Southeast Asia Journey, Part 3: Milestones and Mentorship in India

My Southeast Asia journey continued as I traveled from Singapore to India, landing in Delhi in the middle of the night. Despite the late arrival, I was up early the next morning to meet two of India's most prominent orthopedic surgeons: Dr. Marya and Dr. Malhotra. These surgeons have shaped orthopedic care in India for decades, and spending time with them was an honor from the moment the day began.

My first visit was with Dr. Marya at Max Hospital. He has an extraordinary career, including serving as one of the design surgeons for DePuy and performing a tremendous volume of hip and knee replacements over the years. He welcomed me into his office, where he shared stories spanning his career—from complex surgical cases to traveling internationally for orthopedic education, and even caring for the Dalai Lama. His enthusiasm for robotics and his excitement about integrating new technology into his Delhi practice were inspiring. I hosted an educational session on robotic-assisted knee replacement, which led to thoughtful discussion and genuine interest from the entire team.

From there, I traveled to Apollo Hospital to meet Dr. Malhotra. Together with his team, I had the privilege of scrubbing in for two historic moments—the first VELYS hip navigation surgery ever performed in India, and the first medial-stabilized insert used with a VELYS total knee in the country. Being present for these first-in-India procedures was meaningful both personally and professionally. Collaborating shoulder-to-shoulder with their team in the operating room highlighted the shared dedication that unites surgeons across borders.

After the surgeries, we held a grand rounds session focused on muscle-sparing total knee replacement techniques. The dialogue was engaging and open, centered on how evolving technologies and approaches can help improve consistency, safety, and long-term outcomes for patients. These conversations reflected the forward-thinking mindset of both surgeons and their teams, who are eager to bring advanced techniques to patients across India.

As I left for the airport to continue my travels across India, I felt truly grateful for the opportunity to meet and learn from Dr. Marya and Dr. Malhotra—two giants of Indian orthopedics. Their passion for innovation, their generosity in sharing knowledge, and their commitment to advancing patient care left a lasting impression. Being part of these milestone moments in Indian orthopedic surgery was an experience I will always remember.