JI
Aryan Culture
Jinamanjari
Vol. 27 · No. 01
Professional Background • Name: Dr. Padmini Nagaraj (M.D.) • Specialty: Psychiatry — with sub-specializations in Forensic Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. • Education: Graduated from Bangalore Medical College, Bangalore University, in 1980. • Experience: Over 45 years of professional experience in psychiatry. • Practice Locations: Primarily based in Metairie, Louisiana, with additional offices in Covington and New Orleans East. • Affiliations: Affiliated with Covington Behavioural Health Hospital. • Licenses & Identifiers: o Active Louisiana medical license, including credentials in psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, and child & adolescent psychiatry (License No. 06609R). o NPI (National Provider Identifier): 1295735116. Legal History • In January 2020, Dr. Nagaraj was sentenced to four years’ probation, including 250 hours of community service, plus a $10,000 fine and restitution, following her guilty plea in a Medicare kickback and fraud scheme involving medically unnecessary home health referrals (2012–2014). • In February 2018, she was formally charged with conspiracy and health care fraud alongside other practitioners. Dr. Padmini Nagaraj (also spelled Nagaraju or Nagaraj S P) is indeed an author, more specifically a prolific Kannada writer, poet, playwright, translator, academic, and critic. Who is she and what has she written? • Background & Roles Dr. Padmini Nagaraju hails from Saligrama in the Mysuru district of Karnataka. She earned a doctorate from the University of Mysore, taught at Rani Saraladevi College, and has served on the advisory committee of the Sahitya Akademi. • Literary Works She has authored and contributed to a wide range of genres: o Poetry collections: Geḷathiyāguvudendare, Uriva Beṅkige Maiyella Bāyi Purāve Nīḷabēkilla o Short story collection: Samādhi Melina Hoo o Plays: Avva o Essays & research: Arivina Mārgada Sōpānagaḷu–Anuprēkṣegaḷu o Edited works: Avani, Shreyobhadra, Dhavala o Translations: Kasāyapāhud (from Hindi to Kannada) • Recognition & Awards She has been honored with several prestigious awards: o Umadevi Dattinidhi Award and Infosys Sudha Murthy Dattinidhi Award for Samādhi Melina Hoo o Other accolades include Rangaşhilpi, Kalabhārati, Dakshak Mahile, and Srinivasa Smaraṇārtha P. K. Narayana Datti Award for her play Avva In Summary Yes, Dr. Padmini Nagaraju is an author, with significant contributions to Kannada literature across poetry, short stories, drama, essays, academic works, and translation. Her works have earned her critical acclaim and literary honors.