An In-depth Focus on the Health and Wellbeing of Women
Mumbai-based Dr. (Mrs) Kiran S Coelho, MD, DGO, DFP has been practicing Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ObGyn) for over three decades. She offers comprehensive services including pre-marital and prenatal counselling, infertility treatment, use of assisted reproductive technology, maternity and pregnancy care, normal and complicated deliveries, endoscopic and open gynaecological surgeries. She is also an expert in taking care of high-risk pregnancies. In every case, she is committed to individualized, personal care and deploys the latest research and treatment methods so that each patient receives the most effective care, based on her specific health requirements.
Dr. Coelho has vast experience in her field, having been involved in the care and management of thousands of patients. She has performed more than 5,000 laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgeries.
Her patients’ abiding trust in her is reflected by the fact that she is now delivering the babies of many of the babies she delivered years ago! (see Testimonials)
Her in-depth medical education includes an MBBS degree from Karnataka Medical College (with two Gold Medals for topping in Obstetrics & Gynaecology), an MD in Obstetrics & Gynaecology from Grant Medical College, Mumbai and specialized overseas training in Infertility, Endoscopic (Keyhole) Surgery and High-Risk Obstetrics. (see Qualifications)
Dr. Coelho is also a nationally and internationally acknowledged expert in minimal access gynaecologic surgery, having performed over 5,000 such procedures. She has presented a large number of scientific papers on Infertility, Endoscopic (Keyhole) Surgery and High-risk Obstetrics at national and international conferences and has also conducted numerous workshops on these subjects. She has a special interest in Minimally Invasive Surgery and is presently a DNB teacher, CPS teacher and has several Endoscopy Fellows training under her. Dr Coelho is also a teaching Faculty of CeMAST, the Centre for excellence in Minimal Access Surgery Training in India.
Currently, Dr. Coelho is professionally attached to the following hospitals in Mumbai :
- Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Bandra Reclamation
- Hinduja Healthcare Surgical, Khar West
- Holy Family Hospital and Research Centre, Bandra West
- Surya Hospital, Santa Cruz West
- Breach Candy Hospital, Warden Road
- St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Malabar Hill
Comprehensive Qualifications
Born and raised in Bandra, Mumbai, Dr. Coelho is an alumnus of St. Joseph’s Convent School. She completed her MBBS training at Karnataka Medical College, where she received two Gold Medals for topping the University in Obstetrics & Gynaecology in the final MBBS examination – an achievement which inspired her to obtain her MD in the same subjects from Grant Medical College, Mumbai University (1984). She also holds a Diploma in Family Planning (DFP) and a Diploma in Gynaecology and Obstetrics (DGO) from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Mumbai (1982).
A love for learning and a desire to stay abreast of evolving medical techniques and diagnostic equipment prompted her to subsequently undergo additional specialized fellowship training overseas in Infertility Practice, Endoscopic (Keyhole) Surgery, High Risk Obstetrics and Ultrasound. Thus, her qualifications include advanced training and a Visiting Fellowship in ObGyn Ultrasound at Nassau County Medical Center, New York, USA (1988) as well as a Visiting Fellowship in In-Vitro Fertilization, Assisted Reproductive Technology and Minimally Invasive Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
She has also opted for additional specialized training in Microsurgery, Operative Laparoscopy, Hysteroscopy, Colposcopy and Bio-electronic Foetal Monitoring.
Dr. Coelho has, thereafter, not only put all her learning into practice but has actively sought to spread her expertise by being on the faculty of several training centres to train other gynaecologists in Minimal Access Surgery.
An Ever Expanding Practice
Dr. Kiran S Coelho, after many years of clinical teaching at premier medical colleges in Mumbai, reached the prestigious post of Asst. Professor in ObGyn at TN Medical College and BYL Nair Charitable Hospital. As this was a fulltime post, not allowing private practice, she resigned in 1989 and established her first private practice at Holy Family Hospital, Bandra, just a short distance from her childhood home. She has delivered the babies of many Bandra residents, including a number of film and television personalities and her patients’ trust in her is reflected by new generations of patients from the same families flocking to her.
