LUCKNOW, Sept. 6 -- With heart disease cases on the rise, there is an urgent need to address the shortage of specialist doctors by improving the training of the next generation, senior cardiovascular surgeon and KGMU 1976-batch alumnus Dr Zile Singh Meharwal said on Saturday. Speaking at a teacher felicitation ceremony organised by the Georgian Alumni Association at KGMU's Kalam Centre on Teachers' Day (September 5), Dr Meharwal, who has performed more than 35,000 cardiac surgeries, said advances in valve replacement, bypass surgery, complex cardiac procedures and heart transplants had improved outcomes, according to a press release shared with the media. He cited the successful bypass surgery performed on a 94-year-old patient as an example. He stressed the need for timely diagnosis, greater public awareness and specialist training to reduce complications and improve survival, the release stated.KGMU vice-chancellor Prof Soniya Nityanand, who said she had been Dr Meharwal's student, urged students to respect their teachers and make hard work, integrity and sensitivity towards patients the foundation of their careers.Doctors honoured at the event included GK Singh , OP Singh, AK Singh, Sandeep Kumar, SH Natu, VS Narayan, Uma Singh, Yashodhara Pradeep, KK Wadwani and AP Tikku....