May 2, 2014
Surendra
K. Varma, MD, Lubbock, received the Platinum Award, the top honor in the Texas
Medical Association (TMA) Award for
Excellence in Academic Medicine. Dr. Varma received the award today
during TMA’s annual conference in Fort Worth.
“I
am deeply honored to receive this award,” said Dr. Varma. “Throughout my
professional life, my motto has been to provide the best possible patient care,
give students and residents the best education I am capable of providing, offer
professional collegiality, and be part of organized medicine.”
The
multilevel award program is designed to recognize academic physicians who are
consummate teachers, role models, and medical professionals. The TMA Council on
Medical Education’s Subcommittee for
Academic Physicians
created the award in 2012 to recognize Texas physician leaders who have
simultaneously dedicated their lives to the care of patients and to the preparation
of the physician workforce of tomorrow.
Dr. Varma is such a physician. He is a
distinguished service professor and vice chair of pediatrics at Texas Tech
University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Medicine in Lubbock, a
position he has had since 1983. He also is associate dean for Graduate Medical
Education and Resident Affairs. A physician for more than 45 years, Dr. Varma is
board certified in pediatrics and pediatric endocrinology.
Dr. Varma was recognized by the House of Delegates at TexMed 2014 and received a $5,000 cash award and trophy, generously provided through a grant from the Texas Medical Association Foundation thanks to gifts from physicians and their families and institutional donors.
“Dr.
Varma’s commitment to teaching is second to none,” said Steven L. Berk, MD,
dean of the School of Medicine at TTUHSC. “He tirelessly gives of his time and
energy, personal resources, and his incredible professional experience to
educate new physicians, mentor and develop other faculty in teaching excellence,
and influence improvements in medical education,” said Dr. Berk.
Dr.
Varma has an extensive leadership list in local, state, and national
organizations. He is a former president of the Lubbock-Crosby-Garza County
Medical Society; the Texas Pediatric Society (TPS); and the American Diabetes
Association, Texas Affiliate. Dr. Varma currently serves as a member of the TMA
Subcommittee for Academic Physicians and also has served as a member of the TMA
councils on Scientific Affairs and Health Promotion, and of the TMA House of
Delegates. He is a member of the editorial board of Texas Medicine, TMA’s award-winning monthly newsmagazine.
Currently,
he is associate editor of the International
Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and U.S. editor for the Indian Journal of Pediatrics. Dr. Varma serves
on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Clinical
Endocrinologists, Texas Chapter, and serves on the Accreditation Review
Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant.
In
1974, he created the Pediatric Endocrine-Metabolic Division at TTUHSC, allowing
West Texas children to receive those specialty services regionally. Prior to
that, patients had to go to Dallas, Galveston, and Houston for those services. In
1977, Dr. Varma helped draft a bill, now Texas law, that requires screening of
newborns for congenital hypothyroidism.
He
received the President’s Outstanding Professor Award from TTUHSC in 2012, as
well as the Charles Daeschner Lifetime Achievement Award from TPS.
Dr.
Varma received his medical degree from King George’s Medical College in India
and completed fellowships in pediatrics and endocrinology at Harvard Medical
School.
Dr.
Varma was among six physicians who were recognized by TMA in 2014 through the
academic award program. Physicians self-nominate for the Bronze, Silver, and
Gold levels. A TMA physician committee selects the Platinum Award winner from
the eligible Gold-level recipients. Physicians who receive Gold-level
recognition remain eligible for the Platinum Award for three years. (See below list
of 2013-14 award winners. No physicians applied for the Bronze level this year.)
2013-14 TMA Award for
Excellence in Academic Medicine Recipients
2014 Platinum-Level Award Winner:
Surendra K.
Varma, MD;
Texas Tech University Health Sciences
Center, Lubbock
2014 Recipients of Gold-Level Recognition:
Charles Rudolph
Bauer, MD;
The University of Texas Health Science
Center at San Antonio
Kevin Hood
McKinney, MD;
The University of Texas Medical Branch
Surendra K.
Varma, MD;
Texas Tech University Health Sciences
Center, Lubbock
Rodney B. Young, MD; Texas Tech University Health Sciences
Center, Amarillo *
2014 Recipients
of Silver-Level Recognition:
Cheryl L. Hurd, MD; University of North Texas Health Science Center
G. Sealy Massingill, MD; University of North Texas Health Science
Center
2013
Recipients of Gold-Level Recognition Eligible for 2014 Platinum-Level Award:
Joel Sullivan
Dunnington, MD;
The University of Texas MD Anderson
Cancer Center
Lewis E.
Foxhall, MD;
The University of Texas MD Anderson
Cancer Center
John J. Fraser
Jr., MD, JD, MPH;
The University of Texas Medical Branch
Alice K. Gong,
MD;
The University of Texas Health Science
Center at San Antonio
Robert Greenberg,
MD;
Texas A&M Texas Health Science
Center/Scott & White Healthcare
Raymond Moss
Hampton, MD;
Texas Tech University Health Sciences
Center, Permian Basin
John C.
Jennings, MD;
Texas Tech University Health Sciences
Center, Permian Basin
Kevin W. Klein,
MD;
The University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center
Evan G.
Pivalizza, MBChB;
The University of Texas Health Science
Center at Houston
Rajam S.
Ramamurthy, MD;
The University of Texas Health Science
Center at San Antonio
Michael E.
Speer, MD;
Baylor College of Medicine
V.O. Speights
Jr., DO;
Texas A&M Texas Health Science
Center/Scott & White Healthcare
* As a member of Award
Selection Committee for the Platinum Level, was not considered for the Platinum
Award this year.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 47,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 112 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.
--30--
Contact: Pam Udall (512) 370-1382; cell: (512) 413-6807; email: pam.udall[at]texmed[dot]org
Brent Annear (512) 370-1381; cell: (512) 656-7320; email: brent.annear[at]texmed[dot]org
Click here to follow TMA on Twitter. Or visit TMA on Facebook.