Dr Manish C Varma: Designing The Future Of Transplant Medicine With Precision
Dr Manish C Varma
Clinical Director
Dr Manish C Varma, Clinical Director of abdominal transplantation at Tufts Medical Center, stands out as a dedicated leader in the field of liver transplantation. With roots in AIIMS and advanced training from Harvard, he brings unmatched clinical expertise and a deep commitment to compassionate care. At Tufts Medical Center, he is not only advancing complex transplant procedures but also focused on building a world-class living donor liver transplant program. His mission is clear, which is to improve access to cutting-edge care, ensure equity in treatment, and make transplants available to those who need them most.
Below is an excerpt of Dr Manish C Verma’s exclusive interaction with CEO Insights magazine.
Can you briefly describe your 22-year professional journey and your daily motivation?
Transplants are not just my work, they have been a big part of my life journey. I started studying medicine in Bombay at GS Medical College, one of the top colleges in India. Then I trained in surgery and cancer surgery at AIIMS in New Delhi. After that, I went to the U.S. to learn more about organ transplants at Massachusetts General Hospital, which is the biggest teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical
School. In 2011, I came back to India and worked at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, and later in Hyderabad. I wanted to make liver transplants easier to get, so I helped start programs in cities like Pune, Vishakhapatnam, and Mysore. I also worked with Sonu Sood’s foundation and online fundraisers to help children whose families could not afford the treatment. I performed may pediatric liver transplants with this association. In 2022, I moved back to Boston to help start a new liver transplant program at Tufts Medical Center. My daily motivation is to make transplants possible for everyone who needs them.
What is the most important lesson or experience you took away from your time at AIIMS?
AIIMS was an excellent place to learn, not just medicine or surgery, but life lessons that stay with you. One of the most important things I learned there was time management. With such a high number of patients, many of whom have complex problems, you must manage your time effectively while providing every patient with proper care. I also learned the value of a strong work ethic. The professors at AIIMS, despite having chances to earn more in private hospitals, stayed out of a commitment to the profession. That taught me dedication. Lastly, I gained lifelong connections with peers who later became leaders in their fields.
How have the skills you learned inside and outside the classroom at AIIMS helped you in your current role?
At AIIMS, I learned not just medical skills but also the deeper meaning of being a doctor. As a surgeon, you must be skilled, and AIIMS gave me the training and support to become the best I could be. I also learned about patient care and strong ethics. One powerful experience was seeing patients travel from far-off villages, living outside the hospital just to get treated, that stayed with me. It pushed me to improve access to healthcare,
Dr Manish C Varma blends surgical precision with heartfelt purpose, expanding access to transplants and trans -forming lives across borders
What is the most important lesson or experience you took away from your time at AIIMS?
AIIMS was an excellent place to learn, not just medicine or surgery, but life lessons that stay with you. One of the most important things I learned there was time management. With such a high number of patients, many of whom have complex problems, you must manage your time effectively while providing every patient with proper care. I also learned the value of a strong work ethic. The professors at AIIMS, despite having chances to earn more in private hospitals, stayed out of a commitment to the profession. That taught me dedication. Lastly, I gained lifelong connections with peers who later became leaders in their fields.
How have the skills you learned inside and outside the classroom at AIIMS helped you in your current role?
At AIIMS, I learned not just medical skills but also the deeper meaning of being a doctor. As a surgeon, you must be skilled, and AIIMS gave me the training and support to become the best I could be. I also learned about patient care and strong ethics. One powerful experience was seeing patients travel from far-off villages, living outside the hospital just to get treated, that stayed with me. It pushed me to improve access to healthcare,
whether by starting transplant programs in smaller Indian cities or helping set up a center in the U.S. That lesson still guides me today.
What is your most memorable experience from your time at AIIMS?
One of my most memorable experiences at AIIMS was the bond I shared with my co-residents. It felt like we were comrades in war, managing heavy workloads, trying to get things done right, and still finding moments to sleep and support each other. We used to split calls, cover for one another, and that made those years very meaningful. Some of those friends are still close to me today. Another memory I value deeply is my training in cancer surgery. It taught me how to care for very sick patients and to stay strong during tough times. I learned that medicine is not just a science, it’s also an art that involves deep human connection and care.
Where do you see yourself going in the future?
In the next five years, I want to focus on building a strong living donor liver transplant program in the United States. We have started with liver transplants, but living donor transplants still need to grow here. I also want to bring in more technology, especially robotics, into transplant surgeries, and that is something I’m working on right now. Long-term, my main goal is to keep improving access to healthcare. Even as medicine moves forward, we have to make sure people can actually use what is available. I don’t want to see a world where treatment exists but people can’t reach it. So, wherever I go or work, this goal of better access will always guide me.
Dr Manish C Varma, Clinical Director, Tuft Medical Center
Dr Manish C Varma is the Clinical Director of abdominal transplantation at Tufts Medical Center, Boston and a skilled transplant surgeon. His expertise spans liver, pancreas, and kidney transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery. With deep roots in clinical excellence, he leads innovative transplant programs while championing compas- sionate, accessible care for patients across diverse communities.
What is your most memorable experience from your time at AIIMS?
One of my most memorable experiences at AIIMS was the bond I shared with my co-residents. It felt like we were comrades in war, managing heavy workloads, trying to get things done right, and still finding moments to sleep and support each other. We used to split calls, cover for one another, and that made those years very meaningful. Some of those friends are still close to me today. Another memory I value deeply is my training in cancer surgery. It taught me how to care for very sick patients and to stay strong during tough times. I learned that medicine is not just a science, it’s also an art that involves deep human connection and care.
Where do you see yourself going in the future?
In the next five years, I want to focus on building a strong living donor liver transplant program in the United States. We have started with liver transplants, but living donor transplants still need to grow here. I also want to bring in more technology, especially robotics, into transplant surgeries, and that is something I’m working on right now. Long-term, my main goal is to keep improving access to healthcare. Even as medicine moves forward, we have to make sure people can actually use what is available. I don’t want to see a world where treatment exists but people can’t reach it. So, wherever I go or work, this goal of better access will always guide me.
Dr Manish C Varma, Clinical Director, Tuft Medical Center
Dr Manish C Varma is the Clinical Director of abdominal transplantation at Tufts Medical Center, Boston and a skilled transplant surgeon. His expertise spans liver, pancreas, and kidney transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery. With deep roots in clinical excellence, he leads innovative transplant programs while championing compas- sionate, accessible care for patients across diverse communities.