Editor in Chief

GI Surgical Training

Dr. Sanjiv Pravin Haribhakti did his MBBS and MS (Gen. Surgery) training from Ahmedabad, being first in Gujarat University at both Final MBBS and MS (Gen. Surgery). He was also awarded the prestigious gold medal for the Best Outgoing Student of his College. He decided to pursue GI Surgery as his career.

Dr. Haribhakti’s foundation in GI surgery was laid at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, where he served as the first Senior Resident from outside AIIMS, in the Department of GI Surgery (1992–1993). Under the mentorship of legends like Prof. Samiran Nundy and mentors like Dr. Peush Sahni, and Dr. Girish Pandey, and alongside exceptionally talented co-residents, like Dr. Subhash Gupta, Dr. Deepak Govil, Dr P. Radhakrishnan and others, he absorbed the ethos of rigorous training, academic discipline, craftsmanship in open surgery, and the values of hard work, perseverance and integrity. This transformative period shaped the surgeon—and the teacher—he would become.

GI Surgical Practice

In 1997, he returned to Ahmedabad to become the first M.Ch. GI Surgeon of Western India, and started a humble beginning of an illustrious independent practice in gastrointestinal surgery at a small nursing home “Haribhakti Surgical Hospital”. He was affiliated as an Asst. Prof. of GI Surgery at Sheth VS Gen Hospital, and a Hon. Consultant at Jivaraj Mehta Hospital. Later he pioneered GI Surgery department at Sterling Hospital in 2002, where he started the first DNB (GI Surgery) programme of Gujarat in 2006.

Continuing Education and Overseas Training

During this period from 2000 onwards, Dr. Haribhakti learnt and mastered various advanced laparoscopic procedures by undergoing training at some of the best centers in India, USA and Korea. The turning point came while attending the World Congress of Laparoscopic Surgery in Singapore in May 2000, where he determined to venture into the field of advanced laparoscopic surgery. In late 2000, Dr. Haribhakti spent a week to learn advanced Lap Surgery at Vedanayagam Hospital under Dr. Palanivelu in Coimbatore. In 2003, he was fortunate to learn the nuances of HPB surgery from Prof. Blumgart at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, inspired by Lap. Bariatric and Hernia Surgery with Dr. Michael Gagner at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York and colorectal surgery under mentorship of Dr. Victor Fazio in Colorectal unit at Cleveland Clinic Ohio, USA. In 2006, Dr. Haribhakti learnt skills of lap. Colorectal surgery from Dr. GS Choi from Daegu, Korea. In 2011 Dr. Haribhakti spent a week with Dr. Michael Kendricks to learn Lap. Whipple at the Mayo Clinic Rochester, USA. In 2017 Dr. Haribhakti trained with Dr. Patricia Sylla at Mount Sinai Hospital to learn Transanal TME. In 2019, Dr. Haribhakti learnt the skills of Robotic HPB Surgery under Prof Liu Rong at HBP cancer unit at PLA Gen. Hospital, Beijing. This inspired him into further venture into the foray of robotic gi surgery for expanding the limits of MIS, getting outside the comfort zone of laparoscopic surgery and passing on the benefits of futuristic technologies for better patient outcomes.

Chairman, Kaizen Hospital — Gujarat’s First Super-Speciality GI Centre

In 2011, along with a group of likeminded doctors, Dr. Haribhakti created Kaizen Hospital, first of its kind GI Surgery Institute of Gujarat, which was inaugurated by Dr. Nageshwar Reddy from AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad. The same original team of consultants have continued with him till now, and there has been further expansion in the team. As the Chairman of the Department of Surgical Gastroenterology at Kaizen Hospital, Ahmedabad, Dr. Haribhakti has established one of India’s leading centres for GI, HPB and Colorectal surgery.

With a “patient-first” philosophy and a commitment to continuous improvement, Kaizen has become synonymous with ethical, specialised, and high-quality care.

Author, Educator & Thought Leader

Dr. Haribhakti has a deep commitment to teaching and knowledge-sharing. Dr. Sanjiv Haribhakti is the chief architect of the current atlas, HARGiS - Dr. Haribhakti’s Atlas of Robotic GI Surgery, a comprehensive digital learning platform offering structured, high-quality operative videos. He designed it to advance training, standardise techniques, and make robotic surgery education accessible worldwide

Dr. Sanjiv Haribhakti has an exceptional academic footprint, beginning with one of India’s earliest DVD Atlas of Laparoscopic Surgery released in 2007, which became a widely used teaching tool for young surgeons. This atlas consisted of 8 DVD, 42 lap. Procedures done and edited on HD, with animations, annotations and voice over educational videos procedures. He is the author of the third-edition landmark standard textbook “Haribhakti’s Surgical Gastroenterology,” a comprehensive reference in GI surgery for DNB and MCh trainees and practising surgeons. This book is also accompanied by an online atlas of GI Surgery. He has further contributed internationally as the chief editor of the textbook “Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery” published by CRC Press, Taylor and Francis group, along with an atlas of Lap. Colorectal surgery advanced minimally invasive techniques. His reflective and philosophical work, “Big 5 Lessons for Surgeons,” brings together the wisdom of surgical practice, personal growth, and professional excellence. Together, these works highlight his passion for education, innovation, and shaping the next generation of surgeons.

Complementing his scientific achievements, his inner journey is noteworthy. His book “Shreemad Bhagavad Geeta – A Vision of the Vedanta, for Beginners” brings ancient spiritual wisdom to modern readers, showcasing his unique integration of science, philosophy, and inner growth. Together, these works highlight a surgeon who educates with clarity, heals with compassion, innovates with purpose, and lives with a deep sense of spiritual awareness.

Dr. Sanjiv Haribhakti has an extensive body of scientific work spanning over 45 peer-reviewed publications, invited reviews, clinical research, and numerous book chapters in the field of Gastrointestinal, HPB and Colorectal surgery. His research covers diverse areas including complex GI cancers, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, colorectal diseases, hepatobiliary disorders, and surgical technique refinements. Over the years, he has contributed numerous papers to national and international journals, presented more than 500 podium lectures at prestigious conferences, and served as faculty at several academic forums nationaly and internationaly. He continues to promote scientific quality, transparent peer review, and global accessibility in academic publishing. Collectively, his research work reflects his commitment to advancing surgical knowledge, improving patient outcomes, and mentoring the next generation of surgeons.

Founder: Haribhakti Education Foundation

Through the initiative of Haribhakti Education Foundation, Dr. Sanjiv Haribhakti actively supports surgical education, patient awareness initiatives, and the publication of high-quality academic books. All his major works—including his textbooks, surgical atlases, educational monographs, and special releases—have been produced under the Foundation’s banner, reinforcing its mission to disseminate reliable, accessible medical knowledge

The Foundation also drives the development of the ambitious HARGiS - Atlas of Robotic GI Surgery, a comprehensive video-based learning platform created with the Kaizen team, designed to elevate robotic surgical training across India and beyond. Together, these initiatives reflect his enduring commitment to education, innovation, and the empowerment of both surgeons and patients.

A Surgeon with a Spiritual Vision

Alongside surgical mastery, Dr. Haribhakti is deeply drawn to Vedanta and the Bhagavad Gita as pathways for inner clarity, balance, and mindful living. His current pursuit is to integrate spiritual quotient (SQ) with surgical science—bringing humanity, humility and healing into the operating room.