The collaboration between Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), Hyderabad, India, and UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, USA, represents a transformative model of global academic partnership in cardiothoracic surgery and transplant medicine. Initiated through a formal Memorandum of Understanding in 2023, this collaboration was designed not merely to perform transplants but to develop a sustainable, self-reliant transplant ecosystem in a public-sector institution.

Over the past three years, this partnership has facilitated significant advancements in heart and lung transplantation, ECMO program development, pulmonary endarterectomy (CTEPH surgery), and multidisciplinary transplant care. Key milestones include successful lung transplantation, combined heart–lung transplantation, establishment of dedicated transplant clinics, and implementation of structured transplant protocols tailored to local realities.

A distinctive feature of this collaboration has been continuous virtual mentorship, with over 200 hours of real-time case discussions via telecommunication platforms. These interactions enabled dynamic decision-making, enhanced clinical reasoning, and direct engagement of residents and fellows with international transplant experts.

The ECMO program evolved from guided initiation to independent functioning, while multidisciplinary integration improved patient selection, perioperative care, and long-term outcomes. Academic impact includes conference presentations, collaborative research, and the development of an indigenous low-cost Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP) system in partnership with IIT Hyderabad.

This collaboration demonstrates that structured international partnerships can drive system-level transformation, enabling high-quality, equitable transplant care in resource-constrained settings. It serves as a scalable blueprint for advancing transplant ecosystems globally.

Dr Palanki Surya Satya Gopal is an academic cardiothoracic surgeon and Additional Professor at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), Hyderabad, India. He has extensive experience in adult cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery, heart and lung transplantation, ECMO, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, and critical care.

He completed his M.Ch in Cardiothoracic Surgery from NIMS and holds multiple fellowships including FCCE, FECMO, FARIS, FMAS, and FAIS. He has received several recognitions including the International Best Researcher Award (2025), Research Excellence Award (2024), and honors from the Government of Telangana.

Dr Gopal has been instrumental in developing transplant and ECMO programs at NIMS, contributing to several institutional milestones including lung transplantation and ECMO initiation. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and serves as a reviewer for multiple international journals.

His academic interests include transplant innovation, critical care, and indigenous technology development, particularly in ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) systems. He is actively involved in teaching, mentoring, and organizing national and international academic programs.