Palaniappan Manickam M.D., MPH, better known as Dr. Pal, is an Indian gastroenterologist in California, who 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. He received his MBBS from PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research in India, his MPH from University of Massachusetts Boston, and his MD in Internal Medicine from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Michigan. He did his Gastroenterology Fellowship at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak.
Career
Manickam is a gastroenterologist in Sacramento, California. He also uses a form of stand-up comedy he dubs "MedCom," on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and in person to educate the general public on gut health and chronic illness intervention.
Manickam made his first video in March 2020 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." 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. Next, he created additional channels on Instagram and Facebook. While his initial content focused on COVID-19, it gradually shifted to gut-health, time-restricted eating, mostly plant-based diets, and weight loss. 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. He eventually began to perform his "medcom" routines in live stand - up performances in the United States and India.
Manickam says that his comedic videos and live performances are his form of giving back, and all funds collected from his media outlets go towards Aishwaryam Trust, Madurai, a foundation which offers Palliative care.
Personal life
Manickam and his wife Priya (a data scientist with a software company) live with their two children in Sacramento, California.
References
External links
- Official YouTube Channel
Dr. Pal responds to the medical scene in the 2009 Aamir Khan film, 3 Idiots.
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people) 21st-century Indian medical doctors Anti-obesity activists Celebrity doctors Comedy YouTubers Educational and science YouTubers Fasting advocates High-fiber diet advocates Indian emigrants to the United States Indian health educators Indian gastroenterologists Indian medical educators Indian motivational speakers Indian stand-up comedians Indian YouTubers Plant-based diet advocates University of Massachusetts Boston alumni Wayne State University alumni