Ravi Rajaram, M.D., M.Sc., F.A.C.S.
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Division of Surgery
About Dr. Ravi Rajaram
Ravi Rajaram, MD MSC, is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular surgery. Dr. Rajaram completed his undergraduate degree in Biology and Economics at Washington University in St. Louis, after which he earned his medical degree at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He subsequently completed his internship and residency training in General Surgery at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. During his residency, Dr. Rajaram completed 2 years of dedicated research, serving as an American College of Surgeons Clinical Scholar-in-Residence (2013-2015) and the American College of Surgeons Surgical Oncology Scholar (2013-2015). He also completed a postdoctoral fellowship on a T32 Health Services Research Integrated Training Program between the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. During these fellowships, Dr. Rajaram earned a Master’s degree in Health Services and Outcomes Research at Northwestern University. He additionally served as Administrative Chief Resident in General Surgery. Following his residency training, Dr. Rajaram completed a fellowship in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center / Memorial Hermann, with a clinical focus in the General Thoracic track.
Dr. Rajaram has a particular interest in thoracic surgical oncology and is focused on providing evidence-based, multidisciplinary care to his patients. His clinical interests include lung and esophageal cancer as well as mediastinal tumors. Dr. Rajaram is particularly interested in utilizing minimally-invasive approaches to care, including robotic surgery, and continues to engage in clinical and health services research as a faculty member.
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2015 | Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, US, Health Services and Outcomes Research, M.Sc |
| 2010 | Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, US, MD |
| 2005 | Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, US, Biology and Economics, BA |
Postgraduate Training
| 2017-2019 | Clinical Fellowship, Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2016-2017 | Administrative Chief Resident, General Surgery, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois |
| 2013-2015 | Research Fellowship, American College of Surgeons Clinical Scholar-in-Residence, Chicago, Illinois |
| 2013-2015 | Research Fellowship, American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer Surgical Oncology Scholar, Chicago, Illinois |
| 2013-2015 | Postdoctoral Fellow, T32 Integrated Postdoctoral Health Services Research Training Program, University of Chicago & Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois |
| 2010-2017 | Clinical Residency, General Surgery, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2023 | Alabama Board of Medical Examiners |
| 2022 | Georgia Composite Medical Board |
| 2022 | Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure |
| 2022 | Washington State Department of Health |
| 2022 | Arizona Board of Medical Examiners |
| 2022 | Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners |
| 2022 | Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners |
| 2021 | American Board of Thoracic Surgery |
| 2021 | Florida Board of Medicine |
| 2019 | Texas Medical Board – Full Medical License |
| 2018 | American Board of Surgery |
Experience & Service
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Service Line Lead: Thoracic Service Line, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2024 - Present
Lead, Multi-Institutional Mock Oral Exam, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2023 - Present
Member, Thoracic Multidisciplinary Clinical Trials Leadership Team, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2023 - Present
Moderator: Thoracic Multidisciplinary Tumor Board, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2023 - Present
Thoracic Surgeon Liaison, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2022 - Present
Clinical Medical Director, Department of Thoracic & Cardiovasc Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2022 - Present
Representative, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, UT MDACC - Perioperative Services Value Analysis Team, Houston, TX, 2021 - Present
Alternate Moderator, Institutional Committee, Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery Esophageal Tumor Board, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2019 - Present
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Service Line Executive Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - Present
Member, Template Utilization and Management, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - 2025
Member, Image-Guided Cancer Therapy (IGCT) Research Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - Present
Member, Perioperative Value Analysis Team Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Member, Thoracic Center Patient Experience Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Departmental Innovation Officer, Division of Surgery Innovation Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Member, Thoracic Service Line Expansion Team, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Representative, Departmental Vizient Comorbidity Documentation, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Member, Clinical Effectiveness Subcommittee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - 2023
Member, Junior Faculty Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Editorial Activities
Editorial Board Member, Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS), 2025 - 2027
Co-Author, AME Thoracic Surgery Collaborative Group, 2024 - 2026
Associate Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Thoracic Disease (JTD), 2024 - Present
Editorial Board Member, Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery, 2023 - 2027
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Thoracic Disease (JTD), 2022 - 2024
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2024. Thoracic: Capacity Load-Leveling. Invited. Service Line Retreat. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Clinical Challenges in Thoracic Surgery. Conference. UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2023. Treatment Options for Early-Stage Lung Cancer. Conference. UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2015. Impact of the 2011 ACGME Duty Hour Reform on Surgical Outcomes and Resident Exam Performance. Conference. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2014. An Evaluation of Patient Travel Time in Complex Cancer Surgery. Conference. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2014. Improving the Care of Septic Patients: A Quality Improvement Initiative. Conference. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2011. Airway Difficulties & Anesthesia. Conference. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Chicago, IL, US.
