From Patient to Pioneer: Dr. Tejaswini Murthy’s mission to redefine ICU nutrition in India

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“I didn’t expect to survive. But when I did, I knew it was time to change how we think about patient recovery,” Dr. Tejaswini Murthy shares with ImpactStories.in as she reflects on the turning point in her journey—one that transformed her from a critically ill patient into a global advocate for nutrition in critical care.

Raised in Bangalore, Dr. Tejaswini’s early fascination with medicine grew from an unlikely source: a sickly childhood. Constantly battling illness, she became acutely aware of the role that health and nutrition played in recovery. It was a realization that would come full circle years later, when her own health crisis sparked a life-altering mission.

A health crisis that changed everything

In 2016, Dr. Tejaswini and her husband embarked on a difficult fertility journey, trying for years to conceive through IVF treatments. After numerous failed attempts, an IVF procedure in Australia took a frightening turn. She was rushed to the ICU after developing a severe abdominal infection. The prognosis was dire: she had only a 50% chance of survival.

“I was terrified,” she recalls. “I remember calling my family, not knowing if I would make it.” Her abdomen filled with nearly two liters of pus, requiring two emergency surgeries and six blood transfusions. Despite these life-saving interventions, it wasn’t until her husband and friends began bringing her home-cooked food that her recovery truly began to accelerate.

“I realized then that while the medical interventions saved my life, it was nutrition that brought me back to full strength,” she tells. From that moment, Dr. Tejaswini knew her path forward would involve transforming ICU care by focusing on nutrition, an often-overlooked element in critical care recovery.

The drive to revolutionize ICU nutrition

After recovering from her near-fatal infection, Dr. Tejaswini shifted her focus from anesthesiology to nutrition, enrolling in a PhD program at the University of Adelaide. Her work aimed to fill a critical gap in ICU care: how proper nutrition can speed up recovery for critically ill patients. “In the ICU, we often overlook nutrition,” she explains. “But it’s crucial to survival. Our bodies need the right fuel to heal.”

Her research at the University of Adelaide would prove transformative. One of her landmark studies examined the nutritional intake of 4,000 ICU patients, revealing a direct correlation between poor nutrition and negative outcomes. Patients experiencing gastrointestinal issues like vomiting or diarrhea often went unnoticed in terms of nutrition support, significantly hampering their recovery.

This research was a breakthrough, shining a spotlight on an issue few ICU doctors had considered deeply. “Proper nutrition wasn’t just about survival—it was about improving quality of life after critical illness,” she says. Her findings not only received global recognition but also earned her a place in the prestigious "15 Stories" campaign celebrating impactful workin STEM by the University of Adelaide. She was also named a “Woman of Impact” for her significant contributions to healthcare.

Personal struggles: Battling through 28 IVF cycles

While her professional life soared, Dr. Tejaswini faced continued personal struggles. The path to motherhood was filled with heartache, marked by 28 failed IVF cycles over the course of four years. But even in the face of repeated disappointment, she refused to give up.

“There were moments when I thought I couldn’t handle another failure,” she tells ImpactStories.in, her voice soft with emotion. “But each time, I reminded myself to stay positive. I knew I had come too far to stop now.”

Her medical knowledge and deep understanding of nutrition kept her focused. She maintained a balanced lifestyle, adhering to a strict diet and managing her health through careful nutrition, which she credits with getting her through the most difficult periods of her life. Despite the strain on her body and the emotional toll, she continued her research, advocating for the importance of nutrition in critical care.

Finally, after years of trying, her resilience paid off. She successfully conceived through IVF, and in July of that year, she gave birth to a healthy daughter. “Becoming a mother after everything I had been through was surreal,” she shares with deep emotion. “I felt like my journey had come full circle. And I knew my focus on nutrition had helped me through it.”

Returning to India: Bridging the gap in ICU care

With her personal and professional goals now intertwined, Dr. Tejaswini returned to India with her family, determined to bring her expertise back home. “India’s ICU nutrition practices lag behind,” she explains. “Most guidelines are based on Western research, which doesn’t always account for our population’s unique needs.”

In India, conditions like diabetes and malnutrition are prevalent, making critical care even more complex. Dr. Tejaswini’s mission was clear: to drive a shift in ICU nutrition protocols by focusing on the needs of Indian patients. She began mentoring four ICU doctors across India—two in Chennai, one in Bangalore, and one in Gujarat—helping them implement nutrition-focused research and treatment protocols tailored to the Indian population.

“Many ICU doctors are unaware of how essential nutrition is in patient recovery,” she tells ImpactStories.in. “They may prescribe nutrition, but often the delivery is overlooked. My goal is to change that mindset.”

Despite the challenges of working in a healthcare system that is often under-resourced, Dr. Tejaswini remains optimistic. She and her husband, who pursued a master’s in biostatistics to support her research, are gathering data to make the case for better nutrition in critical care.

“We need evidence tailored to our population. Only then can we create meaningful change in how we treat patients in India’s ICUs.” - Dr Tejaswini Murthy

Current challenges

While Dr. Tejaswini’s work has already made waves, the challenges are far from over. In India, many ICUs are still focused primarily on life-saving interventions, with nutrition often taking a backseat. Despite her research showing that proper nutrition can drastically improve recovery outcomes, many hospitals struggle with implementation.

“There’s a gap in both knowledge and infrastructure,” she explains. “Doctors understand the importance of nutrition, but often don’t have the resources or training to ensure patients receive the necessary support. And in under-resourced hospitals, the delivery of care is inconsistent.”

One of her current projects is building a framework that hospitals can follow to help improve nutrition delivery across various ICU settings. Additionally, she is working on research that focuses specifically on the Indian diet, which can vary greatly from Western dietary guidelines. Customizing protocols to better suit Indian dietary needs will ensure more effective and culturally relevant care for critically ill patients.

A path forward with purpose and hope

Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Tejaswini remains driven by a deep sense of purpose. “I know how it feels to be on the edge of life and death. And I know that nutrition—something so simple yet so powerful—can make all the difference,” she says.

Her work is already impacting thousands of lives, both in India and globally. By advocating for nutrition in ICU care and supporting research tailored to the Indian population, Dr. Tejaswini is laying the foundation for a future where nutrition is at the heart of critical care. Her resilience, both personal and professional, continues to inspire those around her.

“Never give up,” she says. “With determination, anything is possible.”