Dr. Raj Palaniappan

Director & Chief Surgeon: Institute of Bariatrics, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai

Dr. Raj Palaniappan is a highly respected Gastrointestinal, Bariatric, and Obesity Surgeon with over 20 years of extensive clinical, academic, and leadership experience. He currently serves as Director and Chief Surgeon of the Institute of Bariatrics at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, a role he has held since 2010, where he leads advanced bariatric and metabolic surgery programs. Prior to this, he was a Gastro and Obesity Surgeon at Apollo Victor Hospitals, Goa, heading the Department of Laparoscopic Gastro and Obesity Surgery. His earlier roles include Consultant Surgical Gastroenterologist and Medical Administrator at LifeLine Hospitals, Chennai, where he managed both clinical services and hospital operations. With a strong academic foundation, Dr. Palaniappan has served as Assistant Professor at Sri Ramachandra Medical College and PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, actively involved in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students while training young surgeons in advanced laparoscopic techniques. He holds specialized qualifications in laparoscopy, including MMAS from the University of Dundee, UK, and D.MAS from TGO University, and is widely recognized for his expertise in minimally invasive surgery, bariatrics, and healthcare delivery, with multiple professional endorsements reflecting his clinical excellence and leadership.