M. Subhadra Nair is an Indian gynaecologist, medical teacher and social worker, reportedly credited to have assisted over 50,000 child births. The Government of India honoured her, in 2014, with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for her services to the field of medicine, the first gynaecologist to receive the Padma award. She was born on 21 January 1929 in Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, Kerala, India. Her career started as the Assistant Surgeon at the Sree Avittam Thirunal Hospital for women and children in Thiruvananthapuram, part of the Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram which was in its infancy at that time. As the Medical College grew, Subhadra joined the faculty as a tutor. To further her teaching career, which required a post graduate degree to enter the mainstream teaching profession, she secured a post graduate degree with specialisation in Gynecology and Obstetrics from Patna and Madras universities and soon rose up the ranks. Dr. Subhadra Nair retired from the Government service in 1984, as the Head of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Dr. Subhadra Nair lives in Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram, continuing her work as the chairman and the Senior consultant of Gynecology at the Cosmopolitan Hospital.