- 3 decades of experience in Armed Forces Medical Services
- Fifteen years dedicated to Gastrointestinal Surgery with extensive work exposure to advanced laparoscopic surgery, gastrointestinal oncology & bariatric surgery.
- Previous assignment as Commandant, 158 Base Hospital, Siliguri, West Bengal from Nov 2021 to Dec 2023
- Worked as Prof Surgery at Command Hospital, Air Force Bengaluru, 7 Air Force Hospital, Kanpur.
- Held the responsibility of Surgical Advisor to all the surgical allied specialties in various locations across the country
- Appointed Professor of Surgery by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS, Bengaluru) w.e.f Feb 2014.
- Recognized MS (Gen Surgery) examiner at RGUHS Bengaluru & MUHS, Nasik, Maharashtra.
- Instrumental in establishing and developing gastrointestinal centers with special emphasis on bariatric surgery and gastrointestinal surgical oncology at two Armed Forces centers – Bengaluru and Kanpur. Also mentored GI surgeons and general surgeons during various assignments in service.
- Published Papers in National and International Journals.
- Professor of Surgery & Gastrointestinal Surgeon at MVJ Medical College and Reaerch Hospital w.e.f 26 Apr 2025
- Previous assignment as Commandant, 158 Base Hospital, Siliguri, West Bengal from Nov 2021 to Dec 2023
- Worked as Prof Surgery at Command Hospital, Air Force Bengaluru, 7 Air Force Hospital, Kanpur.
- Held the responsibility of Surgical Advisor to all the surgical allied specialties in various locations across the country
- Instrumental in establishing and developing gastrointestinal centers with special emphasis on bariatric surgery and gastrointestinal surgical oncology at two Armed Forces centers – Bengaluru and Kanpur.
- Mentored GI surgeons and general surgeons during various assignments in service.
FOREIGN POSTING
- Posted as Surgeon at Indian Medical Mission, Mazar e Sharif, Afghanistan from Jan 2003 to Oct 2003 just after the fall of Taliban in 2002.
- Established the surgical team at the district hospital in Mazar e Sharif Afghanistan and carried out a number of war and peacetime surgeries.
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE
- Executive Committee member of Surgical Society of Bangalore, Association of Surgeons of India, City Chapter for the years 2011 & 2013.
- Commanding Officer 9 Air Force Hospital Halwara, Punjab – Commanded a 110-bed hospital from Nov 2020 to Nov 2021
- Commandant 158 Base Hospital, Siliguri, West Bengal – Commanded 590-bedded forward operationally sensitive military hospital from Nov 2021 to Dec 2023
- MBBS: AFMC, Pune 1992
- MS (Gen Surgery): AFMC Pune 1999
- M Ch Gastrointestinal Surgery: AIIMS, New Delhi 2006-09
- Completed General Management for Health Executives course at IIM Bengaluru in 2023.
- Gastrointestinal Surgeon with special interests and expertise in advanced laparoscopic surgeries and all open abdominal surgeries
- Upper GI tract (thoracoscopic esophagectomy and gastric/colonic pull ups, laparoscopic fundoplications, laparoscopic Hellers myotomy, laparoscopic gastrectomy etc.)
- Hepato-pancreatico-biliary (laparoscopic radical cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic CBD explorations, Laparoscopic pancreatectomy, Laparoscopic splenectomy, Liver resections etc.)
- Colorectal (Laparoscopic right, left, total colectomies, Laparoscopic Anterior resections, Laparoscopic APR etc.)
- Laparoscopic AWR (abdominal wall reconstructions and repair of all types of hernia)
- Bariatric surgery (Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, Laparoscopic mini gastric bypass)
- Management of all GI related cancers
- Experienced in difficult situations and handling complex cases (difficult enterocutaneous fistulas, short bowel syndromes etc.) with exceptional problem-solving ability and often called upon to deal with multiple complications by operators across the country.
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
- An inspiring and motivating Surgery professor driven to motivate students to academic excellence.
- Consistently strive to create a challenging and engaging learning environment in which students become life- long scholars and learners.
- Demonstrated a continued commitment to post-graduate teaching through full participation in the academic community.
- Trained over to 20 surgery residents through formal and informal interactions.
- Appreciation by Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Training Command, Bengaluru, Indian Air Force – Oct 2012
- Commendation by Chief of the Air Staff, New Delhi, Indian air Force – Oct 2017
- Commendation by Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Air Command, New Delhi, Indian Air Force – Oct 2021
PUBLICATIONS
- Gangavatiker R, Pal S, Javed A, Dash NR, Sahni P, Chattopadhyay TK. Effect of antecolic or retrocolic reconstruction of the gastro/duodenojejunostomy on delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticodudenostomy. J Gastrointest Surg. 2011;15(5):843-52.
- Ramakrishnaiah VP, Gangavatiker R, Dash NR, Sahni P. Pancreas-sparing duodenectomy in a patient with acute corrosive injury. Updates Surg. 2013;65(4):309-11.
- Sen A, Gangavatiker R. EXON 11, C KIT mutation in a 'CD 117' & 'DOG 1' negative colonic gastrointestinal tumor. Med J Armed Forces India. 2014;70(2):186-8.
- Kumar A, Kaistha S, Gangavatiker R. Non-fixation Versus Fixation of Mesh in Totally Extraperitoneal Repair of Inguinal Hernia: a Comparative Study. Indian J Surg. 2018 Apr;80(2):128-133.
- Kaistha S, Gangavatiker R, Harsoda R, Kinra P. A case of adenocarcinoma in a tail gut cyst and review of literature. Med J Armed Forces India. 2018 Oct;74(4):390-393.
- Kaistha S, Kumar A, Gangavatiker R, Br S, Sisodiya N. Laparoscopic Access: Direct Trocar Insertion Versus Open Technique. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2019 Jan 10.
- Thakur CK, Gangavatiker R. A comparative study of single port laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus multiple port cholecystectomy surgery. Int J Scientific Research. 2020 May;9(5).
- Kumar A, Kaistha S, Gangavatiker R. Laparoscopic Pancreaticoduodenectomy with open reconstruction: The Buddha’s Middle Path. Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech 2024; 34:511-17.
- Abhisheka K, Kumar A, Gangavatiker R. Effect of weight loss due to sleeve gastrectomy on polycystic ovary syndrome in a morbidly obese female. Med J Armed Forces India (under review).
