Tinoy Kizhaketuttu was born and raised in Kerala, India. As long as he can remember, he wanted to be a physician. Even as a child, he loved taking care of sick patients and had great compassion for the weak and elderly.

After completing medical school at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, India, Tinoy moved to the US. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria (UICOMP). During his time at UICOMP, he found that he greatly enjoyed teaching. He completed the “ Residents- as –Teacher’s” Program sponsored by the UICOMP. This was an educational program aimed to improve the teaching and communication skills of residents.

Dr. Tinoy then enrolled in the Caterpillar Scholars Faculty Development Course, sponsored by Caterpillar Inc. and UICOMP. The course was a 16-month educational program with the purpose of enhancing each scholar’s professional, leadership and administrative skills and furthering their careers in academic medicine.

During residency, Tinoy worked with cardiologists who were great role models as physicians. They encouraged him to pursue cardiology which he did after serving some time as Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine and Residency Research Director at UICOMP. Upon completion of his cardiology fellowship, he was pleased to have the opportunity to return to Peoria and work with some of the same cardiologists who influenced him during his residency.

Enjoying an active life, Tinoy loves basketball, golf, karate and swimming. He is proud of his academic achievements from being the top scorer (1st rank holder) in Kerala State Medical Entrance Examination, India, out of approximately 12,000 applicants to being one of 34 students accepted into AIIMS, the premiere medical institute of India. Dr. Tinoy also scored in the top 10 percent of the Internal Medicine Boards administered by the American Board of Internal Medicine.