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Appointment of Chair of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
May 1, 2025
TO: UMMC Faculty, Staff and Students
FROM: Dr. LouAnn Woodward, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs
SUBJECT: Appointment of Chair of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Rakesh K. Chandra as chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, effective June 27.
He will succeed Dr. Melissa Scholes, interim chair of the department.
Dr. Chandra comes to the Medical Center from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, where he served as professor in the Department of Otolaryngology, chief and fellowship director of rhinology and skull base surgery, and vice chair for faculty affairs.
A 1997 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Dr. Chandra completed his general surgery internship and his residency in otolaryngology at Northwestern University. At the University of Pennsylvania, he completed a fellowship in rhinology, sinus and skull base surgery. He also completed a course at Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management in Management Skills for Innovative University Leaders. At Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management, he earned a Master of Management in Health Care with honors.
Dr. Chandra has also served on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Tennessee and Northwestern University. He has served on Vanderbilt’s faculty since August 2007.
His other hospital and/or administrative appointments included those at the University of Pennsylvania; the VA Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Regional Medical Center, Baptist Hospitals, Methodist/Le Bonheur Hospitals and St. Francis Hospital-Bartlett in Memphis; Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago; VA Medical Center in Nashville; and Cool Springs Surgery Center in Franklin, Tennessee.
Dr. Chandra has earned numerous accolades and honors throughout his career, including Clinical Scholar, the Honor Award and the Distinguished Service Award from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and the Presidential Citation Award (twice) from the American Rhinologic Society.
He has served as an editorial reviewer or in editorial roles for a number of prestigious scientific journals and is currently editor-in-chief for ENT Journal. Dr. Chandra is the co-author of approximately 180 peer-reviewed research articles; around 70 editorial, reviews, chapters, books or commentaries; and a variety of abstracts. He has made more than 200 research presentations and has participated in several grant-funded research projects.
Dr. Chandra is a board-certified otolaryngologist and sits on the exam council for the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. He is also a fellow of the American Rhinologic Society.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Chandra, and in thanking Dr. Scholes for her excellent interim leadership of the department during this time of transition.