Front and Center: Dr. Rakesh Chandra

When Dr. Rakesh Chandra first visited the University of Mississippi Medical Center, he saw more than a department in transition. He saw potential in an institution expanding its reach across Mississippi and a department positioned to match that growth with forward-thinking care.  

Now, as the new chair of the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Chandra brings more than two decades of academic and clinical leadership to UMMC, along with a clear vision for the future. 

“You have to think a few steps ahead about what the landscape of medicine is going to look like,” he said. “It’s not just about waiting for patients to come to us—it's about serving people where they live.” 

A 1997 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Chandra completed his surgical internship and otolaryngology residency at Northwestern University, followed by a fellowship in rhinology, sinus and skull base surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. He has since held faculty appointments at several major academic medical centers, including the University of Pennsylvania, University of Tennessee and Northwestern University. 

Before joining UMMC, Chandra spent 11 years with Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, where he served as professor of otolaryngology, division chief and fellowship director of rhinology and skull base surgery, and vice chair of faculty affairs. 

At Vanderbilt, he helped transform the division into a nationally recognized training destination and led the development of a large outpatient specialty clinic in a repurposed shopping mall—a project that mirrors UMMC’s Colony Park North expansion. 

“When people said, ‘We can’t do that,’ I saw opportunity,” he said. “We built a clinic from the ground up—literally out of the old JCPenney’s men’s and home goods departments—and proved how specialty care could thrive outside the main campus. That experience translates directly to what we’re building here.” 

For Chandra, joining UMMC represents both a professional step forward and a chance to contribute to improving health care statewide. 

“In the South, UMMC is known as a strong medical center,” he said. “The opportunity to lead a department that is already thriving and really making a difference across Mississippi was very appealing.” 

He sees the department’s relocation of its outpatient practice to Colony Park as a major milestone, one that will make care more convenient for patients. The move, he said, will be “taking ourselves to the next level.” 

Longer term, Chandra plans to strengthen relationships with ENT practice and primary care providers in the state, ensuring that patients who need tertiary care are efficiently connected to UMMC specialists. He also aims to recruit additional surgeons in cancer care, trauma and complex sinus and skull base procedures. 

Chandra joins the faculty at a time of growth and recognition for the department. The recent $11.9 million NIH grant establishing the Balance and Auditory Research Center is, he said, both a testament to the department’s scientific strength and a sign of what’s to come. 

“The fact that this came to fruition now couldn’t be more gratifying,” he said. “It’s a reflection of years of work by our faculty and an example of how strong this department already is.” 

He also points to the future cancer center as a transformative opportunity for UMMC. 

“The credibility of an institution goes up exponentially with a designated cancer center,” Chandra said. “Our department will play a central role in that. Head and neck cancer care is one of the pillars of hospital-based otolaryngology.” 

His philosophy about leadership is rooted in mentorship and collaboration. At Vanderbilt, his role as vice chair for faculty affairs involved helping early-career physicians find direction, engage in research and grow as educators. 

“A lot of mentoring is really about helping someone else become a mentor,” he said. “It’s transitioning from being the doer to being the big-picture person who still has their hands on the work.” 

That same mindset will shape his approach at UMMC, where he hopes to cultivate both individual faculty success and a unified departmental vision. 

“Dr. Chandra brings a strong record of academic leadership, innovation and collaboration to the Medical Center,” said Dr. Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for health affairs. “His experience building successful clinical programs and mentoring faculty makes him exceptionally well-suited to guide the department through the next phase of growth.” 

“I’m honored to be here,” Chandra said. “It’s challenging to learn a new institutional culture, but it’s exactly the kind of challenge I’ve wanted. I’m excited for what’s ahead for our department and for the state we serve.”