Our Faculty

Medical Education

• 1976-82 : T. D. Medical College, Alappuzha, Kerala, India. M.B.B.S. (University of Kerala).

Post Doctoral Training

Academic Appointments

• 1988-90 : Lecturer in Pediatrics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India
• 1990-91 : Assistant Professor in Pediatrics, Kasturba Medical College,Manipal, Karnataka, India
• 1995-96 : Clinical Instructor in Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
• 2001-02 : Clinical Assistant Professor in Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan,MI, USA
• 2002- 2013 : Assistant Professor in Pediatrics Medical University of South Carolina Charleston, SC 29425, USA
• 2013 – Present : Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, India.

Clinical/Hospital Appointments

• 1987-88 : Pediatrician, Bharath Hospital, Kottayam, Kerala, India
• 1988-91 : Assistant Professor in Pediatrics, Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Manipal, Karnataka, India
• 1996-99 : Pediatrician and Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Anderson Area Medical Center, Anderson, SC 29621, USA
• 1999-2000 : Medical Director of Inpatient Pediatric Services and Pediatric Gastroenterologist Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA
• 1999-2002 : Pediatric Gastroenterologist Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan and St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital, Oakland, Pontiac, MI, USA
• 2001-2002 : Clinical Assistant Professor in Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
•  2002-2011 : Division Director of Pediatric Gastroenterology Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
• Medical University of South Carolina Charleston, SC 29425, USA
• 2004- 2013 : Pediatric Gastroenterologist Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Charleston, SC, USA
• 2004- 2013 : Pediatric Gastroenterologist Roper Hospital, Charleston, SC, USA
• 2002-2013 : Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Gastroenterology Medical University of South Carolina Charleston, SC 29425, USA
• 2013 – Present : Consultant and Head of the Department of Pediatric  GI. Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre Ponekara, Kochi, 682041, Kerala, India.

Certification

• 1982 : MBBS, T.D. Medical College, Alappuzha (University of Kerala), Kerala, India.
• 1987 : MD Pediatrics Medical College, Kottayam (Mahatma Gandhi University) Kerala, India
• 1994 : American Board of Pediatrics
• 1994 : Training in Radiological Health/Radiation Safety Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
• 1997 : American Board of Pediatrics Sub-Board in Pediatric Gastroenterology
• 2004 (Recertified) : American Board of Pediatrics Sub-Board in Pediatric Gastroenterology
• 2011 : Pediatric Advanced Life Support
• 2008 (Recertified) : American Board of Pediatrics

Active Licensure

• 1982 : Permanent registration, Kerala State, India
• 1994 : State of Michigan, USA
• 1996 : State of South Carolina, USA

• Stood first in High School for the SSLC Examination (Board of Public Instruction, Kerala State, India
• Awarded National Merit Scholarship of the state, 1971-76
• Secured FIRST CLASS passes in all subjects of the MBBS course
• Won FIRST PRIZE in the X-ray competition held under auspices of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (Kerala state branch), Medical College, Trivandrum in 1986
• Nominated for the Lori SchneiderOutstanding Teaching Award for teaching medical students at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit
• Evaluated by the Medical Students of University of Michigan as “Perfect Teacher” in December 2001

Membership and Offices in Professional Societies

• Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics
• Member, American College of Gastroenterology
• Member, North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
• Member, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
• Life Member, Indian Academy of Pediatrics
• Life Member, National Neonatology Forum (India)
• Member, Indian Medical Association
• Life Member, Indian Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
• Member, Indian Society for Gastroenterology
• Served as Joint Secretary, Indian Medical Association, Alappuzha Branch, 1982
• Served as President of the Gastroenterology chapter of Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Kerala state branch, 2014-18.

• 1988-91 :Taught undergraduate medical students, postgraduate Students in pediatrics and nursing students in Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India.
• 1999-present : Teaching the Pediatrics residents and rotating medical Students is an ongoing process during Pediatrics rounds as well as in the outpatient Pediatric Gastroenterology clinics. Also, give lectures to the Pediatric residents during Resident Noon Conference. Actively participated in Residents’ Morning reports at:
  • Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit
  • University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI
  • Medical University of South Carolina.
  • Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, India.

Participated and presented various lectures, Grand Rounds in Various Hospitals and Universities as well as Conferences.

