Pioneering Heart Transplant Surgeon | Humanitarian | Mentor

Introduction

Dr. Manoj Durairaj is an eminent Adult and Paediatric Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon whose work has transformed access to advanced cardiac care in India and abroad. A gold medallist from the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune and a superspecialist from AIIMS, New Delhi, with advanced fellowship training in Melbourne, he blends clinical excellence with deep social commitment.

Surgical Achievements and Innovations

• Performed Pune’s first successful heart transplant and first successful LVAD implantation, ushering in a new era of advanced heart failure care in Western India.

• Programme Director for Heart and Lung Transplantation at Sahyadri Hospitals, Pune, leading a comprehensive transplant programme serving patients across income levels.

• Expertise spans heart transplantation, advanced coronary bypass (beating heart, total arterial), minimally invasive heart surgery, complex valve repairs, aortic surgeries, and paediatric heart operations.

Marian Cardiac Centre and Research Foundation (MCCRF)

Founded in 1990–91 by his father, Prof. M. Durairaj, MCCRF is a registered charitable NGO delivering high-quality cardiac care to economically disadvantaged patients. Under Dr. Durairaj’s leadership:

• Over 350 free open-heart surgeries performed, primarily for underprivileged children and women.

• Lifelong post-transplant care including medications, investigations, and rehabilitation—a rare, sustained support model in Indian healthcare.

• Regular cardiac screening and lifestyle disease camps across urban, rural, and tribal regions.

Humanitarian Outreach

• First Indian surgeon to perform paediatric cardiac surgery in Nigeria, offering critical care to underserved African communities.

• Created a CSR-funded transplant support model replicated in multiple Indian hospitals, ensuring advanced surgery for poor patients.

• Provided long-term support for transplant recipients like Miss Prerana Sandanshiv and Mr. Ganesh Kale, covering all post-operative needs.

Leadership and Mentorship

As President of the Indian Association of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons (IACTS):

• Led development of a structured national curriculum for cardiothoracic surgical training.

• Initiated hands-on skill enhancement programmes for surgeons from under-resourced regions.

• Advocated for equitable training opportunities, impacting surgical education nationwide.

Public Health and Community Engagement

• Organised health camps, lifestyle modification workshops, and preventive cardiology awareness programmes.

• Built public-private partnerships leveraging CSR funding for high-cost surgeries.

• Outreach model combines early detection, surgery, and long-term follow-up—a holistic approach rare in India.

Recognition and Honours

• Awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal by the Vatican—the highest papal honour for a layperson—for humanitarian service.

• Recognised nationally and internationally for combining cutting-edge surgical expertise with grassroots compassion.

Personal Values and Inspiration

Guided by values of humility, compassion, forgiveness, and faith, instilled by his mother, Dr. Durairaj brings empathy to both surgery and mentorship. Supported by his wife, Dr. Sheena Durairaj, and grounded by his children, James and Maria, he sustains a balanced, service-oriented life.

National and Global Impact

• Inspired transplant centres in Mumbai, Nagpur, and Aurangabad.

• Influenced NGO-led healthcare models through MCCRF’s sustainable charity framework.

• Strengthened Indo-African medical collaboration through surgical missions.

Legacy of Service

Through pioneering surgeries, institutional leadership, and unwavering service to the underprivileged, Dr. Manoj Durairaj has created a replicable, inclusive healthcare model rooted in compassion and scientific excellence—making him a true national asset in medicine.

Dr Manoj Durairaj is credited with performing Pune’s first successful heart transplant as well as its first successful Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implantation—milestones that opened a new era in the treatment of end-stage heart failure in Western India. Dr Durairaj has been instrumental in starting three heart transplant programmes in Maharashtra (Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, Sahyadri Hospitals, Pune. New Era Hospital, Nagpur) and one in Gujarat (Epic Hospital, Ahmedabad). As Programme Director for Heart and Lung Transplantation at Sahyadri Hospitals, Pune, he has led and scaled a comprehensive transplant programme that serves patients across income levels, ensuring equitable access to advanced surgical interventions