On January 1, 2019, Dr. Rajkumar Venkatramani assumed the role of director of the Solid Tumor Program at Texas Children’s Cancer Center. Venkatramani, associate professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, is a board-certified pediatric hematologist-oncologist who is internationally recognized for his expertise in the care of children with pediatric solid tumors.
Dr. Murali Chintagumpala, who has served as director of both the Solid Tumor and Neuro-Oncology programs for many years, will continue to serve as director of the Neuro-Oncology Program, and will continue to play an integral role in the Solid Tumor Program.
Venkatramani completed his pediatric training at Kings College in London and obtained membership in the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health. He completed another pediatric residency at University of Illinois College of Medicine and a fellowship in pediatric hematology oncology at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Venkatramani served on the faculty at University of Southern California for three years prior to joining the faculty at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Cancer Center in 2014.
At Texas Children’s, Venkatramani has been instrumental in developing a rare tumors program. He has established a national registry for children with rare tumors that will provide important data to physician scientists as they work to find a cure for these often times difficult to treat cancers.
Venkatramani is also a member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Renal Tumor Committee, where he is actively involved in developing a national clinical trial for children with a type of recurrent or relapsed kidney tumor known as Wilms tumor.
Venkatramani has published more than 60 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and has been a recipient of numerous awards, including: The Walter Laug Distinguished Teacher Award for Outstanding Teaching and the Guidance and Inspiration and Outstanding Resident Teacher Award. In 2017, he was appointed to the editorial board of Pediatric Blood and Cancer, the premier publication that focuses on laboratory and clinical investigations for children and adolescents with cancer or blood disorders.
“I am extremely excited to have Dr. Venkatramani transition into this leadership role, as his expertise in solid tumors will serve our patients and program well,” said Dr. Susan Blaney, director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers. “I am also very appreciative of the leadership that Dr. Chintagumpala has provided to the Solid Tumor Program for many years and pleased that he will continue to be actively involved in this program as well as to continue to lead the Neuro-Oncology Program as well as play a leadership role in other Center activities.”