National Presentations
- 2018. Robotic Assisted Right Upper Lobe Sleeve Resection. Conference. Video Presentation at the 2018 AATS Foundation Surgical Robotics Fellowship Course. Atlanta, GA, US.
- 2016. Nationwide Utilization of Robotic Lobectomy and Postoperative Outcomes. Conference. Society of Thoracic Surgeons 52nd Annual Meeting. Phoenix, AZ, US.
- 2015. The College’s Clinical Scholars. Invited. 2015 American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress Panel Session. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2015. Association of the 2011 ACGME Resident Duty Hour Reform with General Surgery Patient Outcomes and Resident Examination Performance. Conference. American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program National Conference. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2015. Impact of the 2011 ACGME Duty Hour Reform on Surgical Outcomes and Resident Exam Performance. Conference. Plenary Presentation at the 10th Annual Academic Surgical Congress. Las Vegas, NV, US.
- 2014. Association of Implementation of the 2011 ACGME Resident Duty Hour Reform with General Surgery Patient Outcomes and with Resident Examination Performance. Conference. Chicago Surgical Society Scientific Program. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2014. Are Patients Traveling Farther for Complex Cancer Surgery? An Evaluation of Patient Travel Time and the Impact of High-Volume Hospitals. Conference. 2014 American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress Surgical Forum. San Francisco, CA, US.
- 2014. Impact of Recent Clinical Trials on the Use of Chemotherapy for Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in the US. Conference. 20th Annual National Research Service Award Trainee’s Research Conference. San Diego, CA, US.
- 2014. A National Assessment of Chemotherapy Use in Lung Cancer and Targets for Quality Improvement. Conference. Commission on Cancer Plenary Session. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2013. Public Reporting of ACS NSQIP Surgical Outcomes: A Comparison of Participant vs. non-Participant Hospitals. Conference. American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project National Conference. San Diego, CA, US.
International Presentations
- 2014. Predictors and Reasons for Readmission After Pulmonary Resection. Conference. European Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Meeting. Copenhagen, DK.
Formal Peers
- 2020. Expanding the Role of Minimally Invasive Lung Surgery. Visiting. Houston, TX, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2024 - 2025 |
| Title: | New data-driven gated PET/CT for radiation therapy and surgery |
| Funding Source: | MDACC/Shark Tank Award |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | 2024 IDBT Shark Tank Award |
| Date: | 2024 - Present |
| Title: | A Phase 3 Randomized Double-blind Study of Adjuvant Pembrolizumab With or Without V940 in Participants With Resectable Stage II to IIIB (N2) NSCLC not Achieving pCR After Receiving Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab With Platinum-based Doublet Chemotherapy (INTerpath-009) |
| Funding Source: | Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 2024-1631 |
Selected Publications
Professional Educational Materials
- Rajaram R, of Governors TACOSB. Postoperative Ileus Prevention. American College of Surgeons Best Practices Guideline, 2015.
- Johnson L, Rajaram R, Swaroop M. NMH General Surgery Pocket Manual, 2012.
