A Humble Appeal — Dr. Muralidhar TS (Murali Thondebhavi)

Candidate for National Governing Council Member, ISA National Elections 2026

Respected colleagues,

My name is Murali. I am an anaesthesiologist based in Bengaluru, and I am contesting for the post of National Governing Council Member, ISA National (2026).

It is a humble appeal from a colleague who has spent his career trying to contribute.

I write this with gratitude, not ambition.

Why I Am Contesting

I have been a member of ISA (ALM and later LM) since my postgraduate days. In that time, I have seen our society grow enormously — in membership, in reach, and in contribution to its members and society.

But alongside that growth, I have also heard the conversations that happen in hospital corridors, and conference halls.

We worry about patient safety.

We worry about burnout.

We worry about whether our younger colleagues feel supported and valued.

We wonder whether we are keeping pace with the rapidly changing world of technology and digital learning.

These are not complaints. They are opportunities.

I have spent the last two decades contributing — to training programmes, patient safety initiatives, academic projects, and professional organisations — because I believe that our speciality deserves the very best we can give it.

I am contesting because I believe I can contribute meaningfully to these conversations — not from the outside, but from within the Governing Council, where it matters most.

My Vision

Safer Patients. Supported Professionals. A Future-Ready ISA.

These three pillars are the foundation of my candidacy:

"My vision is to contribute to a safer practice environment for our patients, a supported and thriving workforce—with a focus on mentorship for early career anaesthesiologists—and a future-ready ISA that leads in technology and innovation. I seek to serve with sincerity, collaboration, and a commitment to the long-term growth of our speciality."

A Journey of Service

Each role I have held has come from a genuine desire to contribute — to a committee, a project, a training programme, or a colleague who needed support.

Here is a brief account of that journey.

Representing Our Speciality

I have been fortunate to represent anaesthesiology beyond the operating theatre.

Being featured on the cover of The Week as an anaesthesiologist was not a personal achievement — it was an opportunity to bring our largely invisible speciality into the public eye.

Writing Think Like an Anaesthetist was an attempt to take the lessons of the operating theatre to a wider audience.

A Lifelong Commitment to Learning and Teaching

Teaching has always been central to my professional identity.

From being a Chief Mentor for the AORA Fellowship Programme since 2020, to delivering over 70 national invited talks and serving as faculty at the World Congress of Anaesthesiologists (2024) and the World Congress of Regional Anaesthesia (2023) — my goal has always been to share what I have been privileged to learn.

I have also served on the Board of Studies, AORA India, as an examiner for university and fellowship programmes, and as Associate Dean of the Textbook and Monographs Deanery, CISA  (Co-Lead for "How I Do It Project") — roles that have given me a deep appreciation of the effort required to build and sustain academic standards in our speciality.

The ISA National President's Special Award (2025) and the Dr. VJ Dhanraj National Endowment Oration (2026) are recognitions I hold with deep humility and gratitude.

Service Through Leadership

Leadership, to me, is not a title. It is an opportunity to serve.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of serving in various capacities:

At the state level — as Hon. Secretary and now President of the ISSP Karnataka Chapter, a role I have carried with deep commitment since 2012.

At the national level — as President-Elect of AORA India, as a founding executive member and Project Lead of the Anaesthesia Patient Safety Association (APSA), and through the Anaesthesia Incident Registry — India's first structured national incident reporting system for anaesthesia.

At the global level — as a member of the WFSA Workforce Wellbeing Committee, the ILCOR Communications Committee, and the WFSA Early Career Anaesthesiologists Working Group.

Each of these roles has taught me something invaluable about collaboration, patience, and the power of working together towards a shared goal.

Beyond Anaesthesia

My journey beyond the operating theatre has been a great teacher:

• Writing my book Think Like an Anaesthetist brought clarity in thought and communication.

• The Luminary Lounge podcast — conversations with remarkable people from all walks of life — offered insights that no textbook could provide.

• Photography taught me patience, observation, and attention to detail.

These are not hobbies. They are the lenses through which I see problems, people, and possibilities differently.

What I Hope to Contribute to the GC

I do not come with grand promises. I come with a track record of quiet, consistent contribution and a clear sense of what matters.

Here is where I hope to add value:

1. Patient Safety

Through my work with APSA and the Anaesthesia Incident Registry, I have seen first-hand how much we can learn from near-misses and adverse events — if we create safe, non-punitive systems to report and learn from them. I will advocate for patient safety.

2. Mentorship for Early Career Anaesthesiologists

The transition from postgraduate training to independent practice is one of the most challenging phases. I believe we must play a central role in supporting our younger colleagues through structured mentorship, career guidance, and wellbeing initiatives that help them navigate the pressures of modern practice.

3. A Digital and Future-Ready ISA

I have been involved in digital academic initiatives — the IJA Podcast, infographics, App development and AI. I believe we must embrace these tools not as novelties but as essential infrastructure for connecting, educating, and supporting members.

A Final Word

I have been shaped by my teachers, mentors, seniors and colleagues. Everything I have done has been built on their generosity, guidance and encouragement.

As I take this step, I seek only one thing:

Your blessings, guidance and support.

Not because I believe I am the most deserving.

But because I believe I will work hard, listen carefully, and serve sincerely.

With deep respect and warm regards,

Dr. Muralidhar TS (Murali Thondebhavi) MD, FRCA, FFPMRCA, CCT, MBA

Senior Consultant, Anaesthesia & Pain Medicine, Apollo Hospitals, Bengaluru

📞 9686115531 | ✉️ muralidharts@gmail.com

ISA National Elections 2026 — Voting: 26th to 30th June 2026