Honoring our Legacy of Surgeons: Dr. Raja

Dr. Rajagopalan was born in 1940 and was awarded his M.D. degree by the University of Mysore, India, in 1970. He completed his surgical residency at the University of Mysore and Richland Memorial Hospital. The American Board of Surgery certified him in 1975.

He started his transplant surgical career at MUSC in 1976 after completing a two-year MUSC fellowship in transplant surgery. Over the next thirty-nine years, Dr. Raja, as he is popularly called, touched the lives of thousands of patients with end stage renal disease.

He built the foundation of the MUSC vascular access and kidney-pancreas transplant programs with an emphasis on improving outcome while reducing the risk to life and limb. His commitment to translational research has been at the forefront for introducing new immunosuppressive agents to clinical transplantation. These endeavors helped to build South Carolina’s reputation for having a world-class kidney transplant program with outstanding quality and innovative research serving some of the most under served populations in the state.

MUSC established The Fitts-Raja Endowed Chair in Transplant Surgery in 2007 to honor both Drs. Raja and Charles Thomas Fitts. Working together for nearly thirty years, Drs. Fitts and Raja forged a close friendship and professional partnership. Establishing the Endowed Chair in their names was but a first step toward continuing their efforts to save the lives of countless patients through transplant education and research.

In 2011, Dr. Raja was awarded the Order of the Palmetto by then-South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, the highest civilian honor in the state of South Carolina. This fitting distinction recognized Dr. Raja's leadership in numerous medical organizations, including appointments to UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) and the Board of Directors of  the South Carolina Organ Procurement Agency or SCOPA (the predecessor to LifePoint, which is now We are Sharing Hope), his dedication to service on academic committees, and his scores of often-referenced publications.

Dr. Raja has been an avid devotee of the National Kidney Foundation for many years. He was the backbone of the SC Chapter, running it out of his garage for many years until it became a well-funded public entity providing education and support for patients with kidney disease. He made this a premier program in the region both in terms of volume and quality. The program has the highest accolades nationally for its outcomes: low mortality, length of stay, and complications.

It was in the early 1980s that Dr. Raja along with Dr Tom Fitts set up  SCOPA (now We Are Sharing Hope), the first organ procurement organization in south Carolina to facilitate organ and tissue donation in the state. He served as Medical Director and on the Board of Directors for decades and is responsible for making this one of the top performing Organ Procurement Organizations in the country. In addition, he was honored by his peers when he was elected the Regional Councilor for SC, NC, Tennessee, and Virginia and represented the region on the board of the national transplant organization, UNOS.

His students have recognized Dr. Raja as an outstanding educator. Hundreds of medical students, postgraduates, and nurses have benefited from his expertise. He has been deeply involved in clinical translational research and has been at the forefront of introducing new immunosuppressive agents to clinical transplantation. These endeavors helped to build South Carolina's reputation of having a world-class kidney transplant program with outstanding quality and innovative research that often serves the most under served population in the state.

Dr. Raja, in addition to his professional accomplishments, takes pride in his Asian Indian heritage. He founded the Indian Association of Greater Charleston and served as its President in the early years. This organization has hosted several cultural events of Indian heritage, making a significant contribution to the city of Charleston's cultural diversity.

Dr. Raja has touched the lives of thousands of patients with end-stage renal disease. During his long and dedicated tenure, he educated hundreds of medical students and residents. An outstanding clinician, educator, and member of the community, he has always been his patients' and peers' strongest advocate. Raja is a gentleman in every respect of the word and a favorite to all who know him.