Prof. Mohamed Rela

Prof. Mohamed Rela is Chairman & Managing Director of Surgical Gastroenterology at Dr. Rela Institute & Medical Centre in Chennai, and one of the world's most accomplished hepatobiliary and liver transplant surgeons. With over 44 years of clinical experience, he has performed more than 6,000 liver transplants and holds a Guinness World Record for successfully transplanting a liver into a five-day-old infant in 2000—a milestone that demonstrated his mastery of the most delicate paediatric cases. His academic credentials include MBBS and MS from the University of Madras, FRCS from Edinburgh, and an honorary DSc from Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University.

Prof. Rela's clinical depth spans the full spectrum of hepatobiliary and transplant surgery. He performs over 300 liver transplants annually and conducts more than 200 robotic liver surgeries and 450 complex hepatobiliary procedures yearly. He is a pioneer in split liver transplantation (dividing one donor liver for two recipients), auxiliary liver transplantation, and mono-segment transplantation for neonates. His expertise extends to pancreatic transplantation, multivisceral transplant, abdominal trauma surgery, and advanced robotic techniques. With over 900 published scientific articles, he serves as Associate Editor of the American Journal of Transplantation and holds prestigious positions including President of the Liver Transplant Society of India and Past President of the International Liver Transplantation Society.

International patients form a significant part of his practice, with referrals from across the Gulf, Africa, and South Asia. Many patients travel to Chennai specifically for his expertise in complex cases—paediatric transplants, re-transplantation, and multivisceral procedures—that may not be readily available in their home countries. His institute provides multilingual support in English, Hindi, and Tamil, and coordinates pre-operative assessment, travel logistics, and post-transplant follow-up for patients returning home.

Dr. Rela Institute & Medical Centre, founded in 2018, is a purpose-built transplant centre in Chennai equipped with advanced operating theatres, ICU facilities, and a dedicated international patient wing. The institute combines cutting-edge technology with affordable, high-quality care—a model that has made complex organ transplantation accessible to patients across income levels. The centre's location in Chennai provides easy international connectivity and a welcoming medical tourism ecosystem.

For international patients seeking liver transplant, pancreatic transplant, or complex hepatobiliary surgery, Prof. Rela's combination of technical mastery, institutional infrastructure, and patient-centred care offers a compelling destination. His track record with the most challenging cases—neonatal recipients, re-transplants, multivisceral procedures—and his commitment to long-term international patient follow-up make him a trusted choice for families and physicians worldwide.