Chairman - Cardiac SciencesDirector - Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant & Mechanical Circulatory Support.- MGM Hospital, Chennai
Dr. K.R. Balakrishnan has dedicatedly performed 16000 cardiac surgeries along with 180 heart transplants, 9 heart, and lung transplants, and holds the records of transplantation in India. He has performed the largest heart transplant program in India. He is highly skilled in various Cardiothoracic and Vascular procedures, including Aortic Valve Repair, Mitral Valve Replacement, Coronary Angiogram, etc. Dr. Balakrishnan is also a pioneer in introducing LVAD and HVAD pump implant as destination therapy in India.

An MCh (Cardiothoracic Surgery) graduate from KEM Hospital, University of Bombay, Dr K R Balakrishnan has mastered an evidence-based approach to healthcare practices and refined clinical expertise in surgery. His areas of expertise include end-stage heart failure management (heart transplant & VAD implant), paediatric cardiac surgery, lung transplant, and heart and lung transplant. He has received numerous awards for his work and his work has been published in some of the highest-ranking medical journals.
Qualifications
1976
MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery)
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry
1980
MS (Master of Surgery) in General Surgery
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
1982
MCh in Cardiothoracic Surgery
King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital, Mumbai
Medical Breakthrough
• India’s first successful HVAD implant surgery, 2013 • India’s first successful LVAD implant surgery as destination therapy, 2012 • Co-inventor of Dual poppet heart valve : along with Dr. Albert Starr of a new model heart valve prosthesis. U.S. patent • He is instrumental in starting India’s First Comprehensive Centre for Heart Failure Management at Fortis Malar Hospital, Chennai. • He is also actively engaged with various institutions to develop Pulsatile and continuous flow LVADs (Left Ventricular Assist Device) and molecular biology of ventricular hypertrophy. Current: • Director of Cardiac Sciences & Chief Cardiothoracic & Transplant Surgeon Fortis Malar Hospitals, Adyar, Chennai. • 30 years of experience Awards &Honours :• Distinction in M.Ch which was first ever awarded by Bombay University in Cardio Thoracic Speciality • Hiralal gold medal in surgery, AIIMS, New Delhi, 1980 He more than 23 publications in national & international journals.