Doctor Unanimously Selected as Platinum Award Winner
Varma serves as associate dean for Graduate Medical Education and resident affairs and is a professor in the Department of Pediatrics.
The Texas Medical Association (TMA) has awarded Surendra K. Varma, M.D., associate dean for Graduate Medical Education and resident affairs and professor in the Department of Pediatrics, the 2014 Texas Medical Association Platinum Award for Excellence in Academic Medicine.
The Platinum Award is TMA’s highest honor specifically reserved for academic physicians designed to allow TMA to recognize physicians for their achievements and dedication to teaching and service to academic and organized medicine. Steven L. Berk, M.D., executive vice president, provost and School of Medicine dean, said TMA had a highly distinguished and diverse applicant pool and Varma was unanimously selected for the 2014 honor.
“Dr. Varma has been a leader in education and in the field of pediatrics,” said Berk. “His commitment to our medical students, residents and his patients has made a tremendous impact on our School of Medicine and our community. We congratulate Dr. Varma for this prestigious award.”
Varma, who serves as the Ted Hartman Endowed Chair of Medical Education, the University Distinguished Professor and vice chairman of pediatrics at the TTUHSC School of Medicine, established the Endocrine-Metabolic Division in the TTUHSC Department of Pediatrics in 1974 and started providing care to children with diabetes and other endocrine-metabolic diseases. With the help of then Texas Sen. Kent Hence, who was instrumental in getting the law passed for newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism. At the same time, he established the pediatric residency program in Lubbock. Varma stepped down as director of the program in 2012 after 33 years.
He was the recipient of Charles Daeschner Award for Lifetime Achievement in Pediatrics from Texas Pediatric Society, the Hippocrates Award from the Lubbock-Crosby-Garza County Medical Society, and the Honoris Causa (Doctor of Science) from King George’s Medical University. He has twice been nominated to receive Padma Shree (Medal of Honor) from the Government of India.
Related Stories
Molecular Pathology Preceptorship: Unmatched Value and Experience
Ericka Hendrix, PhD, MB(ASCP)CM, Program Director and Associate Professor in the Master of Science in Molecular Pathology program in the School of Health Professions spoke about the program’s preceptorship.
Moseley Named Permian Basin Regional Dean of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing
Kelly Moseley, DHSc, R.N., has been named the TTUHSC School of Nursing regional dean in the Permian Basin.
TTUHSC School of Nursing to Celebrate New YWCA Location
Community members in central Lubbock now have access to health care services and prenatal programs at one location inside the YWCA.
Recent Stories
TTUHSC and TTUHSC El Paso Named to National Academy of Inventors Top 100
For the third consecutive year in a row, the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) ranked the Texas Tech University System (TTU System) among the Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents for 2024. The TTU System, which includes Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) and TTUHSC El Paso, ranked 75th.
TTUHSC Recognizes Student Research During Amarillo Research Symposium
More than 100 student and trainee researchers from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) presented research findings at the 2025 Student Research Day on April 11.
Scrolling into Stress: Expert Psychologist Provides Tips on How to Manage Stress
Natalie Scanlon, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist at Texas Tech Physicians, explains that the rapid rise of electronic use has resulted in detrimental effects on mental health.