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2023-10-08T04:34:39Z

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{{Infobox person
| name = Palaniappan Manickam (Dr. Pal)
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =Palaniappan Manickam
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Madurai]], [[India]]
| education = MBBS, [[PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research]]<br> [[Professional degrees of public health|MPH]], [[University of Massachusetts Boston]]<br>[[Doctor of Medicine|MD]] (Internal Medicine), [[Wayne State University School of Medicine]]
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Media Personality
*[[gastroenterologist]]
}}
| networth =
| spouse =
| children =2
| website = https://drpalmanickam.com/
}}

'''Palaniappan Manickam''' '''M.D., MPH''', better known as '''Dr. Pal''', is an [[Indian people|Indian]] [[gastroenterologist]] in [[California]], who specializes in [[Gut microbiota|gut health]], [[Intermittent fasting#Types|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]].<ref name=dtn>{{cite web
|url=https://www.dtnext.in/news/city/medcom-dr-palsunique-prescription-to-bridge-health-humour-727757|title=Medcom: Dr Pal’s unique prescription to bridge health, humour
|access-date=2023-10-06
|last=James
|first=Merin
|date=2023-08-02
|publisher=[[DT Next]]
}}</ref><ref name=th>{{cite web
|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/meet-stand-up-comedian-dr-pal-who-combines-medical-information-and-comedy/article67172088.ece
|title=Meet stand-up comedian Dr Pal, who combines medical information and comedy
|access-date=2023-10-06
|last=Ramanujam
|first=Srinivasa
|date=2023-08-09
|publisher=[[The Hindu]]
}}</ref> He received his [[Bachelor_of_Medicine,_Bachelor_of_Surgery#India|MBBS]] from [[PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research]] in India, his [[Professional degrees of public health|MPH]] from [[University of Massachusetts Boston]], and his [[Doctor of Medicine|MD]] in Internal Medicine from [[Wayne State University School of Medicine]] in Michigan.<ref name=about>{{cite web
|url=https://drpalmanickam.com/about/
|title=About Dr. Pal
|access-date=2023-10-06
|last=
|first=
|date=
|publisher=drpalmanickam.com
}}</ref> He did his Gastroenterology Fellowship at [[Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak]].<ref name=fel>{{cite web
|url=https://www.doximity.com/cv/palaniappan-manickam-md-2
|title=Dr. Palaniappan Manickam, MD
|access-date=2023-10-06
|last=
|first=
|date=
|publisher=[[Doximity]]
}}</ref>

==Career==
Manickam is a [[gastroenterologist]] in [[Sacramento, California]].<ref name=th/> He also uses a form of stand-up comedy he dubs "MedCom,"<ref name=dtn/> on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and in person to educate the general public on gut health and chronic illness intervention.<ref name=th/><ref name=dtn/><ref name=dh/><ref name=toi>{{cite web
|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/the-doctor-with-a-funny-bone/articleshow/103102262.cms?from=mdr
|title=The doctor with a funny bone
|access-date=2023-10-06
|last=Ahmed
|first=Muskaan
|date=2023-08-27
|publisher=[[The Times of India]]
}}</ref>

{{quote box|bgcolor=#E0E6F8|width=30%|align=right|quote="I see so many patients around 40 years dying, leaving a young family behind. I lost a close friend because he didn't take care of himself. I don't want this to happen to others. I'm going to channel my energy to reducing belly fat and save at least one life. Some young kids will be spared the trauma of growing up without a parent."|source=—Dr. Pal, 2021<ref name=toi21/>}}

Manickam made his first video in March 2020<ref name=toi21>{{cite web
|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indian-doctor-in-us-on-a-mission-to-reduce-peoples-belly-fat/articleshow/84339438.cms
|title=Indian doctor in US on a mission to reduce people's belly fat
|access-date=2023-10-06
|last=
|first=
|date=2021-07-12
|publisher=[[The Times of India]]
}}</ref> 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."<ref name=toi/> 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.<ref name=toi21/> Next, he created channels on YouTube, Instgram, and Facebook with content focused first on COVID-19, followed later by gut-health, time-restricted eating, mostly plant-based diets, and weight loss.<ref name=toi/> 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.<ref name="toi" /> He eventually began to perform his "medcom" routines in live stand - up performances in the United States and India.<ref name="th" /><ref name="toi" />

Manickam says that his comedic videos and live performances are his form of giving back,<ref name=toi21/> and all funds collected from his media outlets go towards Aishwaryam Trust, Madurai, a foundation which offers [[Palliative care]].<ref name=dh>{{cite web
|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/doctor-uses-med-comedy-to-promote-good-health-2648807
|title=Doctor uses ‘med-comedy’ to promote good health
|access-date=2023-10-06
|last=Rajagopal
|first=Rashmi
|date=2023-08-15
|publisher=[[Deccan Herald]]
}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Manickam and his wife Priya (a data scientist with a software company)<ref name=toi21/> live with their two children in Sacramento, California.<ref name=tn>{{cite web
|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/health/fatty-liver-disease-gastroenterologist-stresses-taking-action-talks-about-the-causes-and-treatment-of-nafld-article-97085941
|title=Fatty Liver Disease: Gastroenterologist stresses on taking action
|access-date=2023-10-06
|last=TN Health Desk
|first=
|date=2023-01-18
|publisher=[[Times Now]]
}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|drpalmanickam.com}}
*[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Manickam+P&cauthor_id=20013265 List of medical publications] - [[PubMed]]
*[https://www.empowerednutrition.health/fastingmistakes/ Biggest Fasting Mistakes to Avoid with Dr. Pal Manickam: The Role of Circadian Rhythm, Nutrition, and Gut Health in Metabolic Wellness] - interview, July 19, 2023

{{DEFAULTSORT:Manickam, Palaniappan}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian medical doctors]]
[[Category:Anti-obesity activists]]
[[Category:Celebrity doctors]]
[[Category:Fasting advocates]]
[[Category:High-fiber diet advocates]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Indian gastroenterologists]]
[[Category:Indian motivational speakers]]
[[Category:Indian stand-up comedians]]
[[Category:Indian YouTubers]]
[[Category:Plant-based diet advocates]]
[[Category:University of Massachusetts Boston alumni]]
[[Category:Wayne State University alumni]]

Palaniappan Manickam - Revision history

Rehan: create