• December 2002 : Invited Speaker at “Frontiers in Pediatrics” Charleston, SC: ‘Update on Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children&rsquo
• August 2003 : Invited speaker at “Update in Digestive Medicine” Esophagitis in Children”
• November 2004 : Medical Management of Gastro esophageal Reflux in Neonates; Annual meeting of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners, Charleston, SC
• November 2007 : Invited Speaker: Annual Meeting of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners, Charleston, SC
• December 2007 : Celiac Disease Invited Speaker at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kerala, India
• June 2009 : Best Elective Rotation. Awarded by the Pediatric Residents At MUSC 2008-09
• October 2009 : Invited Lecture at the South Carolina Gastroenterological Association meeting Charleston, SC: Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in Children
• July 2013 : Panel Moderator: World Hepatitis Day 2013, Kochi, Kerala
• July 2013 : Invited Lecture at Cochin Gut Club, Kochi, Kerala, India: An Update on IBD in Children.
• August 2013 : Pan African Teleconference from Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences: Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Evaluation and Management.
• August 2013 : Invited Lecture at Kerala Medical Conclave, Kozhikode,Kerala. Organized by Indian Medical Association and Academy of Medical Specialties: Evaluation and Management of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
• February 2014 : Invited lecture at Single topic conference in Kochi, Kerala On Pancreatic Disorders. Pancreatic Insufficiency in Children.
• August 2014 : Invited lecture at Pediatric Gastroenterology chapter Meeting of Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Kerala state Branch  atVadakara on: Recurrent Vomiting in Children.
• September 2014 : Invited Lecture at the National Conference of Indian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Kochi, India on: Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Children.
• January 2015 : Invited presentation- Multimedia presentation during Annual National Conference of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, New Delhi on: Foreign Bodies in Children.
• February 2015 : Chairing session during AIMS GI- ENDO Meet 2015 At Kochi, India.
• April 2015 : Invited Lecture – Biologics in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases during Annual Meeting of the State Chapter of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology, Thiruvananthapuram, India.
• September 2015 : Invited Lecture- Neonatal Hepatitis- an Update. At Mid-year meeting of Indian Society for Gastroenterology At Kottayam, India.
• September 2015 : Invited Lecture- Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Children- At Annual Meeting of Gastroenterology chapter of Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Alappuzha, India.
• October 2015 : Invited Lecture- Endoscopic Management of Upper GI         Bleeding in Children- at the Annual Meeting of State Meeting of Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
• October 2015 : Invited Lecture- Constipation in Children- at Wayanad Branch of Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Kalpetta, Kerala.
• January, 2016 : Chairing session at AIMS GI ENDO Meet 2016, AIMS, Kochi, Kerala, India.
• September 2016 : Biliary atresia- Update. “Gastropedia”. Annual meeting of Gastroenterology Chapter of Indian Academy of Pediatrics Kerala state. Kottayam, Kerala, India.
• May 28, 2017 : When to suspect IBD in Children?  World Digestive Health Day- CME Organized by Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Thiruvananthapuram.
• May 28, 2017 : Growth and Immunization Issues in IBD. World Digestive Health Day- 2017. CME Organized by Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Thiruvananthapuram.
• August 27, 2017 : “7 year old girl with Chronic Abdominal Pain and SchoolAbsenteeism”. “Gastrokid 2017”. 5^th Annual Conference Of Pediatric Gastroenterology Chapter, IAP Kerala and Endorsed by ISPGHAN. Theme: Pediatric Gastroenterology In Office Practice.
• September 16, 2018 : PEDGASTROCON 2018, Kasaragod. Speaker: Chronic Abdominal Pain in Children.
• September 16, 2018 : PEDGASTROCON 2018, Kasaragod. Speaker: Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease- Are we missing?
• August 4, 2019 :PEDGASTROCON 2019. Annual Meeting of the Pediatric Gastroenterology Chapter of Indian Academy of Pediatrics. Speaker (and Organizing Chairman) August 4, 2019. Kochi. {“6 year old child with jaundice and altered sensorium”}
• September 28, 2019 : PRISM Meeting- Speaker, Thrissur. Speaker.
  • Caustic Ingestion in Children
• September 28, 2019 : PRISM Meeting- Speaker, Thrissur.Speaker. 
  • Non-Infective Colitis in Children
• December 6, 2019 : Amrita TV- Good Health. Discussion on TV- Regarding “Abdominal Pain in Children”.
• January 1, 2020 : Amrita TV- Good Health. Discussion on TV- Regarding “Jaundice in Children”.
• March 4, 2020 : Cochin Gut Club meeting- Speaker/Moderator. Management of IBD in Children
• July 26, 2020 : PEDGASTROCON 2020, Kollam. Annual Meeting of the Pediatric Gastroenterology Chapter of Indian Academy of Pediatrics. Speaker-“Infant with GERD- Stopping Rules.”
• November 4, 2020 : Cochin Gut Club. Speaker- Constipation in Children.