When asked what it is like to be the gynaecologist to celebrities, she says: “Every woman is a celebrity to me. I am a very joyous person because, even though I work almost 18 hours a day, I am doing what I enjoy the most – taking care of the health and wellbeing of women of all ages.”
Through the years, her practice has grown and spread to include the following attachments :
- Senior Consultant and Post-Graduate Teacher in ObGyn at Holy Family Hospital and Research Centre, Bandra West (since 1989)
- Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology as well as Post-Graduate DNB teacher at Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre in Bandra Reclamation (since 1996)
- Honorary Consultant ObGyn and Coordinator of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hinduja Healthcare Surgical, Khar West (since 2011).
- Honorary Consultant ObGyn at Surya Hospital, Santa Cruz West
- Visiting Consultant ObGyn at Breach Candy Hospital, Warden Road
- Visiting Consultant ObGyn at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Malabar Hill
- Faculty CeMAST, India at Mumbai
She continues to practice at Holy Family Hospital, Bandra West, where she sets aside one day every week for free consultations and surgery for the underprivileged, in keeping with her firm belief that all patients should have access to the latest surgical and technological advances in healthcare services.
Sharing Experience & Expertise
Dr. Coelho is scrupulous about keeping abreast of the latest developments in her field and her qualifications span teaching as well as learning. As Assistant Professor, ObGyn at T.N. Medical College and B.Y.L. Nair Hospital, Mumbai, and earlier, a Lecturer in ObGyn at Grant Medical College, Mumbai, she has shared her experience and expertise with a large number of students. She has also trained over 100 doctors in Gynaecological Endoscopy and been a faculty member at numerous Endoscopic Surgery workshops and symposia at national and international fora.
To share the knowledge and expertise she has gained through such in-depth, hands-on practice, Dr. Coelho has published a number of scientific papers on minimal access gynaecologic surgery in leading medical and scientific journals worldwide. She is on the Faculty of CeMAST – the Centre for excellence in Minimal Access Surgery Training, which runs training courses for Gynaecologists from all over India and abroad.
Dr. Kiran S Coelho, along with Dr. Chaityanand Koppiker, a renowned Onco and Mammoplastic surgeon and Dr. Hemant Tongaonkar, an eminent Surgical Oncologist specialized in Gynaecological cancer, conceived the Women’s Wellness and Cancer Clinic at Hinduja Healthcare Surgical Hospital, Khar West. Dr. Coelho plays an active role as the Gynaecologist at this clinic, which focuses on both – preventive screening as also, treatment of gynaecological related cancers.
She gives regular Marriage Preparation courses and is co-author of the bestselling book ‘Creative Love’, which is now in its 8th edition.
To remain at the cutting-edge of developments in her field, Dr. Coelho is an active member of diverse professional organisations / institutions :
- Life Member of Mumbai Obstetric & Gynecological Society (M.O.G.S.)
- Life Member of Federation Of Obstetrics & Gynecological Societies of India (F.O.G.S.I.)
- Life Member of Association of Medical Women in India (A.M.W.I.)
- Life Member of Indian Association of Gynaecological Endoscopists (I.A.G.E.)
- Life Member of Indian Association of Medical Ultrasound (I.A.M.U.)
- Life Membership of the Journal of Minimally Invasive Surgery
Always Ready to Lend a Hand
Dr. Coelho is an active participant in social outreach activities – including singing for fund-raising concerts in aid of Navjeevan – an outreach health centre of Holy Family Hospital – and at Celebrate Bandra Festivals !
One can often spot her doing a work-out by walking on the waterfront late at night.
Dr. Coelho is the Chairperson of “Save the Girl Child” initiative of the Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre.
Over the years, Dr. Coelho has organized and participated in free treatment camps of Lilavati Hospital at Palanpur, Rajasthan, Pawandham, Dharavi, etc.
