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After finishing his initial medical school and primary surgical qualifications in India, Balaji proceeded to undergo training and complete his higher surgical training in the UK in 1998. He dedicated 2 years to clinical research at the University of Southern California, where he developed a keen interest in Oesophageal diseases and Foregut surgery. Subsequently, he obtained his CCT in Upper GI surgery in the UK and has been working as a consultant in Upper GI and Bariatric surgery since 2006. Following a 6-year stint in India, he returned to the UK and has been serving as a consultant in the national Health Service (NHS) for the past 10 years, specializing in Upper GI and Bariatric surgery since 2014.

Throughout his career, Balaji has held various leadership positions at the trust, regional, and national levels in the field of Upper GI and Bariatric surgery. His areas of expertise include the management of complex oesophageal diseases, performing advanced open and minimally invasive oesophageal and hiatal surgeries, as well as possessing proficiency in primary and revisional bariatric (weight loss) surgeries. Notably, he has served as a lead for one of the top 5 high-volume bariatric surgery centers in the UK.