Biography

Dr. K.K. Gombar is a highly distinguished Head of Department of Critical Care at Healing Hospital, Chandigarh, and a dynamic professional with over three decades of enriched experience in anaesthesiology and critical care at various prestigious institutes in India and abroad. He brings exceptional expertise in intensive care medicine, critical illness management, and perioperative care, combined with outstanding academic leadership and internationally recognized research contributions.

Dr. Gombar completed his medical undergraduate degree (MBBS) from University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS), Delhi University—where he developed a strong foundation in clinical medicine. He pursued his postgraduate specialization earning his MD from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh—gaining comprehensive training in anaesthesiology, critical care, pain management, and perioperative medicine.

Recognizing the importance of healthcare management and administration, Dr. Gombar completed his MBA in Health Care Services from Manipal University, equipping him with advanced skills in healthcare leadership, hospital administration, quality management, and healthcare systems, making him uniquely qualified to lead departments and manage complex healthcare delivery systems.

His distinguished academic career includes serving as Professor and Head of Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH-32), Chandigarh—where he was responsible for leading the department, training postgraduate and undergraduate students, conducting research, and establishing critical care protocols. He previously served as Medical Director and Head of Critical Care at Healing Hospital, demonstrating his leadership in building and managing critical care services.

Dr. Gombar’s international recognition is reflected in his appointment as Visiting Professor to University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria—one of Europe’s leading medical institutions—where he shared his expertise in critical care medicine with European colleagues, learned advanced European critical care practices, and established international academic collaborations.

He is the recipient of many prestigious awards including the Dr. P. Radhakrishnan Oration Award and numerous other national and international recognitions for his contributions to anaesthesiology and critical care medicine. His research excellence has been acknowledged by peers and professional societies across the country.

Dr. Gombar has held significant leadership positions in professional societies including serving as President of Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists (ISA), Chandigarh Chapter—the premier organization for anaesthesiologists in India, and President of Indian Chapter of International Trauma Anaesthesia and Critical Care Society (ITACCS), Chandigarh—demonstrating his leadership in advancing anaesthesiology and critical care practice.

He has immense administrative and academic experience, having contributed more than 100 research publications including comprehensive reviews in peer-reviewed indexed journals on topics in anaesthesiology, critical care medicine, pain management, and perioperative care. His research work has been cited in a large number of international textbooks of anaesthesiology, critical care, and pain management, reflecting the global impact of his scholarly contributions. He has also authored chapters in textbooks, contributing to medical education worldwide.

He serves as a member of the editorial board of various journals of anaesthesiology, contributing to peer review, scientific publishing, and advancing the quality of anaesthesiology research and literature.

Dr. Gombar specializes in comprehensive critical care and anaesthesiology including intensive care (management of critically ill patients in ICU, multi-organ dysfunction syndrome, sepsis and septic shock management, acute respiratory distress syndrome – ARDS, hemodynamic monitoring and support, mechanical ventilation – invasive and non-invasive, vasoactive drug management, renal replacement therapy in critical illness, neurological critical care, post-cardiac arrest care, trauma critical care), perioperative care (pre-operative assessment and optimization, intraoperative anaesthesia management for all surgical specialties, post-operative critical care, enhanced recovery after surgery – ERAS protocols), anaesthesia for complex surgeries (cardiac anaesthesia, neurosurgical anaesthesia, transplant anaesthesia, thoracic anaesthesia, trauma anaesthesia, paediatric anaesthesia, obstetric anaesthesia), pain management (acute pain management, chronic pain management, regional anaesthesia techniques, multimodal analgesia), and emergency critical care (resuscitation, airway management, emergency procedures, trauma life support).

His expertise extends to advanced critical care procedures including central venous catheterization, arterial line insertion, advanced airway management including difficult airway management, ultrasound-guided procedures, percutaneous tracheostomy, and other invasive monitoring and therapeutic procedures essential for managing critically ill patients.

Dr. Gombar’s three decades of experience span the evolution of modern critical care medicine from basic intensive care to contemporary organ support systems, precision medicine in critical care, and evidence-based ICU protocols. His administrative experience as HOD and Medical Director has enabled him to establish quality standards, implement best practices, and build world-class critical care services.

According to Dr. Gombar, “Critical care medicine is about supporting failing organs, stabilizing critically ill patients, and providing families with hope during the most challenging times. Through evidence-based practice, teamwork, and compassionate care, we can improve outcomes for our sickest patients.” He is medically and administratively very sound and believes in ethical practice with evidence-based, protocol-driven critical care for his patients. He makes sure that patients’ families are fully aware of their loved one’s critical condition, treatment strategies, prognosis, and care plans, and goes the extra mile in communicating clearly during difficult situations, coordinating multidisciplinary care, and ensuring the highest standards of intensive care from emergency stabilization to ICU recovery and rehabilitation.