Dr Kiran Coelho is actively involved for the past 10 years in the Marriage preparation classes conducted by Snehalaya , Mumbai. She has also co authoured a book for these couples called “Creative Love”
While having such an illustrious career, with the constant support and encouragement of her husband, Dr. Coelho has raised two successful children and is now a grandmother of three.
However, there’s no slowing down for her! She continues to work up to 16 hours a day, saying, “I am blessed to have the opportunity to care for the health of so many women, of all ages and from all walks of life. I take such joy in serving my patients. Why would I ever voluntarily slow down?”
Dr. Coelho says that juggling her busy career and bringing up two children would not have been possible without the support of her husband, whom she refers to as her ‘Rock of Gibraltar’. He has encouraged her throughout and has always been proud of her achievements.
Due to her handling of high-risk pregnancies and other challenging women’s health issues, Dr. Coelho often receives media coverage. She was recently in the news for successfully removing 44 large fibroids in a patient through laparoscopic or keyhole surgery and still retaining her uterus.
In this case, a UK-based, 38 year old unmarried professional, suffered from severe pain and bleeding during periods for several years. She was diagnosed with multiple uterine fibroids, but being unmarried, did not want to go in for surgery, but managed only with symptomatic relief. However, the fibroids grew at an alarming rate and she developed a large bulge in the abdomen with unbearable pain. She then approached several doctors in the UK, all of whom suggested a hysterectomy operation to remove the uterus, as the fibroids were large and multiple.
She came to India for a second opinion and was referred to Dr. Kiran S Coelho at Hinduja Healthcare Hospital, Khar. This boutique, super-speciality hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for advanced laparoscopic surgery.
On further investigation with Ultrasound and MRI, Dr. Coelho confirmed that the patient had large multiple fibroids, distorting the entire uterus. The uterus size was around 28 cm., roughly the size of a 7-month pregnancy and so advanced was the condition that there was hardly any uterus muscle left.
Promising the patient that she would try her best to remove only the fibroids and preserve the uterus and ovaries, Dr. Coelho performed a Laparoscopic Myomectomy. In a four-hour surgery she removed 44 fibroids, with 12 being extra large, ranging from 6-10 cms. Blood loss during surgery was minimised by using vasopressin injection and the Ace Harmonic Scalpel, which uses ultrasound to vibrate the shears at 55,000 vib. per second. This produces heat and a cavitational effect to seal blood vessels at lower temperatures, thereby preventing damage to neighboring tissue and maintaining the integrity of the uterine muscle for future pregnancies.
Dr. Coelho performed extensive, three-layer suturing and reforming of the uterus. Surprisingly the blood loss was estimated to be only around 700 ml, requiring a transfusion of only 2 units of blood post operatively.
The patient did very well thereafter, sitting up on the first day itself. She walked on the second day and was discharged on the 4th day. In this rare surgery, despite the laparoscopic removal of 44 large fibroids, the uterus was preserved. This successful surgery offers numerous women like her suffering from multiple, symptomatic, fibroids, hope for a successful future pregnancy.
This surgery set a new benchmark. Though there are global records of upto 80 fibroids being removed through open abdominal surgery, there is no previous record of the laparoscopic removal of 44 large fibroids with preservation of the uterus, by suturing and restructuring the uterus through a minilap incision.
Dr. Kiran S Coelho is on the Expert Editorial Board for the popular magazine “Mother and Baby” and also “Women’s Health” magazine.
She regularly contributes articles on women’s health and is called upon to give her expert opinion to the print and electronic media like India Today, Reader’s Digest, Times of India, Femina, Mumbai Mirror, Bombay Times, etc. For many years, she wrote an expert column called “Gynaecspeak” for the DNA newspaper. She is often called upon to be an expert panelist on the TV Channel Mirror Now’s prime time programme “The Urban Debate”.
She has made several educational videos on common women’s health issues like Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Menopause, Urinary Tract Infections and Stress Urinary Incontinence, Fibroids , Endometriosis, Ovarian Cysts, Vaginal Infections and Keyhole Surgery.