Newswise — ST. LOUIS — Thanks to a generous gift from Dr. Vasu and Lisa Pandrangi, Saint Louis University will invest in the future of plastic surgery research. The $500,000 gift will fund an endowed professorship to promote the translation of clinical and basic research to patient care through research in the division of plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Director of plastic and reconstructive surgery at SLU, Bruce Kraemer, M.D., will be invested as the inaugural holder of the Lisa and Vasu Pandrangi, M.D. and Family Professorship in Plastic Surgery on March 28.
Dr. Pandrangi, who currently serves as chairman of the board, Southwest General Health System, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, and as a member of the board of trustees of University Hospitals in Cleveland and as chief of plastic surgery at Southwest General Health Center and St. John Medical Center in Cleveland, was born in Visakhapatnam in the state of Andrapradesh in India. He graduated from Andhra Medical College and received his surgical training at King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam. He completed additional post graduate training in England in surgery, orthopaedics, and trauma, and subsequently began a general surgery residency at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Pontiac, Mich., in 1974.
Following those studies, Dr. Pandrangi completed specialized training in plastic surgery at Saint Louis University under the mentorship of then-director of plastic surgery F.X. Paletta, M.D.
“I am grateful for receiving my training in plastic surgery at Saint Louis University,” Pandrangi said. “The postgraduate training I received was excellent. The training was broad and had enormous depth pertaining to clinical learning. Dr. F.X. Paleltta was my program director. He was a very colorful individual and a great mentor.”
While in training, Dr. Pandrangi recalls working at hospitals across the city, including St. Louis City Hospital, VA Medical Center, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, Firmin Desloge Hospital, and St. Mary’s Health Center.
During his time in the city, Dr. Pandrangi experienced another significant life event. “Apart from deriving a great experience as a trainee to be a plastic surgeon, I met my wife of thirty years, Lisa, in the halls of Cardinal Glennon,” Pandrangi said. “That is definitely memorable.”
Lisa Pandrangi is a registered nurse and office manager for their medical practice in Westlake, Ohio. The couple have four children: Bharani Pandrangi Challa, M.D., is a pediatric gastroenterologist; Tera Pandrangi, DMD, is completing a residency in endodontics in August at The Ohio State University; Adam Pandrangi is graduating from law school at The Ohio State University in May and Alex Pandrangi graduated from Johns Hopkins University with an economics degree and is working in finance with Stifel.When considering how best to make an impact through giving, Dr. Pandrangi saw an opportunity to expand SLU’s research in plastic surgery.
“Throughout my graduate education, I felt strongly that there was a need to develop the infrastructure to facilitate research,” Pandrangi said. “With this gift, a path can be forged to create that infrastructure in pursuing future research at Saint Louis University in the field of plastic surgery.”
With this thought in mind, the couple decided to endow a professorship to promote clinical and laboratory research.
Kramer, a SLUCare Physician Group plastic surgeon, will be invested as the inaugural holder of this position later this month. He specializes in adult plastic and reconstructive surgery, wound care, and hand surgical care. With an interest in regenerative medicine research, he applies the latest techniques in his practice, including the use of extracellular products to constructively remodel wounds and promote the healing of non-healing wounds.
The Pandrangis feel strongly about the value of giving back to the community.
“I feel that giving back should be a consideration for everyone,” Pandrangi said. “Establishing this endowed professorship is my way of giving back.
“I am hoping that the discoveries made through the research funded with this endowment will help the human condition in a broad and scalable way. I am profoundly honored to have this opportunity. I encourage my colleagues to contribute toward the goal of creating stable research platforms which can help in developing new products and service lines.
“This endeavor has been incredibly exciting for us,” Pandrangi said. “I look forward to the great things to come from this research. With hope, optimism and unlimited patience, I anticipate that we can enhance people’s lives.”
Established in 1836, Saint Louis University School of Medicine has the distinction of awarding the first medical degree west of the Mississippi River. The school educates physicians and biomedical scientists, conducts medical research, and provides health care on a local, national and international level. Research at the school seeks new cures and treatments in five key areas: cancer, liver disease, heart/lung disease, aging and brain disease, and infectious diseases.
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