View Larger Image
Rangaswamy Govindarajan, M.D., MRCP, (seated) with Steven Webber, M.D., and Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA.
Image by Evan Lewis
UAMS Invests Rangaswamy Govindarajan, M.D., MRCP, in Hutchins Distinguished Chair for Hematology and Oncology
| LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine invested Rangaswamy Govindarajan, M.D., MRCP, a professor in the UAMS College of Medicine and director of the Division of Hematology and Oncology in the UAMS Department of Internal Medicine, in the Laura F. Hutchins, M.D., Distinguished Chair for Hematology and Oncology during a May 6 ceremony.
“I am thankful for all my friends and colleagues who have taken the time to come here and celebrate this investiture,” said Govindarajan. “All this would not be possible without my wife, who knows me longer than anybody in the audience, and my family members — I am very thankful for you all.”
Govindarajan also serves as chief of the Section of Hematology and Oncology at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS). He specializes in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers and sarcoma. He is the only medical oncologist in Arkansas who specializes in sarcoma treatment.
“Endowed chairs allow us to honor our most distinguished faculty members, and provide ongoing support for research, education and clinical services,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “Dr. Govindarajan, I can think of no one who is better suited to serve as the next chair of the Laura Hutchinson Distinguished Chair in Hematology and Oncology — this is our salute to you and our determination that these resources could be in no better hands.”
Endowed chairs are the highest honors of academic excellence that a university can bestow upon its faculty. A distinguished chair is established with gifts of at least $1.5 million, which are invested and the interest proceeds used to support the educational, research and clinical activities of the chair holder. Those named to a chair are among the most highly regarded scientists, physicians and professors in their fields.
“Endowed chairs help us recruit and retain world-class educators, scientists and clinicians,” said Steven Webber, M.D., dean of the College of Medicine and UAMS executive vice chancellor. “We are delighted today to celebrate the philanthropic spirit of all the contributors who made this chair possible.
“This is also an opportunity to reflect upon the remarkable leadership and service to our state of the chair’s namesake Dr. Laura Hutchins,” Webber added. “Finally, it is a great pleasure to honor the outstanding colleague who will be the next holder of this chair, so again congratulations to Dr. Govindarajan.”
The Laura F. Hutchins, M.D., Distinguished Chair for Hematology and Oncology was established through a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor, proceeds from the 2012 Gala for Life and numerous contributions from friends and colleagues of Laura F. Hutchins, M.D. The chair honors her role as director of the Division of Hematology and Oncology in the Department of Internal Medicine, a position Hutchins held from 1998 to 2013. As division director, she was highly respected for her humble leadership and desire to help faculty and staff develop their careers, obtain their goals and perform their jobs to the best of their abilities.
Govindarajan received his medical degree from Mysore Medical College at the University of Mysore in Mysore, India. He completed internships at K.R. Hospital and Cheluvamba Hospital in Mysore. He completed his residency in internal medicine in India and is board certified by Diplomate of National Board in Internal Medicine. He pursued training in the United Kingdom, where he obtained Membership of the Royal College of Physicians and specialized in hematology at St. James’ University Hospital in Leeds, England. He moved to the United States and completed his residency and fellowship in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UAMS.
Govindarajan leads the Gastrointestinal Cancer Multidisciplinary Tumor Board and heads the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute’s Gastrointestinal Disease Oriented Committee. He is a member of the Southwest Oncology Group, where he actively participates in gastrointestinal, sarcoma and Veteran Affairs committees. He was elected to the board of governors of Southwest Oncology Group and serves as the principal investigator of the group’s trials at the UAMS Cancer Institute and CAVHS.
An active clinical investigator, Govindarajan has conducted investigator-initiated trials and participates in multiple cooperative group and industry-sponsored trials. He also has conducted multiple studies resulting in presentations at national and international meetings and has numerous publications, including in leading journals such as Blood, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lancet and Nature, and serves as a reviewer for major medical journals.
He has mentored multiple fellows in conducting research who have presented at national meetings and received multiple travel awards. He is a full member of the Cancer Institute and has been instrumental in designing translational research leading to novel therapeutic trials at the institute. He also chairs the institute’s Protocol Review Monitoring Committee.
“I speak in complete agreement that Dr. Govindarajan is invested in the Laura Hutchins Chair, and I look forward to continually working with him and to continue to grow the academic oncology effort here at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute,” said Michael Birrer, M.D., Ph.D., vice chancellor and director of the Cancer Institute. “Congratulations, Dr. Govindarajan.”
UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,485 students, 915 medical residents and fellows, and seven dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 11,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.###