Prof Kumar was born in the southern Indian city of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, and he gained teritary education at GIPMER Pondicherry. "As was the craze those days, I applied for various jobs to work overseas, and the first response I got was from Australia."
Prof Kumar came to Sydney in 1974, starting his career at St Vincents Hospital, followed by a stint at Liverpool Hosptial and then, joining Westmead, where he's worked for over 20 years now.
Until last year, Prof Kumar was the President of Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine, and currently, he is Treasurer and Governing Council Member of World Federation of Nuclear Medicine & Biology.
A big highlight of his career has been working for the United Nations agency IAEA, when he helped set up nuclear medicine facilites in many African nations, as well as Thailand, Malaysia, Phillipines and Colombia.
He will continue to work for the International Atomic Energy Agency's health division for another two years, during which he will keep monitoring the nuclear medicine facilites in many third world countries.
"One thing I really feel happy about is that I was able to help the Iraqi people after the war, where there was a high incidence of thryroid cancer. I helped in establishing a nuclear medicine facility there and I know that's been a big help for them" says Prof Kumar.
Reflecting on his 42 years of living in Australia, Prof Kumar says, he has enjoyed complete professional freedom here, received great support from those around him, enjoyed a great work-life balance and "I have become global in my thinking, rather than local". When asked if Australia has changed him, Prof Kumar responded "certainly, for the better." He added, "Although I dearly value my Indian hertiage and culture, I definitely think like an Australian."
Prof Vijay Kumar, Order of Australia in 2017 Source: Supplied
