About Dr. Krishna Shama Rao

• Dr. Krishna Shama Rao is a pioneer and one of the most respected names in the field of Cranio-Maxillofacial and Cosmetic Surgery, both in India and internationally.
• With over 40 years of professional experience, Dr. Rao’s illustrious career combines surgical mastery, academic excellence, and humanitarian service.
• Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Rao has performed over 20,000 complex craniofacial and cosmetic surgeries, including cleft lip and palate repairs, cranial deformity reconstructions, facial trauma repairs, orthognathic (jaw) surgeries, cosmetic facial contouring, and obstructive sleep apnea corrections.
• He began his medical journey with a BDS from Nair Hospital Dental College, Mumbai (1980), followed by an MDS in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from Manipal University (1985).
• Dr. Rao then pursued advanced international training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Royal London Hospital and Medical College in the UK (1989) and subsequently earned his Fellowship in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCS, 1990) and FDSRCS (England).
• Not content with just a dental specialization, Dr. Rao returned to India to complete his MBBS at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal (1996), making him one of the few surgeons worldwide to hold dual qualifications in medicine and dentistry, along with international surgical fellowships.
• His extensive global training in General Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Craniofacial Surgery, and Cosmetic Surgery under eminent mentors in the UK and Europe has shaped his multi-disciplinary expertise.
• Dr. Rao established several groundbreaking initiatives in India that continue to transform craniofacial care today:
  • The first Smile Train Cleft Centre in India (2000), performing over 1,000 cleft surgeries annually, offering free care to underprivileged patients.
  • The first Craniofacial Centre (2001), supported by Cleft Children International, Zurich, provides advanced surgical care for children with craniofacial anomalies.
  • The INGA Health Foundation (2007) is dedicated to providing free reconstructive surgeries and global training programs for young surgeons.
• Beyond surgery, Dr. Rao has been instrumental in global cleft care advocacy and policy formulation.
• Dr. Rao has served as an Honorary Advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO), contributing to the global strategy for prevention of craniofacial anomalies, and was the President of the Indian Society for Cleft Lip, Palate, and Craniofacial Anomalies (2007).
• A prolific academician and author, Dr. Rao has contributed extensively to scientific literature, including chapters in major textbooks such as Operative Maxillofacial Surgery (2nd Edition, John Langdon), Essentials of Maxillofacial Surgery (Bailey & Love, 2024), and Global Cleft Care in Low-Resource Settings (Swanson & Low, 2021).
• His publications span leading international journals in Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Neurosurgery, and Regenerative Medicine.
• His humanitarian philosophy drives his charitable efforts, which include providing free craniofacial surgeries for underprivileged children and spearheading awareness programs to promote early diagnosis and prevention of facial anomalies.
• Dr. Rao’s dedication to education, research, and innovation has cemented his position as one of the 12 surgeons worldwide awarded the Medal of Honor in Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery.