Dr Sheetal Mahajani
Liver Transplant Physician
Professional Trajectory
Having obtained her degree from the prestigious BJ Medical College & Sassoon General Hospitals, Pune and Master’s in Gastroenterology from Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College & Hospital, Sion, Mumbai, Dr Sheetal Mahajani is driven by her calling for bettering the liver transplant and hepatology care in India. She began her practice as a junior consultant in Gastroenterology, Hepatology, GI Endoscopy at the most prestigious CMC Vellore College and Hospital.
At that time, the gastroenterology department was organized into three areas, namely luminal gastroenterology, hepatology, and endoscopy. Consultants rotated among these specialties, alongside residents and junior doctors. Through this experience, she gained a comprehensive understanding of liver diseases, learning that many can be effectively diagnosed and treated, especially with early detection. However, she encountered patients in the end stages of liver disease, which highlighted the importance of liver transplantation for her too.
In early 1999, she trained at King’s College London under Professor Julia Wendon, a pioneer in liver transplant critical care, and an influential figure in the field. This experience underscored the challenges of hands-on training in a liver ICU and the importance of post-operative care for transplant patients. Though she could have stayed in London after her training, she felt compelled to return, realizing liver transplantation care was unavailable in Pune, leading to many liver diseases patients to die from the lack of options.
The experience intrigued her, and hence working in the liver ICU for around a year and fully training to manage these patients, she established her first liver transplantation program in the city. Over five challenging years, including overcoming hurdles related to organ donation systems, the program grew. The first successful liver transplant in Pune occurred in 2013 with a deceased donor, and the recipient remains healthy and grateful for the donor’s contribution.
At Ruby Hall Clinic, with the collective effort of her team, including expert surgeons Dr Manish Verma and Dr Kamlesh Bokil, she completed over 95 liver transplants. She is currently employed at Sahyadri Hospitals (Pune) as the Director of Hepatology, Transplant Hepatology, Gastroenterology and GI Endoscopy. And, as a part of Dr Bipin Vibhute and his colleagues from the surgical team there, she has successfully managed and completed 418 liver transplants. Additionally, she has completed five successful transplants at Sassoon General Hospital. She is also the Founder & Director of the Liver Care Gastroenterology, Hepatology & GI Endoscopy clinic in Pune.
The Evolution & Unique Significance
Initially, seen as unfeasible in India, liver transplantation is now a viable and affordable option for patients in Pune.Liver transplantation in Pune has evolved significantly, with improvements in surgical techniques and the willingness to transplant sicker patients. Today, Pune boasts over 25 liver transplant centers, making this lifesaving treatment accessible to those in need.
The most important aspect of liver transplantation is recognizing that it is a journey. A patient with end-stage liver disease must reach the transplant table, undergo the transplant surgery successfully, go through the posttransplant period, and adapt to life after the transplant. This entire journey is feasible only if the liver disease is diagnosed correctly from the outset and the patient is thoroughly optimized beforehand. She asserts, “A transplant is worthwhile if it will add years or quality to a patient’s life. If we cannot ensure these outcomes, proceeding with a transplant may be unproductive. Additionally, patient education is crucial throughout the entire liver transplant journey”.
However, what sets Dr Sheetal apart from others is her commitment to optimizing patients before the transplant. For every seriously ill patient she has treated, she attributes her success to the thorough optimization process prior to the transplant. Understanding the unique challenges each patient faces and addressing them as much as possible is imperative. After the transplant, it’s vital to remember these variables such as a history of a particular infection or other issues involving the heart, lungs, or kidneys. This awareness enables the professionals to be very cautious when using certain medications during the post-transplant period.
She emphasizes that for one successful transplant, at least 150 people work day and night to make it happen. It truly is a tremendous effort of teamwork. It’s important to recognize that no single role, be it the physician’s or the surgeon’s, is more important than another. In her view, everyone involved, right from the support staff to the OT staff, and laboratory personnel, all play an equally vital role in the entire organ transplantation process.
She states, “When it comes to liver health, liver transplant is at one end of the spectrum of treatments for liver diseases. We are observing that many people in the general public are obese, their lifestyles have changed, and dining out has become very common. All of this puts pressure on everyone’s health. Fatty liver is a significant culprit in the development of liver disease in the years to come”.
