Dr. Aishwarya Rajkumar

Brief Profile

Dr. Aishwarya Rajkumar is a distinguished specialist in lung transplantation, with advanced training from leading global centers.

She has completed her clinical fellowship at the Toronto Lung Transplant Programme and a short-term fellowship at the Vienna Lung Transplant Programme. She also specializes in Interventional Pulmonology and Critical Care.

With more than twelve years of experience, Dr.Aishwarya has dedicated herself to advancing the field of lung transplantation in India. Her expertise includes complex lung transplant procedures and post-transplant care, positioning her among the few trained lung transplant physicians in the country. Dr. Rajkumar aims to leverage her advanced knowledge from top global centers to significantly enhance lung transplant outcomes in India.

Educational Qualifications

• MBBS, S.R.M Medical College and Research Centre, 2011
• MD, S.R.M Medical College and Research Centre, 2016
• American College of Chest Physician Training in EBUS and Bronchoscopy, 2018
• Short-term Fellowship in Lung transplant at Vienna Lung Transplant Programme, Austria, March 2023 –  May 2023
• DRCPSC, Diplomate of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Canada, 2023 -2024 
• Toronto Lung Transplant Programme, Canada, 2023- 2024

Clinical Expertise

• Conducting and assessing pulmonary function tests (spirometry, DLCO)
• Performing bronchoscopy and pleuroscopy procedures
• Executing Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) nodal biopsy and peripheral lesion biopsy
• Performing foreign body removal using bronchoscopy
• Assisting with tracheal web resection, balloon dilation, and tracheal stenting
• Expertise in resuscitation, intubation, central lines, mechanical ventilation, and critical care management
• Performing thoracentesis, chest tube placement, and pleurodesis (medical and thoracoscopic)
• Skilled in chest ultrasound and CT-guided bronchopleural fistula closure
• Managing sleep disorders, including treatment for sleep apnea
• Post-operative care in ICU, particularly for bariatric and laparoscopic surgical patients
• Expertise in liver and kidney transplant assessment and pre/post-operative care
• Proficient in ECMO management, including services during COVID-19 and post-lung transplant
• Managing all aspects of lung transplantation, including candidate selection, EVLP, post-transplant airway management (dilatation and stenting), rejection management, organ selection, re-transplant candidate management, and pediatric lung transplantation

Affiliations and Memberships

• Tamil Nadu Medical Council
• Indian Medical Council
• Indian Chest Society
• American College of Chest Physicians
• European Respiratory Society
• International Society for Heart and Lung Transplant

Honors and Awards

• Best paper presentation – Pulmonary Function Changes in Diabetic Nephropathy, 2015
• Times of India – Power Women Award – for Service Excellence in Pulmonology, March 2021

Research and Publication

• Knowledge and Awareness of sleep apnea in medical students.
• Ongoing study on post-COVID fibrosis -reversal of fibrosis post-COVID with active pulmonary rehab, anti-fibrotic agents, steroids, and nutrition with a 6-8 week follow-up in post-COVID clinic.
•  Currently working with the Toronto lung transplant program on Frailty Index Pre-Transplant predicting post-transplant outcomes.

Paper Presentations and Publications

• Presented a paper on “Pulmonary function changes in patients with diabetic nephropathy” at TAPCON, Ramachandra Chennai, 2015.
• Presented a poster on “Knowledge and awareness about sleep apnea in medical students” at NAPCON and published in NAPCON 2015 JOURNAL, Jaipur, 2015.
• Presented a paper on “Tracheal web resection with electrocautery” at the Academic Society Meet, S.R.M. Medical College and Hospital, 2015.
• Presented a paper on “Role of atypical mycobacterium in fistula in post-operative patients”, Tampa, 2016.
• Presented a paper on “Importance of chest CT in the diagnosis of malignancy in a completely normal x-ray chest”, Tampa, 2017.
• Presented a paper on “ Role of medical and surgical pleurodesis”, IMA, March 2017.
• Presented a case report on “NTM Organism as a Causative Factor in Port Site Wound Infection” article-SMOAJ 0379,  2018.
• Coauthor in “Pulmonary disorders in Women “- topics – bacterial, fungal, and viral respiratory infections in women, July 2022.
• Presented an oral paper on – Comparison of frailty trajectories in Lung transplant, ISHLT, Prague, 2024.

Experience

• Junior Resident, Medical and Respiratory ICU, Vijaya Health Centre, February 2011 – November 2012
• Junior Resident, Department of General Medicine, Sundaram Medical Foundation, January 2013 – May 2013
• Resident, Department of Interventional Pulmonology, Kovai Medical Center, Coimbatore, July 2017 – September 2017
• Consultant Pulmonologist and Intensivist, Lifeline Hospital, 2016 – 2018
• Consultant Interventional and Transplant Pulmonologist, Dr. Rela’s Institute and Medical Centre, November 2018 – 2023