John Murala, M.D.

Biography

John S.K. Murala, M.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He specializes in adult congenital heart surgery, therapies for advanced heart and lung failure, heart and lung transplantation, ECMO, and ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP). 

Dr. Murala earned his medical degree at Christian Medical College in Vellore, India. He completed his general surgery residency at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, India, and his cardiothoracic surgery residency from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), in New Delhi, India. He then received advanced fellowship training in congenital heart surgery in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He worked as an attending cardiac surgeon in India and Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Murala joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2017. 

He is one of the founding members of the World Society for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery, and is also a member of the Indian Association of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons, the Pediatric Cardiac Society of India, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. 

Dr. Murala’s research interests include ex vivo lung perfusion, organ procurement and preservation, adult congenital heart failure, study of sustainable low-cost heart care in the developing world, and development of effective teaching modules. He serves as a peer reviewer for several journals, and has published more than 20 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals. 

Proficient in four languages, Dr. Murala is passionate about teaching, the study of history of cardiac surgery, geriatric health, and global health. He frequently volunteers for medical missions and disaster relief.