imperial College London, President – FIGO and the British Medical Association. He has held many high ranking posts in the British Medical Association, International Federation of Obstetrics & Gynecology (FIGO) and as President of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists’, UK to name a few. He is a very well known, prestigious doctor in his specialty of Obstetrics & Gynecology in the UK. Among his key achievements is the development of a ‘clinical dashboard’ to provide clinicians with the relevant and timely information they need to inform decisions that improve the quality of patient care.
He started his university education at the University of Ceylon with an MBBS. He then proceeded to the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh where he obtained his FRCS, LRCP & MRCS and finally MRCOG, at the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. He succeeded in acquiring Hon. Doctorate of Science at the University of Athens, Greece.
Prof. Arulkumaran worked in many hospitals in Senior positions and has won numerous awards and honors. He has published 24 books as author or editor, 240 indexed articles and more than 150 book chapters, and has been Editor in Chief of Best Practice and Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology since 1998, a member of the editorial board of many international obstetric and gynecological journals (Obstetrics and Gynecology Survey, Current Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, the Journal of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, etc.).He also holds the Knight Bachelor of the United Kingdom in recognition of services to Medicine & Health Services by Her Majesty The Queen. Prof. Sabaratnam Arulkumaran has conducted more than 500 lectures in different countries of the world and has been an examiner at 10 leading universities. And now, every year, the professor participates in at least 10 local or international medical forums as the main speaker.
During Dr. Arulkumaran’s long span of practice he was actively involved and in charge of all medical students who were in their graduate entry program, and five year Medical School program. In 2001 he was requested to apply for the post of Professor & Head of OB/GYN with a humongous task ahead of him to reorganize and revamp the entire OB/GYN Unit due to infighting amongst consultants including legal suits; there was distrust among staff; to name a few. He had visited the unit on six separate days drew up a plan that was submitted and accepted by the Principal, and was appointed the Professor of OB/GYN after competitive interviews. Their hard work paid off, and now the unit has expertise in several areas and in the National leader in some.
As President of Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (RCOG) he was aggressively involved with Ministers, Peers and MPs to discuss issues related to health and spent a considerable amount of time when the Human Fertilization and Embryology Act was debated. As a Representative of the College he expressed his personal views on scientific issues related to the bill, despite ethical, moral and legal issues that were debated.
Dr. Arulkumaran also holds the post of President since 2012, and was Secretary General, Treasurer and Council Member at the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO) from 1994 to 2012. The confidence of the international societies had been reflected when 124 National Societies voted him as President Elect in 2009. The presidency rotates through five WHO regions and Europe can have the President every 15 years. The last time UK has elected was 45 years ago, and his election reflected the reputation of the UK in the international arena. He is an honorary member of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology Societies in India, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Australia and New Zealand, Societies of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Germany, Malaysia, and Canada. He is the Hon. Secretary at the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges of the UK since 2010. The AoMRC coordinates the activities of all the Royal Colleges. Dr. Arulkumaran on the National Clinical Advisory Team (NCAT) since 2008 as an independent body to assist the Special Health Authority (SHA) on review and advice on reconfiguration of services at maternity units and meet the demands of training. He is a Member of the Management Board of the Health Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP). This is a Charity formed by a partnership by the Royal College of Nursing and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges in partnership with patient advocacy groups.
He undertook the most difficult and sensitive job as Lead of Maternity support team appointed by the Government and Department of Health on 2005. At Northwick Park Hospital London he put the maternity unit under special measures due to ten maternal deaths in three years and many critically ill cases. He reorganized this unit and gave them a safe and high quality service, as closing the unit would have hampered about 5200 deliveries a year. He was also invited to work as Foundation Professor at the Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospital Trust. Within months of taking up this position he was recommended and appointed as Non-Executive Director of the Trust. There are many other titles he held and organizations he has served with regards to Women’s Health, Education and Research.
He is also a patron of the charity ‘Women & Children First’ who does a lot of charitable work abroad. He is Hon Vice President of the Charity ‘Wellbeing of Women’ that promotes research in Women’s Health . His contribution in the above appointments paid or voluntary reflects his personal qualities of integrity and independence. He has given three decades of his time freely for activities to enhance quality of life for society.
He has now retired from regular work since 2013, but continue doing voluntary activity and occasional teaching as an Emeritus.
Dr. Arulkumaran lives with his wife Gayatri in London and has three adult children.
