Healing, for Arun Oommen, is not something that happens in an operating theatre. It flows into classrooms, community kitchens, awareness sessions, and quiet corners where people turn up seeking help and hope. With over 16 years of experience, this senior consultant neurosurgeon at VPS Lakeshore Hospital, Kochi, believes his role as a doctor doesn’t stop with diagnosis and surgery. For him, it's about responsibility, presence, and purpose—whether it’s leading a public health drive or helping families of children with autism.
He’s a familiar face in outreach programmes—providing medical support for the underprivileged, organising awareness talks on complex neurological conditions, or just showing up where he's needed. His presence, he says, builds trust. And trust, as he puts it, “isn’t built overnight”.
Arun was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to V. G. Oommen and Susan, teachers originally from Ranni, Pathanamthitta. At age three, his family moved to Nigeria. There, in a missionary school in Plateau State, his character began taking shape. “It was a joyful place,” he recalls. “Our teachers encouraged us in every way.”
Things changed when the family moved back to Kerala. He didn’t speak Malayalam or Hindi, and the education system felt harsh. The adjustment was tough—bullying, isolation, and language barriers tested him. A turning point came in Class X when his English teacher, Christy, recognised his potential and encouraged him. He went on to secure sixth rank in school and joined Sacred Heart College, Thevara, for pre-degree studies.
Medicine was a dream passed down from his grandfather to his father, and eventually to him. “Thankfully, I had the aptitude too,” he says. That blend of motivation and interest helped him crack the medical entrance and earn a seat at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College.
He later pursued general surgery at Kottayam Medical College, and then took the less travelled path into neurosurgery. “I’ve always loved challenges,” he says. Neurosurgery appealed not just for its complexity, but also because it was still misunderstood by many. He secured third rank in the state entrance exam for neurosurgery and completed his super-specialisation by the age of 31.
His academic journey didn’t stop there. He earned MRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, followed by an MBA in hospital administration in 2014. Recently, he added a PhD in hospital administration, driven by his belief that doctors should understand how hospitals function beyond patient care.
At VPS Lakeshore, Arun works with a 70-member neurosurgery team, including 12 doctors. “We can handle anything,” he says with quiet confidence. But the work is not just technical—it’s emotionally intense. “We see raw fear, hope, trauma... every single day,” he says. Still, he finds balance. “There’s a power beyond us that decides outcomes. I do my job the best I can and let go of the rest.”
He doesn’t see success the way most people do. “Life has five spokes—professional, personal, family, social, and friends. I try to keep them all in check. That’s what keeps me grounded.”
Despite a packed schedule, Arun continues to take on leadership roles in professional and social circles. He is the state secretary of the Kerala Neuroscience Society, treasurer of its Kochi chapter, and joint secretary of the Rotary Club. For him, leadership means showing up, doing the work, and carrying responsibility without making noise about it. “I don’t believe in competing with others. I compete only with myself.”
He draws inspiration from people like APJ Abdul Kalam, Barack Obama, and Narendra Modi—but ultimately, he says, “I want to be my own role model.”
Arun’s exposure to poverty in Nigeria left a lifelong impression. “I saw children fighting over food scraps,” he says. That memory stayed with him. Today, as managing trustee of Sehion Charitable Trust, he oversees the distribution of thousands of food packets across Kochi every day. He is also actively involved in supporting children with autism and individuals with disabilities.
Recognition has followed his work—four international honorary doctorates (two PhDs, a DSc and a DLitt), the Public Educator Award, the Bharat Gaurav Samman, appreciation from the governor of Kerala, and the Best Neurosurgeon in South India award from Outlook magazine (twice). But what means most to him are the blessings and gestures from patients.
One story he holds close: a man with a severe head injury, brought in alone, unnamed, and unconscious. Arun operated all night. At dawn, the man’s daughters arrived. Months later, they told him his photo is now in their prayer room. “They believed God worked through me,” he says. A farmer’s family gifting him their first harvest crop is another gesture he cherishes.
He lives by the advice he gives others. Balance your life across its five dimensions. Eat mindfully. Respect sleep. Follow your passion. Stay active—physically and mentally. He enjoys reading, travel, and time with friends. His emotional anchor is his family—his wife, Roja Joseph, a medical oncologist, and their children, Athenn and Aiden. No matter how busy, they make time to travel together two or three times a year.
His extended family remains close too—his sister Ajayi is a senior finance manager at South Indian Bank, and his brother-in-law Oommen Mammen is CFO of Muthoot Finance.
So, is there a big milestone he’s working towards? “Dreams aren’t destinations. What matters is how you live each day. When I’m gone, I’d like to be remembered as a good human being. A doctor who made a difference.”
That’s the legacy he wants to leave behind—quiet, grounded, and meaningful.
