Dr. Dinker Belle Rai was born in Puttur, Karnataka, India, on 28 April 1947. His journey from childhood to being a vascular surgeon consisted of many steps where he excelled in every aspect of life. From being a sportsman to painting the portrait of President John F. Kennedy, Dr. Rai's life consisted of hard work and dedication. He belongs to a family of strong academic background. His father was a famous criminal lawyer, but Dr. Rai chose medicine, diverting from his father's choice of career and paving the way for himself in a completely new field.
Dr. Dinker's journey in medicine started when he graduated from Bangalore Medical College, completing his M.B.B.S with a distinction in Pathology. After that, he was appointed as a rotating intern at Victoria Hospital Bangalore, India. Dr. Dinker's ascent from being just an M.B.B.S to Board Certified Indian American vascular surgeon is tainted with years of struggle, tears, passion, and a will to excel and help humankind. Being an outsider in a foreign land is never easy, but somehow he not only survived but thrived under the circumstances and came out victorious. Today, Dr. Rai is the Chairman of the Department of Surgery and the Chief of the Department of Vascular Surgery / Vascular Laboratory at the Interfaith Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York. He is also a visiting Clinical Professor at the Health Science Center of the State University of New York in Brooklyn and a visiting professor at the Rajiv Gandhi University in Bangalore, India.
They say that a doctor is always a student, and it's true. Dr. Dinker spent the majority of his life researching and studying, and as a result, he is credited with many discoveries, the discovery of the motion of venous valves in human beings being one of the most notable ones. His research and experimentation gave the following results;
1. Atrial diastole is a biological phenomenon that works like a human heart's vacuum machine. In the systemic and pulmonary venous systems, it is the main force that keeps the blood moving. Peripheral muscle contraction, sometimes known as the human body's peripheral heart, and respiration serve as complementary forces.
2. The blood flow in the veins is pulsatile during atrial diastole. In the central veins surrounding the atrial chambers, it is more noticeable.
3. Throughout each cardiac cycle, venous valves open and close, and this is due to atrial diastole.
4. The atrium's job is to keep blood moving at an ideal pace in the venous system, and it is crucial for the maintenance of the "milieu interior" of the body, as well as other human body factors.
5. The cardiac muscles contract during systole and expand during diastole in response to the heartbeat. Both states are active, with physical, chemical, and electrical processes taking place in each.
He also developed the first-ever method for retrograde catheterization of the venous tree. This development was so successful that it was patented, and a company known as "The Ideas For Medicine, Inc." manufactured and distributed a series of catheters, which were named "Rai catheters," and this distribution is still working today. His research on histological specimens of individuals with saphenofemoral – incompetemce among other things, resulted in a paradigm shift in varicose vein care, and the discovery of the right atrial mechanical function is most notable among his other works. Dr. Rai's work has helped numerous people and is continuing to provide a ray of hope to people fighting severe diseases.
His prowess in the Vascular system is unmatchable. He has discovered and invented many new surgical techniques that have been a humungous help in the field of surgery. Dr. Dinker provided the framework of a surgical procedure for vein valve transplantation. In addition to that, he has also performed new techniques for descending phlebography to diagnose venous disease and the first-ever vein transplantation below the knee. Dr. Rai is an inspiration and a hope to many people. Throughout his life, he has inspired peers and students to study the field of medicine, especially the vascular system.
Today, he is one of the most prominent vascular surgeons in Brooklyn, New York. For his hard work and dedication to his work and patients, he was awarded the Interfaith Spirit Award for Excellence in Patient Care.
Dr. Rai has received certificates of recognition from New York State Assembly members Al Vann and Daryl Towns, New York City Council members Annette M. Robinson and L.B. Gray, and New York State Senators Velmannette Montgomery and Marty Markowitz, as well as a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition and, the Interfaith Medical Center Auxiliary gave Dr. Rai a Certificate of Appreciation all in 2001.
Recently got the following awards .
1. On December 9th 2022, AAPI (Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin ) One of biggest physician groups in this country and its Queens and Long Island chapter gave him the Life time Achievement award in the presence of Senate majority leader Mr Schumer and NY Governor . High light of the event was he was introduced by the world renowned cricketer Mr Sunil Gavasker to the audience on Zoom.
2. 2014, He is given the award of Most distinguished Alumni of Bangalore Medical college India.
3. Manish Media India -USA honored him as the NRI Jewel of India among the 50 important NRI’s across the Globe, and later Jewel of South India naming one among the 56 emerging Global personalities.
