Udupi: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) has welcomed Dr K Sharath Rao as its 8th vice-chancellor. His appointment was announced in March, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to medical leadership and healthcare management.Dr Rao was awarded the honorary FRCP fellowship by the Royal College of Physicians, London, on July 8, 2025.Dr Rao joined MAHE in 1988 as an assistant lecturer in the department of orthopaedics at Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal. A KMC Mangaluru alumnus, he holds an MBBS from the University of Mysore and D Ortho and MS degrees in orthopaedics from Mangalore University.Over the years, he has held several key leadership roles across MAHE’s health sciences institutions. These include head of Unit V, department of orthopaedics, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, a position he has held since 2000; head of the department of orthopaedics, KMC Manipal (2009–2014); associate dean, KMC Manipal (2015–2019); dean, KMC Manipal (2019); and pro vice-chancellor (Health Sciences) from 2023.Dr Rao has also held prominent positions in professional bodies. He has served as president of the Karnataka Orthopaedic Association and president of the Orthopaedic Association of South Indian States (OASIS). He was chairman of AO Trauma India, contributing to the advancement of orthopaedic practice and education.His academic contributions include over 100 publications in peer-reviewed journals, several textbook chapters, and extensive international academic engagements. He has delivered lectures and conducted workshops across Europe, the United States, South America, Southeast Asia, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, strengthening global collaboration in medical education and orthopaedic practice.
