Some professional encounters are memorable because of what is discussed. Others because of the person you meet.
This week in Chennai, I had the privilege of meeting Padma Vibhushan Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Founder-Chairman of the Apollo Hospitals Group. I had heard many stories about him before the meeting – after spending time with him, I understood why.
What struck me first was his sharpness. At his age (93 years), and after having built an institution of the scale of Apollo, I expected a short and formal interaction. It was anything but that. He was remarkably engaged, asked thoughtful questions, and followed the conversation closely.
But what impressed me even more was his memory. He remembers the small details – about people (the name of the first liver transplant recipient at Apollo hospitals), events (completion of x number of knee replacements at a particular rural branch of Apollo hospitals), and the journey of the organization (the story of the collaboration of Apollo Hospitals with the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA, decades ago, or how a surgical robot purchased for a different Apollo hospital was diverted to Bangalore upon the request of a surgeon, but a new one was immediately ordered for the originally intended hospital)
I was clear that he has retained an extraordinary amount of information over the decades, not merely as isolated facts, but as part of a continuing story that he remains connected to.
That, perhaps, is one of the distinguishing qualities of great institution builders: They don’t simply create organisations – they remember them.
Apollo Hospitals began with a bold idea – that India should have access to healthcare of international standards within the country. Looking at Apollo today, it is easy to see the scale of what that vision became. But meeting the person behind that vision gives a completely different perspective.
What struck me was that our conversation was not simply a narrative about what Apollo has achieved. Instead, there was a strong, palpable sense of what still needs to be achieved – for example, his vision of “Heal in India” for the world, robotic training for surgeons, AI in healthcare, each of which he discussed with great passion.
That is the true hallmark of a visionary.
As doctors, we often talk about the importance of attention to detail in clinical practice:
Meeting Dr. Reddy reminded me that the exact same principle applies to leadership. Big visions are built through meticulous attention to small details. The ability to see the larger picture while still remembering the individual people and events that contributed to it is a rare quality – especially in someone who has been at the helm of such a large institution for decades.
For me, this meeting was especially meaningful. I have recently joined Apollo Hospitals with the opportunity to build and grow the Surgical Oncology program in Bengaluru.
Meeting the Founder Chairman at this stage reinforced my belief that building a department is not just about numbers, but about building people, systems, expertise, and an institution that lasts.
I came away with deep admiration for Dr. Prathap Reddy’s remarkable sharpness, curiosity, memory, attention to detail, and vision. It is easy to understand how he has fundamentally transformed the way healthcare is delivered in India.
It was indeed a meeting I’ll cherish for a lifetime.