Veteran physician Dr Patnam Siva Rama Krishna Rao passes away at 100
Visakhapatnam: Dr Patnam Siva Rama Krishna Rao, noted physician, teacher, and author of the widely regarded medical textbook Differential Diagnoses and Medical Therapeutics, passed away at his residence in Rajahmundry on May 18, 2026, at the age of 100.
With a professional journey spanning nearly seven decades, Dr Rao made significant contributions to medical education and clinical practice in Andhra Pradesh and other regions. He pursued his education and worked in Madras, Guntur, Kakinada, and Visakhapatnam, where he became known for his disciplined clinical methods, dedication to teaching, and compassionate approach towards patients.
According to The Hindu, during his academic career, he served as an MD examiner for 18 medical colleges and mentored over 3,000 undergraduate students. Several of his postgraduate students later established distinguished professional careers in India and abroad. Last year, he successfully launched the fifth edition of his textbook, ‘Differential Diagnoses and Medical Therapeutics.’ It is highly recommended by doctors to learn the basics of internal medicine.
Dr. Rao was also a philanthropist who took several initiatives to help the economically disadvantaged communities. His research work was published in several medical journals; He has presented at national and international conferences. He was also an active member of the Lions Club India.
Lauding his contribution in the field of medical education and medicine, Dr. D. Raghunadharao, Founder Director of Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Aganampudi, Visakhapatnam, informed The Daily that Dr. Rao was “an excellent teacher, a warm-hearted man and exceptionally kind to students.” Dr. Raghunadharao said his ward rounds were “meticulous and thorough, exploring every possible angle of the disease.” "He was a great diagnostician and always treated diagnosis as a challenge to be proved. Always courteous and friendly, he exuded confidence as a clinician,” he added.
Dr. N. Rama Koteswara Rao, Pathologist, MD, Chaitanya Medical Centre, Visakhapatnam, said, “If he is being remembered even after 50 years, it reflects the kind of doctor he was and the legacy he leaves behind. Many senior doctors in the city were once his students.” Dr. Rao is survived by his two daughters, a son-in-law, four grandchildren, three grandchildren-in-law, and five great-grandchildren.