The Recognition and Noteworthy Trajectory
The Liver Transplant Society of India(LTSI) leads liver transplantation efforts in the country. Advances include robotic surgery for donors, which reduces scarring, and new treatments for fatty liver disease. Additionally, efforts to preserve organs and increase the donor pool are underway, with a focus on both brain stem and cardiac death donations. Dr Sheetal strives to remain dedicated to improving patient outcomes through ongoing advancements in the field. During her academic years, she has even been awarded with Gold Medals for scoring the first rank in MD Med, Hari Malini Joshi Award and DNB Gastro Examination conducted at the national level, The Prestigious S K Sama Gold Medal.
Reversing fatty liver disease and preventing liver damage are areas that captivate her interest. By achieving successful liver transplant stories, she endeavors to be able to help the broader population, potentially preventing many patients from progressing to end-stage liver disease and its complications.
Certificates
•MBBS - University of Pune 1991
•MD(General Medicine)- University of Pune 1995
•MD(Gastroentrology)- University of Mumbai 1998
•DNB(General Medicine)- National Board of Examinations 1996
•DNB(Gastroentrology)- National Board of Examinations 1999
•Clinical Fellowship- Liver Unit, King’s College Hospital 2002-03
The Evolution & Unique Significance
Initially, seen as unfeasible in India, liver transplantation is now a viable and affordable option for patients in Pune.Liver transplantation in Pune has evolved significantly, with improvements in surgical techniques and the willingness to transplant sicker patients. Today, Pune boasts over 25 liver transplant centers, making this lifesaving treatment accessible to those in need.
The most important aspect of liver transplantation is recognizing that it is a journey. A patient with end-stage liver disease must reach the transplant table, undergo the transplant surgery successfully, go through the posttransplant period, and adapt to life after the transplant. This entire journey is feasible only if the liver disease is diagnosed correctly from the outset and the patient is thoroughly optimized beforehand. She asserts, “A transplant is worthwhile if it will add years or quality to a patient’s life. If we cannot ensure these outcomes, proceeding with a transplant may be unproductive. Additionally, patient education is crucial throughout the entire liver transplant journey”.
However, what sets Dr Sheetal apart from others is her commitment to optimizing patients before the transplant. For every seriously ill patient she has treated, she attributes her success to the thorough optimization process prior to the transplant. Understanding the unique challenges each patient faces and addressing them as much as possible is imperative. After the transplant, it’s vital to remember these variables such as a history of a particular infection or other issues involving the heart, lungs, or kidneys. This awareness enables the professionals to be very cautious when using certain medications during the post-transplant period.
She emphasizes that for one successful transplant, at least 150 people work day and night to make it happen. It truly is a tremendous effort of teamwork. It’s important to recognize that no single role, be it the physician’s or the surgeon’s, is more important than another. In her view, everyone involved, right from the support staff to the OT staff, and laboratory personnel, all play an equally vital role in the entire organ transplantation process.
She states, “When it comes to liver health, liver transplant is at one end of the spectrum of treatments for liver diseases. We are observing that many people in the general public are obese, their lifestyles have changed, and dining out has become very common. All of this puts pressure on everyone’s health. Fatty liver is a significant culprit in the development of liver disease in the years to come”.
The Recognition and Noteworthy Trajectory
The Liver Transplant Society of India(LTSI) leads liver transplantation efforts in the country. Advances include robotic surgery for donors, which reduces scarring, and new treatments for fatty liver disease. Additionally, efforts to preserve organs and increase the donor pool are underway, with a focus on both brain stem and cardiac death donations. Dr Sheetal strives to remain dedicated to improving patient outcomes through ongoing advancements in the field. During her academic years, she has even been awarded with Gold Medals for scoring the first rank in MD Med, Hari Malini Joshi Award and DNB Gastro Examination conducted at the national level, The Prestigious S K Sama Gold Medal.
Reversing fatty liver disease and preventing liver damage are areas that captivate her interest. By achieving successful liver transplant stories, she endeavors to be able to help the broader population, potentially preventing many patients from progressing to end-stage liver disease and its complications.
Certificates
•MBBS - University of Pune 1991
•MD(General Medicine)- University of Pune 1995
•MD(Gastroentrology)- University of Mumbai 1998
•DNB(General Medicine)- National Board of Examinations 1996
•DNB(Gastroentrology)- National Board of Examinations 1999
•Clinical Fellowship- Liver Unit, King’s College Hospital 2002-03
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