Abstracts
- Rajaram R, Hooda Z, Ries S, Fabian T, Freeman K, Hofstetter W, Hudson J, Mehran R, Rice D, Swisher S, Vaporciyan A, Walsh G, Mitchell K, Zaku B, Antonoff M. Training Left-Handed Cardiothoracic Surgeons in a Right-Handed World: Perspectives and Experiences of Academic Cardiothoracic Surgeons. American Association for Thoracic Surgery 2025 Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, USA, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Rajaram R, Sheshadri A, Baugh A, Bonnell LN, Li L, Vaporciyan AA, Block M, David EA, Habib RH, Ost DE. Comparison of Race-Specific versus Race-Neutral Pulmonary Function Predicted Values in Patients Undergoing Lung Cancer Resection, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Rajaram R, Scholl LM, Dacic S, Goldman JW, Tan DS, Gautschi O, Loong HHF, De Braud FG, Massarelli E, Levy BP, Dy GK, Kang S, Szynczak S, Chao BC, Drilon AE. LIBRETTO-001 cohort 7: A single-arm phase 2 study of neoadjuvant selpercatinib in patients with resectable stage IB-IIIA RET fusion-positive NSCLC, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Rajaram R, Abreu JA, Mehran R, Nguyen TC, Antonoff MB, Vaporciyan A. Poster: Using Quality Improvement Principles to Redesign a Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship Program Website, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Rajaram R, Mohanty S, Bentrem DB, Pavey E, Odell D, Bharat A, Bilimoria KY, DeCamp MM. Nationwide Utilization of Robotic Lobectomy and Postoperative Outcomes, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Rajaram R, Chung J, Jones A, Cohen ME, Dahlke AR, Ko CY, Tarpley JL, Lewis FR, Hoyt DB, Bilimoria KY. Association of the 2011 ACGME Resident Duty Hour Reform with General Surgery Patient Outcomes and Resident Examination Performance, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Rajaram R, Chung J, Cohen ME, Dahlke AR, Yang AD, Ko CY, Hoyt DB, Bilimoria KY. Association of the 2011 ACGME Resident Duty Hour Reform with Publicly Reported Measures of Hospital Quality, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Rajaram R, Chung J, Jones A, Cohen ME, Dahlke AR, Hedges L, Ko CY, Tarpley JL, Lewis FR, Hoyt DB, Bilimoria KY. Impact of the 2011 ACGME Duty Hour Reform on Surgical Outcomes and Resident Exam Performance, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Rajaram R, Chung J, Jones A, Cohen ME, Dahlke AR, Ko CY, Tarpley JL, Lewis FR, Hoyt DB, Bilimoria KY. Association of Implementation of the 2011 ACGME Resident Duty Hour Reform with General Surgery Patient Outcomes and with Resident Examination Performance, 2014. e-Pub 2014.
- Rajaram R, Paruch J, Mohanty S, Ko CY, Winchester D, Bilimoria KY. Are Patients Traveling Farther for Complex Cancer Surgery? An Evaluation of Patient Travel Time and the Impact of High-Volume Hospitals, 2014. e-Pub 2014.
- Rajaram R, Kennedy C, Schwulst S, Bilimoria KY. Improving the Care of Septic Patients: A Baseline Analysis and Quality Improvement Initiative, 2014. e-Pub 2014.
- Rajaram R, Paruch JL, Holl JL, Ko CY, Winchester DP, Bilimoria KY, Patel JD, DeCamp MM. Impact of Recent Clinical Trials on the Use of Chemotherapy for Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in the US, 2014. e-Pub 2014.
- Rajaram R, Ju MH, Ko CY, Bilimoria KY, DeCamp MM. Predictors and Reasons for Readmission After Pulmonary Resection, 2014. e-Pub 2014.
- Rajaram R, Paruch JL, Holl JL, Ko CY, Winchester DP, Bilimoria KY, Patel JD, DeCamp MM. Impact of Recent Clinical Trials on the Use of Chemotherapy for Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in the US, 2014. e-Pub 2014.
- Rajaram R, Kennedy C, Schwulst S, Bilimoria KY. Improving the Care of Septic Patients, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Rajaram R, Forbes RC, Parikh AA, Sharp KW. Case report and review of the literature: a duodenal diverticulum masquerading as a cystic neoplasm of the pancreas, 2010. e-Pub 2010.
- Rajaram R, Spratt DE, Mericle RA. The use of dexamethasone in non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage patients, 2009. e-Pub 2009.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified September 15, 2025