Ispat General Hospital, Rourkela: 2013

Born- 1st October 1949
Died- 29th October 2013
Dr. Pramod Kumar Rath graduated from SCB Medical College, Cuttack in 1974 and did his postgraduation in Pathology from AIIMS, New Delhi in 1978.He joined Ispat General Hospital, Rourkela Steel Plant on 8th January 1979 as a senior specialist in his speciality and rose to the post of Director (Medical & Health Services), SAIL, Rourkel Steel Plant in June 2006. He superannuated on 30th September 2009. Dring his service he was conferred the prestigious Jawahar Award in 1992 and Long service award in 2004.
After superannuation he was engaged briefly in CWS Hospital as Director and then in Hi-tech Medical College & Hospital, Rourkela also as Director for his excellent administrative capabilities.
He had special interest in Clinical Hematology and apart from taking care of other sub-specialities of Pathology, developed Hematology section in Ispat General Hospital. He had exposure at PGI, Chandigarh, CMC, Vellore and West Mead Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
He pioneered in doing and conducting workshops in bone marrow biopsy and inspired colleagues to continue and contribute in diagnostic hematology. He published papers in national and international journals.
Dr. Rath involved himself in several social, educational, cultural and spiritual activities and contributed remarkably for the society. He has been awarded and felicitated by a number of socio-cultural organisations for his contribution to the society.
After a brief illness he left for his heavenly abode on the early hours of 29th October 2013 at Apollo Hospital, Bhubaneswar. Dr.Rath is survived by his wife, one son and two daughters. All his children are well settled.
May God rest his soul in peace and give enough courage to family memmbers to face the untimely and irrepairable loss.

Dr. Pratap Kumar Jesthi was born on 10th September 1942 in Mansinghpatna in Cuttack District.He did his MBBS from SCB Medical College Cuttack in 1966 and went for higher studies in England in the year 1971. After completing his MRCP in 1979 he returned back to India and joined SAIL, RSP in Ispat General Hospital as a physician in May 1980. During his tenure till he resigned from his job in 1992, he was one of the most active physicians who endeared himself to his patients and their relations by hard work, sincerity and devotion to patients. According to Dr. Sanjoy Satpathy, one of his physician colleagues Dr. Jesthi was one of the few oncologists who rigorously and devoutly used chemotherapy as a part of cancer management during his tenure in IGH in this part of India.During his tenure in IGH and also in practice later, he was quite popular with his patients. His sauve demanure and proper articulation always infused patients with hope.
After a brief illness of 3-4 months he passed away on 6th October 2013 in IGH leaving behind his wife Gitarani, daughter Sonali and sons Sunil and Sudhansu. All his three children are married and both sons work in the UK while his daughter and her family stay in the US. The untimely demise of Dr. Jesthi has been very heart-breaking to his family and the extended family.
Members of IMA, Rourkela and Rourkela City branches have already condoled the demise of Dr. PK Jesthi.
May God rest his soul in peace and give enough courage to his family members to bear the great loss.