Dr Tharakaram or Tharak is in private practice mainly at Spire Alexandra Hospital,
Chatham but works at other hospitals. He has retired from the NHS after about 30 years working by himself. Please contact secretary / Spire appointments if you need anything. Some visiting cards are on the table.

Dr Tharakaram, or “Tharak” qualified from Madras Medical College, Madras University, India and then went to train in Dermatology and in General Medicine obtaining postgraduate qualifications by examination in both, leading to the award of Diploma in Dermatology and MD (General Medicine). After qualifying he worked in Leprosy for a year with the Indian Council of Medical Research. He then moved to Britain and trained around the country in Yorkshire, Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham and St John’s Dermatology Centre developing a special interest in Skin cancers and Skin Cancer Surgery and Moh’s micrographic surgery. He also did a 6 month Senior Registrarship with Prof John Hawk in Photobiology and has also worked for a year in GU Medicine. He was first appointed as Consultant Dermatologist in Dudley in 1995 and served there for 6 years developing a modern Dermatology Dept and accomplished zero waiting time. Being a single handed consultant he developed an interest in Paediatric Dermatology as well. In 2001 he started as a full time consultant Dermatologist in the Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, also being the Lead for Skin Cancer. Medical students from Guys Kings St Thomas attend the Dermatology Dept to train and in addition General Practice VTS doctors also attend for training. Regular teaching is undertaken for doctors in training at Maidstone and Kent & Sussex Hospitals. He also covers Crowborough and Edenbridge Hospitals. He is a member of the British Association of Dermatologists, International Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, Life Member of the Indian Association of Dermatologists Venereologists, Leprologists, Fellow of the International Academy of Cosmetic Dermatology, Member of British Society of Dermatological Surgery, Member of the British Society of Paediatric Dermatology.

Apart from a busy work schedule he likes classical music both Indian and Western, has an interest in the history of Medicine. Gave the inaugural lecture on Life and Times of Lt Col Charles Donovan of Leishmania donovani fame at Birmingham and other Universities.

Specialities: Skin cancers and skin cancer surgery; paediatric dermatology, General Adult & Paediatric Dermatology.

Year of qualification:
MBBS, 1979, Madras University
Dip.Derm.,1982, Madras University
MD,1984, Madras University (thesis on cutaneous metastases )
MRCP,1979, Royal College of Physicians
FRCP Ireland 2003 FRCP Lond 2010.