Palaniappan Manickam (Dr. Pal)
Born
Madurai, India
Education
OccupationGastroenterologist
Known forMedia personality ("MedCom")
Medical career
ProfessionMedical doctor, health advocate
FieldMedicine
Websitedrpalmanickam.com

Palaniappan Manickam, better known as Dr. Pal, is a board-certified gastroenterologist,[1] who is originally from India, and currently practices in California. He specializes in gut health, time-restricted eating, and a mostly plant-based diet. He is also a celebrity doctor who uses in-person and virtual stand-up comedy ("MedCom") to educate the general public on chronic illness intervention.

Early life and education

Manickam was born and raised in Madurai, India.[2][3][4] He received his MBBS from PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research in Coimbatore, India, his MPH from University of Massachusetts Boston, and his MD in Internal Medicine from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Michigan.[5] He did his gastroenterology fellowship at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak.[1]

Career

Manickam is a gastroenterologist at a hospital in Sacramento, California.[2][4] He also uses a form of stand-up comedy he dubs "MedCom,"[3] on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and in person to educate the general public on gut health and chronic illness intervention.[4][3][6][7]

Manickam made his first video in March 2020[8] during the COVID-19 pandemic. He notes that it "all started when an NGO got in touch with me saying they wanted a video for Covid awareness. I agreed and prepared a 10-minute script in four hours. They saw the video and wrote back to me saying this was very comical and that they wanted a professional video. I was gutted because I had spent a lot of time writing the jokes. They suggested I upload it on YouTube."[7] Manickam followed through and created a YouTube channel, uploading the video. He then shared the video with a WhatsApp group that he belonged to, and the video went viral.[8] Next, he created additional channels on Instagram and Facebook.

While the initial content of his videos focused on COVID-19, it gradually shifted to gut-health, time-restricted eating, mostly plant-based diets, and weight loss.[7] Manickam also began to study the genre of stand-up comedy, and invented the character "Saravana Kumar" as a means of connecting with his audience.[7] He eventually began to perform his "medcom" routines in live stand - up performances in the United States and India.[4][7]

Manickam says that his comedic videos and live performances are his form of giving back,[8] and all funds collected from his media outlets go towards Aishwaryam Trust, Madurai, a foundation which offers Palliative care.[6]

Personal life

Manickam and his wife Priya (a data scientist with a software company)[8] live with their two children in Sacramento, California.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Dr. Palaniappan Manickam, MD". Doximity. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  2. 1 2 Sunder, Kalpana (2023-11-05). "Losing belly fat, intermittent fasting for weight loss – doctor, YouTube star 'Dr Pal' uses humour to promote healthy living". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  3. 1 2 3 James, Merin (2023-08-02). "Medcom: Dr Pal's unique prescription to bridge health, humour". DT Next. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Ramanujam, Srinivasa (2023-08-09). "Meet stand-up comedian Dr Pal, who combines medical information and comedy". The Hindu. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  5. ↑ "About Dr. Pal". drpalmanickam.com. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  6. 1 2 Rajagopal, Rashmi (2023-08-15). "Doctor uses 'med-comedy' to promote good health". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Ahmed, Muskaan (2023-08-27). "The doctor with a funny bone". The Times of India. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Indian doctor in US on a mission to reduce people's belly fat". The Times of India. 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  9. ↑ TN Health Desk (2023-01-18). "Fatty Liver Disease: Gastroenterologist stresses on taking action". Times Now. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
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