• Served in the Endoscopy committee at Anderson Area Medical Center, Anderson, SC during 1997-1999
• Served as the Medical Director for the inpatient pediatric services at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI from 1999 to 2000 and organized the new pediatric unit
• Served as the Division Director of Pediatric Gastroenterology, MUSC, Charleston, SC from July 2002 till 2011
• Member of Nutrition Committee at MUSC from July 2007 till 2012
• Member of Endoscopy and Procedure Committee of NASPGHAN from September 2007 to October 2010
• President of the Gastroenterology Chapter of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Kerala state branch 2014-2018.
• Head of Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, India (Current).
• Member of the Select Committee of Indian Medical Council on Preparing Curriculum, Teacher Qualifications for DM, Pediatric Hepatology 2016

1. “Etiology of Hepatosplenomegaly in Children aged 1-12 years” MD Thesis, presented to Mahatma Gandhi University in 1987, based on a study of patients at the Institute of Child Health, Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
2. Gastrointestinal Polyps in Children- A15 Year Review (based on patients treated at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI) Pillai RB and Tolia V Poster presentation at the ASGE section of the Digestive Diseases Week, May 1995, San Diego, CA.
3. Increased Colonic Ornithine Decarboxylase Activity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children. Pillai RB, Lin CH et al: Oral Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Mid-West Gut Club, March 2-3, 1996, Cincinnati, OH.
4. Increased Colonic DecarboxylaseActivity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children. Pillai RB, Lin CH et al: Poster Presentation at Trends in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Therapy 1996, June 1996, Ottawa, Canada.
5. Increased Colonic Decarboxylase Activity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children. Pillai RB, Lin CH et al: At the Annual Conference of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Denver, CO, October 1996.
6. Comparative Clinical Morbidity of an (Autosomal) Agammaglobulinemic) female and Bruton’s XLA. LG Scott, CM Bowman, CA Little, RB Pillai, PM Scibielski, AF Finn and FM Schaffer. Poster at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology 2004.
7. Schaffer FM, Pillai RB, Virella-Lowell I, Bowman CM, Tutuian R, Castell DO.An infant with Persistent Wheezing due to Non-Acidic Esophageal Reflux. (AAAAI National Meeting (J. Allergy Immunol, 2005.
8.  Schaffer FM, Hetherington KA, Shannon R, Hulsey TC, Lewin D, Pillai RB. Idiopathic Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EE): Clinical and Histological Correlates. (AAAAI National Meeting (J. Allergy Immunol, 2005.
9. Schaffer FM, Pillai RB, Hetherington KA, Shannon R, Hulsey TC, Lewin D, Kubchandani SN, Tolia V, Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EE): Improved Clinical Responses without a Concomitant Reduction in Esophageal Eosinophilic Infiltration (CIS National Meeting) Clinical Immunology 2005.
10. Harshavardhan Rao B, Ismail Siyad K.H, Rajesh G, Rama P. Venu,  Geetha M,  Bhanu V Pillai, Harikumar Nair R,  Anoop Koshy, Jeffey George, Narayanan V A,  Balakrishnan V. Antibiotic prophylaxis for SBP in cirrhosis – A validated preventive measure or an exercise in futility? Poster Presentation at ISG State Meeting 2014.
11. Harshavardhan Rao B, Ismail Siyad K.H, Rajesh G, Rama P. Venu, Geetha M, Bhanu V Pillai, Harikumar Nair R, Anoop Koshy, Jeffey George, Narayanan V A, Balakrishnan V. To assess the utility of Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) imaging of liver and spleen in predicting the variceal status in chronic liver disease. Oral Presentation at ISG State Meeting 2014.

12. Antony Raphel Joy, Rajesh G, Ismail S, Geetha M, Harikumar RN, Anoop K, Bhanu V Pillai, Prem N, Venu RP, Narayanan VA, Balakrishnan V.  Experience of high-resolution oesophagealmanometry in a tertiary care university hospital in southern India: a retrospective study. Oral Presentation at ISG State meeting, 2014.

13. Harshavardhan Rao B., Chandrashekhar S, I Siyad, Harikumar RN, Geetha M, Rajesh G, Anoop K, Bhanu VPillai, Venu RP, P Nair, Narayanan VA, Balakrishnan V, Viju B, Unnikrishnan G, Dinesh B, Sudhindhran S. Biliary complications and Feasibility of Endoscopic Management after Living donor Liver Transplantation. Poster Presentation at ISG State Meeting 2014.

14. Harshavardhan Rao B., Geetha M, Bhanu VPillai, I Siyad, Harikumar RN, Rajesh G, Anoop K, Prem N, Venu RP, Narayanan VA, Balakrishnan V. Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in the Pediatric Population Is Safe and Efficacious. Poster Presentation at ISG State Meeting 2014.
15. S, Chandrashekar J Sorake, Geetha M, Bhanu V Pillai,  Rajesh G, Rama P Venu, Ismail Siyad K H, Shine Sadasivan, Anoop K Koshy, Mathew V, Jeffey George, Mohan Shenoy, Archana, Narayanan V A, Balakrishnan, V. Low bone density and Vitamin D deficiency in children with Crohn’s disease: Prevalence in children attending a tertiary Care centre in South India. Poster Presentation at ISG State Meeting 2015.

Harshavardhan Rao B, Ismail Siyad K.H, Sandhya R, Rajesh G, Rama P. Venu, Shine S, Geetha M, Bhanu V Pillai, Harikumar Nair R,Anoop K Koshy, Jeffey George, Mathew VL, Narayanan V A, Balakrishnan V. Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy : A profile from a tertiary care centre in South India. Poster Presentation at ISG State Meeting 2015.