In Memoriam: Dr. K. V. Johny

The nephrology community in India mourned a profound loss on March 14, 2026, with the passing of Dr. K. V. Johny in Kochi after a brief illness. One of the pioneers of nephrology in India, Dr. Johny’s contributions were foundational to the development of the specialty in the country.

Dr. Johny completed his undergraduate and postgraduate training in medicine at Trivandrum Medical College, Kerala. Following his M.D., he joined the faculty at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, where he worked with Dr. P. Koshy, an early leader in introducing hemodialysis to India. Recognizing his interest and potential in the emerging field of nephrology, Dr. Johny, along with Dr. M. Mohan Rao, was deputed in 1967 to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, South Australia, for advanced training. Under the mentorship of Prof. Jim Lawrence, he developed expertise that would later shape nephrology practice in India. He returned to Vellore in 1969.

In January 1970, as nephrology evolved into a distinct discipline and became separate from the Department of General Medicine, Dr. Johny became the first Head of the newly established Department of Nephrology at CMC Vellore, the first independent nephrology department in a Medical College in the country. Drawing on skills acquired abroad, Dr. Johny and his colleagues, including Dr. Mohan Rao, achieved a historic milestone by performing one of India’s first successful live-donor kidney transplants in February 1971.

Dr. Johny played a central role in establishing a comprehensive nephrology service at CMC, including a large hemodialysis unit with both multi-patient and single-patient systems. He continued to advance acute peritoneal dialysis, emphasized meticulous clinical care, and promoted an active kidney biopsy program to establish precise etiological diagnoses.

A committed academician, Dr. Johny initiated the D.M. Nephrology training program at the then Madras University in 1974, thereby becoming the second such program in India after PGIMER, Chandigarh. The new department attracted patients from across the country and neighboring regions, reflecting both the need for and trust in the services he helped build.

Dr. Johny was an exceptional clinician and a dedicated teacher. He was known for his disciplined approach to patient care and his emphasis on clinicopathological correlation. Daily review of renal biopsy slides with trainees was a hallmark of his teaching, reflecting his deep engagement with renal pathology. He established an arrangement with the pathology department so that processed slides were made available for interpretation. He demanded high standards from his team while maintaining empathy and compassion for his patients.

Beyond his professional commitments, Dr. Johny fostered a sense of community among colleagues and staff. He encouraged regular social gatherings, including at least twice a week departmental picnics and gatherings at his house.

He often reflected that his eleven years at Vellore were the most fulfilling of his professional life, shaping his future contributions. In 1976, he proceeded on sabbatical to Edmonton, Alberta, where he worked with Dr. John Dossetor. Subsequently, he served as Professor and Head of Nephrology at Banaras Hindu University, and later held significant clinical and administrative roles at the University of Kuwait.

Following his retirement, Dr. Johny settled in Kochi, where he continued his clinical work and served as a director at Lakeshore Hospital.

Dr. Johny is survived by his wife and three children, all of whom are in the medical profession.

Dr. K. V. Johny’s legacy endures through the institutions he helped build, the generations of nephrologists he trained, and the standards of care he championed. He will be remembered with deep respect and gratitude by the nephrology community in India and beyond.

Chakko Korula Jacob, M.D., D.M., MNAMS

Former Professor and Head, Department of Nephrology

Christian Medical College, Vellore