Inside the Life of a Liver Transplant Surgeon Healing Lives Beyond the Surgeries

In this deeply moving episode of Unbound, we sit down with Dr. Ankur Garg, a leading liver transplant surgeon whose journey is defined not just by medical excellence but by responsibility, conscience, and humanity.Dr. Garg opens up about what truly keeps him going in one of the most demanding professions in the world. Beyond the stress, emergencies, and life-or-death decisions, it is the smiles of recovered patients that become his daily motivation. From handwritten notes and heartfelt gestures to patients returning months later walking, driving, and living full lives, these moments make every sacrifice worthwhile. Stories of patients who once arrived on ventilators via air ambulances and later pick him up from airports themselves stand as powerful reminders of transformation and hope.The conversation then takes us into some of the most transformative cases Dr. Garg has witnessed—patients once weak, jaundiced, and confined to wheelchairs, now healthy and independent after liver transplants. These experiences reflect not only the power of medical science but also the emotional fulfilment that comes with healing lives.Dr. Garg also shares his personal journey into medicine. Interestingly, becoming a doctor was not originally his own plan, but a path chosen by his father. From initially enrolling in engineering to being redirected into medical college through NEET, his journey evolved naturally. During his surgical training, one organ fascinated him the most, the liver, an organ few dared to operate on at the time. That curiosity eventually led him into the complex and challenging field of liver transplantation.The episode also touches upon the delicate balance between professional responsibility and personal life. Dr. Garg speaks candidly about missing family events, vacations, and personal moments, and how he justifies these sacrifices to himself. For him, being a doctor is no longer about earning a livelihood it is about carrying the responsibility of saving lives. Whether a call comes at midnight or a concern seems small medically but huge for the patient, he believes his duty is to be present.In a rapid-fire reflection round, Dr. Garg shares simple yet profound life philosophies—living life one day at a time, answering to one’s conscience, and ensuring that no responsibility is abandoned. For the past 20 years, he ends every day by asking himself just one question: Did I do my best today?This episode is a powerful reminder that behind every surgeon is a human being constantly navigating choices, ethics, and compassion. Unbound with Mamta brings you this unfiltered, honest conversation one that inspires, grounds, and reminds us of the true meaning of responsibility and service.✨ Let’s keep unbounding together.Connect With Mamtaa: LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/mamtaadhingra/Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/mamtaapodcaster/Twitter- https://twitter.com/DhingraMamtaaFacebook- https://www.facebook.com/mamtaa.dhingra13