was necessary, although he had secured an MS degree from the USA, as the Medical Council of India did not recognize foreign degrees and made it mandatory that all medical college faculties above the post of Assistant Professor must possess a postgraduate degree in dermatology from India. Under his leadership, the department grew to become one of the finest departments in India with notable academicians such as Prof. Sugathan, Dr. Pavithran, Dr. Laxmi V. Nair, and Dr. Najeeba Riyaz. He fondly remembered the services of these academicians and Dr. P. P. Paily, Dr. Cynthia Papally, Late Dr. P. A. Sarojini, and Dr. P. Ramachandran Nair, who worked tirelessly to build the department.

In 1972 for the first time in Kerala, DVD and MD courses were started in Calicut. Dr.Gopinathan always regarded this as the crowning glory of his career. For everyone concerned, this was one of their proudest achievements. Gopinathan was also appointed as Hon. Advisor and Convener in STD to Government of Kerala and Secretary of Health as a member. During this period, skin and VD clinics were opened in all district hospitals.

He was influential in academic circles and could contact giants in Indian dermatology personally. He would use his personal rapport with them to sort and discuss clinical problems and help patients. He also used his good offices to get the government to nurture the Dermatology Department in Calicut. With more than five decades of service as a teacher and consultant, he retired as the Director and Professor of Dermatology at Calicut Medical College