Dr. Vivekanand Kulkarni is a pioneer in the field of Gastroenterology and GI Endoscopy in Maharashtra and North Karnataka. He has been practising as a Gastroenterologist, Endoscopist and Hepatologist at Antrang Endoscopy Centre in Kolhapur since 1985.

Dr. Kulkarni was awarded the MBBS degree by Karnataka University, Dharwad, in 1978. He completed four years of General Medicine training at KEM Hospital in Bombay and obtained the DNB (General Medicine) title in 1983. Dr. Kulkarni also worked in the Department of Gastroenterology at the JJ Group of Hospitals in Mumbai from Oct 1983 to Oct 1985, where he underwent GI endoscopy training.

Dr. Vivekanand Kulkarni established the Antrang Endoscopy Centre in Kolhapur in 1985. At the centre, many advanced GI endoscopic therapies were offered for the first time in Maharashtra, outside of Mumbai. The following facilities are available at Antrang Endoscopy Centre:

• Magnification chromoendoscopy for upper and lower gastrointestinal tracts (gastroscopy and colonoscopy).
• Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) for common bile duct (CBD) stones, malignant obstructive jaundice and pancreatic endoscopic therapy.
• Dornier Lithotripsy for pancreatic stones, giant CBD stones and urinary stones.
• Endoscopic Ultrasound.
• Argon Plasma Coagulation.
• Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR) & Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD).
• Per Oral endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) for achalasia cardia.
• OPD treatment for piles and fissure.