Nalin Rodrigo

Rodrigo was a great-grandson Sir Charles Henry de Soysa.{{cite journal|title= Citation for Fellow J.Obstet.Gynaecol.Res. Vol 26, No.5: iii-iv 200|journal = Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research|volume = 26|issue = 5|pages = iii-iv|date=2000 |doi= 10.1111/j.1447-0756.2000.tb01332.x| s2cid=221890788 }} His father Professor J. L. C. Rodrigo from a famous family of Panadura was a Ryde Gold Medal winner at Trinity College, Kandy, read classics at Oxford University as a contemporary of S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike and was Professor of Western Classics at the University of Ceylon.{{cite web|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=94074 |title= A unique Society Completes 175 Years|publisher= www.island.lk|date=27 April 2014 |accessdate=2014-04-27}} Educated at Royal College Colombo, Rodrigo studied medicine Colombo Medical College now known as Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo

Rodrigo trained in Sri Lanka and in the United Kingdom where he became a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists by examination. He was one of the 4 house officers appointed at the inception of Castle Street Maternity Hospital 1n 1952.

{{cite web|url= http://www.island.lk/2000/12/09/featur02.html|title= Castle Street Hospital - then and nowAddress delivered by Dr. Nalin Rodrigo, patron of the Sri Lanka College of Obstetri-cians and Gynaecologists and Medical Director of Asha Central Hospital, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Castle Street Hospital recently.|publisher= Sundaytimes.lk |accessdate=2014-04-27}}

He returned to Sri Lanka spending 19 years in peripheral hospitals before being appointed to Castle Street Hospital for Women.{{cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130519/plus/slcog-present-inaugural-dr-nalin-rodrigo-memorial-oration-44845.html|title= SLCOG present inaugural Dr. Nalin Rodrigo Memorial Oration|publisher= Sundaytimes.lk |accessdate=2014-04-27}}

Rodrigo made many contributions to developing the speciality in Sri Lanka, served as president of the Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Rodrigo trained many of the leading Obstetricians in practice and was regarded as a mentor by many.{{cite web|url= http://www.sundaytimes.lk/090419/Plus/sundaytimesplus_10.html|title= Giant in the field of obstetrics Dr.Jayatissa Nalin Rodrigo by Janaka Weeratunga Sunday Times Sunday April 19, 2009 |publisher= Sundaytimes.lk |accessdate=2014-04-27}} Professor Chamberlain, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is reputed to have commented on his role as a trainer of Obstetricians with a statement that "he (Prof Chamberlain) seemed to be the only Obstetrician in the country who had not worked with Dr. Rodrigo".{{cite web|url= http://www.island.lk/2000/12/09/featur02.html|title= Castle Street Hospital - then and nowAddress delivered by Dr. Nalin Rodrigo, patron of the Sri Lanka College of Obstetri-cians and Gynaecologists and Medical Director of Asha Central Hospital, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Castle Street Hospital recently.|publisher= Sundaytimes.lk |accessdate=2014-04-27}} Rodrigo is referred to as "the godfather of the quest to reduce maternal mortality and doyen of obstetricians" by Dr MALR Perera Secretary of Health.{{cite web|url= http://apps.searo.who.int/PDS_DOCS/B0034.pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150402090322/http://apps.searo.who.int/PDS_DOCS/B0034.pdf|url-status= dead|archive-date= 2 April 2015|title= High Maternal Mortality and Morbidity: The Shame of the South-East Asia Region Dr M A L R Perera, Secretary, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka World Health Organisation Regional Health Forum – Volume 6, Number 2, 2002|publisher= apps.searo.who.int |accessdate=2014-04-27}}

Rodrigo was President Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians 1981-83 and served on its council for two decades and was also Editor and its Patron. He also served as chairman of the Board of Study in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine University of Colombo {{cite journal|title= Citation for Fellow J.Obstet.Gynaecol.Res. Vol 26, No.5: iii-iv 200|journal = Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research|volume = 26|issue = 5|pages = iii-iv|date=2000 |doi= 10.1111/j.1447-0756.2000.tb01332.x| s2cid=221890788 }} Rodrigo also served as chairman of the board at Sri Jayawardanapura General Hospital and medical director of Asha Central Hospital,{{cite web|url= http://www.sundaytimes.lk/980823/plus4.html|title= Some well known Rodrigos|publisher= Sundaytimes.lk |accessdate=2014-04-27}}{{cite web|url= http://www.island.lk/2000/12/09/featur02.html|title= Castle Street Hospital - then and nowAddress delivered by Dr. Nalin Rodrigo, patron of the Sri Lanka College of Obstetri-cians and Gynaecologists and Medical Director of Asha Central Hospital, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Castle Street Hospital recently.|publisher= Sundaytimes.lk |accessdate=2015-04-27}}

During his tenure as chairman between 1988 and 1994 with Dr RC Rajapakse was medical director and Dr. Narme Wikramasinghe as Deputy Medical Director,{{cite web|url= http://sundaytimes.lk/020505/plus/let.html|title= Don't forget Dr. Rajapakse|publisher= sundaytimes.lk |accessdate=2014-04-27}} the hospital developed specialist units such as Renal Disease (Dr Chula Herath) {{citation needed|date=April 2014}} in addition to others where local expertise was lacking like scoliosis surgery through attracting specialists based overseas such as Professor Randunna Corea,{{cite web|url= http://www.island.lk/2008/05/11/features12.html|title= Professor James Randunna Corea Dr Suriyakanthie Amarasekera |publisher= island.lk |accessdate=2014-04-27}} which ceased after his demise and Diabetes and Endocrinology through Professor Devaka Fernando,{{cite journal|title=Knowledge about diabetes and metabolic control in diabetic patients. |pmid=8477485 | volume=38|issue=1 |journal=Ceylon Med J|pages=18–21 | last1 = Fernando | first1 = DJ|year=1993 }}{{cite journal|title= The work of a diabetes clinic: an audit|pmid=7820894 | volume=39|issue=3 |journal=Ceylon Med J|pages=138–9 | last1 = Fernando | first1 = DJ | last2 = Perera | first2 = SD|year=1994 }} who moved the department to the university in 1992. {{Citation needed|date=April 2014}}

The Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists commemorates his work through an annual award of a gold medal for an oration {{cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130519/plus/slcog-present-inaugural-dr-nalin-rodrigo-memorial-oration-44845.html|title= SLCOG present inaugural Dr. Nalin Rodrigo Memorial Oration|publisher= Sundaytimes.lk |accessdate=2014-04-27}} and the postgraduate Institute of Medicine awards a gold medal for best performance at its examination.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmb.ac.lk/academic/institutes/pgim/ACA/BOS/Prospectus/MDO&G19.06.2013.pdf|title= Nalin Rodrigo Gold Medal Prospectus postgraduate Institute of Medicine Page 2 section 6.6 |publisher= www.cmb.ac.lk |accessdate=2014-04-27}}

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodrigo. Nalin}}

Category:1929 births

Category:2006 deaths

Category:Sinhalese people

Category:Sri Lankan medical doctors

Category:Alumni of Royal College, Colombo

Category:Alumni of the University of Ceylon (Colombo)

Category:Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of England

Category:Fellows of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists