After his studies, he got the splendid opportunity to work as a Special Fellow in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in Birmingham, Alabama under Dr. John W. Kirklin and in the University of Oregon under Dr. Albert Starr. On his birthday, 50 years ago, he got the most special birthday gift from his mentors in Australia where he performed his first open heart surgery at the age of 26.
In June 2000, Cherian received a lifetime achievement award from Kasturba Medical College[6][7] for contributions made to the field of cardiothoracic surgery in India.[8]
He received a Harvard Medical Excellence Award in 2005, through a panel organised by Harvard Medical School.[9]
His name is engraved in one of the stones at Kos Island, Greece along with three other Indian surgeons, on the occasion of the 18th World Congress held by the World Society of Cardio Thoracic Surgeons held between 30 April – 3 May 2008.[10]
In 2010, Cherian became the first Indian to be designated president of the World Society of Cardio Thoracic Surgeons.[11]
He was the Founding Vice President and Director of Madras Medical Mission (MMM), Founding Chairman of Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences(PIMS). He is the Founder Chairman of Frontier Lifeline Hospital and Frontier Mediville, the first Medical SEZ and Medical Science Park in India. His Charitable Trust has built the St.Gregorios Cardio Vascular Centre, at Parumala, in Kerala and his Educational Trust runs the International CBSE School named “The Study – L’ecole Internationale” in Puducherry.
Dr. KM Cherian Institute of Medical Sciences
He and several other investors set up a hospital in Chengannur, Kerala. It was inaugurated in March 2021. It sits on a 5-acre plot. The name of the hospital is Dr KM Cherian institute of medical sciences.
[13]
Biography
A biography about Cherian titled Hand of God was released in 2015 was written by Priya M. Menon.[4]
Cherian, K.M. (13 March 2014). "Cultural, Ethical, and Humanitarian Affairs: an interview with Dr K.M. Cherian, MS, FRACS, Dsc, Cardiac Surgeon, Chairman and CEO, Frontier Lifeline Hospital, Chennai, India". Cardiology in the Young. 24 (4). Interviewed by Tom R.Karl. Introduction by Suresh Rao. Greenwich Medical Media (published August 2014): 701–713. doi:10.1017/S1047951114000699. ISSN1047-9511. PMID24809253. S2CID206307292.