Ketan Desai’s journey from BJMC to MCI

A native of south Gujarat’s Maroli village,Desai did his schooling from a Maharashtra primary school before pursuing MBBS and MD in Urology from B J Medical College in Ahmedabad. He completed his postgraduation in 1983 and became the head of urology department at BJMC the same year — the youngest HoD at the college so far. He continues to head the department till date.

He later became syndicate and senate member of the Gujarat University to which BJMC is affiliated. He went on to win several medical body elections — most of the times uncontested,point out his seniors.

After becoming the Gujarat Medical Council president in the nineties,he was elected presidents of the MCI in 2001,the Indian Medical Association and Dentist Council of India.

“He was taking on the 80-year-old MCI incumbent president at that time. He had visited almost all medical colleges across the country to garner support — something rarely done — that was typical Ketan Desai style,” said one of his seniors at BJMC.

Whether it is admiration,grudging or willing,everyone would line up to him. The entire medical fraternity of Ahmedabad was present to felicitate him following his uncontested victory for the post of World Medical Association (WMA) president some months ago.

Following his arrest,most of his close associates opted not to react to the development. AMA president

Dr Jitendra Patel,a close associate of Dr Desai,said,“I don’t know anything about him. Can I talk to you later?” While Dr Desai’s wife,Dr Alka Desai — a gynaecologist practicing in Ahmedabad — could not be contacted,another doctor,Ashok Kanodia,refused to comment.