Rama Chemitiganti, M.D.

Personal Information

Dr. Chemitiganti has been leading the Center of Excellence for Diabetes and Endocrinology. His focus is on improving access to high-quality care for people suffering from Diabetes and other hormonal imbalances in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. He is instrumental in setting up a free clinic, the first of its kind in the Permian Basin to care for persons with no medical insurance. His research includes identifying mechanisms to prevent and delay diabetes and its dreaded complications. His current research examines racial and ethnic differences in treatment responses to novel anti-diabetes and anti-obesity medications. He is the principal investigator in a trial evaluating the use of Freehand 3D Tomographic Ultrasound Thyroid Imaging and Novel Neural Network Algorithms in the prognostication of Thyroid Nodules.

Dr. Chemitiganti has received multiple seed grants and two endowments to pursue his research and service mission respectively. He serves in a leadership position at the Texas Endocrinology Association. Dr. Chemitiganti is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP) and a Fellow of the Endocrine Alliance Academy (FEAA). His scholarship and teaching were recognized through several awards including the “Dean’s Distinguished Faculty Service Award” and more recently he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AΩA).

His other area of interest involves developing digital health applications to

1. Improve healthcare access in rural populations-
2. Reengineer current patient visits to create transparency for patients

Future Research Collaboration Interests

• Identifying genetic markers for predicting treatment responses to anti-obesity medications
• Predictors of therapeutic efficacy of incretin mimetics
• Models for improving rural healthcare 
• Developing AI based applications to enhancing chronic disease management

Awards & Honors

1. Elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AΩA), Zeta chapter of Texas 2022.
2. “Dean’s Distinguished Faculty Service Award” for 2022. Recipients are recognized for outstanding service to the institution and the community that exceeds the performance of normal responsibilities and has greatly contributed to the development and progress of the School of Medicine.
3. Heritage of Odessa Foundation Community Statesman Award in the field of Education for 2020. This award recognizes individuals who demonstrate continued excellence in the field of education and educational programs in the Permian Basin.
4. “Leadership in Academic Medicine” 2015-2016 a Quality Service Award by the Medical Center Health System, Odessa, TX. This award was for continued contributions to patient safety and improving quality of care through leadership in the Quality and Patient Safety Council + enhancing Texas Tech and MCH collaborations
5. “Best Fellow in Endocrinology and Metabolism 2014 & 2015” at TTUHSC School of Medicine at the Permian basin Campus for academic (scholarly presentations + teaching medical students, physician assistant students, and postgraduate trainees) and research contributions.
6. “Dean’s Research Award for the Permian Basin campus -2010” This award recognizes accomplishments in research/scholarship Demonstrated by publications, grant funding, national/international peer recognition, and research awards.
7. “Dean’s Educational Innovation Award for the Permian Basin campus 2009”