In the operating theatres of Lucknow, Dr. (Prof.) Rajan Saxena became known as a steady hand and a patient teacher who helped put surgical gastroenterology on the map in northern India. Born in the city, he trained in surgery and specialised in the intricate procedures of the liver, pancreas and biliary system. In December 1988 he joined the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) as an Assistant Professor and founded its Department of Surgical Gastroenterology. Over the years he rose to become Professor, Head of the Department and later Dean of the institute.

His operating list was filled with some of the most demanding cases: complex hepato-pancreato-biliary surgeries, major liver resections for tumours, bile-duct injury repairs, Whipple procedures, colorectal operations and the management of pancreatic cysts, abscesses and cancers. He also advanced minimal-access techniques and abdominal vascular surgery. Colleagues remember him insisting on meticulous preparation and calm decision-making. “The abdomen does not forgive haste,” he would tell young surgeons in the theatre. Under his leadership the department grew into a recognised centre for advanced gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary care, and he helped train generations of specialists across the country, serving as examiner and evaluator for M.Ch. and DNB programmes.

Beyond the operating room he published more than 150 research papers and book chapters, contributing to the scientific literature of his field. The Government of India recognised his pioneering work with the Padma Shri in 2004. After decades at SGPGIMS he continued clinical practice at Apollomedics Super Speciality Hospital in Lucknow, still performing complex surgeries and mentoring younger colleagues.

From a young surgeon building a new department from scratch to a Padma Shri awardee whose work expanded the possibilities of gastrointestinal surgery in India, Rajan Saxena’s career remains a story of quiet determination, technical excellence and lasting institutional contribution.