Department of Pediatrics

Education

• MBBS, Gold medal in Biochemistry, University College of Medical Sciences, 1992
• MD, Maulana Azad Medical College , 1996

Training

• Fellowship, University of Kentucky (Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine), 2000 - 2003
• Residency , University of Kentucky, 2003 - 2005

Licensure and Board Certification

• Neonatal Resuscitation Program
• 1996Medical Council of India
• 2005 - 2007KY
• 2005 - 2012American Board of Pediatrics
• 2006 - 2017MO
• 2008 - PresAmerican Board of Pediatrics, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
• 2015 - PresAmerican Board of Pediatrics (recertification)

Honors and Awards

• Ranked 143rd out of ~60,000 in M.B;B.S entrance examination (Delhi University, India), 1987
• Gold Medal in Biochemistry, 1st MBBS (India), 1988
• Stood 5th in the Final MBBS Examination conducted by Delhi University, 1991
• Ranked 129th out of ~10,000 in Post-Graduate entrance examination (Delhi University, India), 1993
• Nominated for the PN Taneja Award for best dissertation during postgraduate training, 1995
• Trainee Travel Award (Southern Society for Pediatric Research), 2001
• Chief Fellow, Neonatal-perinatal Medicine, University of Kentucky, 2002 - 2003
• Trainee Travel Award (Southern Society of Pediatric Research), 2003
• Outstanding Resident, Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Kentucky, 2003 - 2004
• Newborn Medicine Follow Up Clinic: April Faculty Recognition from Division of Newborn Medicine, 2011
• Golden Collaborative Award (awarded to SLCH team by the CHND/CHA for efforts in the STEPP IN project ), 2015
• Silver Sustainabilty Award (Awarded by the CHA/CHNC to the SLCH team for the STEPP IN project), 2015
• First Place: A Sustained Inter-Professional Improvement Initiative for Unplanned Extubation Reduction in the NICU. 2020 Patient Safety & Quality Symposium, 2020

Recent Publications view all (49)

Publication Co-Authors

Shalini Shenoy, M.D.

Christopher McPherson

Beverly Brozanski

Zachary A. Vesoulis, MD MSCI

Steve M. Liao, M.D., MSCI

Halana Whitehead, MD

Francis Sessions Cole, III, M.D.

Washington University has a long tradition of collaboration amongst colleagues.The faculty above have co-authored publications with Rakesh Rao, M.D.

1. Natarajan G, Hamrick SE, Zaniletti I, Lee KS, Mietzsch U, DiGeronimo R, Dizon MLV, Peeples ES, Yanowitz TD, Wu TW, Flibotte J, Joe P, Massaro AN, Rao R, Children’s Hospitals Neonatal Database Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Focus group.. Opioid exposure during therapeutic hypothermia and short-term outcomes in neonatal encephalopathy. J Perinatol. 2022. PMID:35474129 
2. Li Y, Wisnowski JL, Chalak L, Mathur AM, McKinstry RC, Licona G, Mayock DE, Chang T, Van Meurs KP, Wu TW, Ahmad KA, Cornet MC, Rao R, Scheffler A, Wu YW. Mild hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE): timing and pattern of MRI brain injury. Pediatr Res. 2022. PMID:35354930 
3. Weiss EM, Guttmann KF, Olszewski AE, Magnus BE, Li S, Kim SYH, Shah AR, Juul SE, Wu YW, Ahmad KA, Bendel-Stenzel E, Isaza NA, Lampland AL, Mathur AM, Rao R, Riley D, Russell DG, Salih ZNI, Torr CB, Weitkamp JH, Anani UE, Chang T, Dudley J, Flibotte J, Havrilla EM, O'Kane AC, Perez K, Stanley BJ, Shah SK, Wilfond BS. Parental Enrollment Decision-Making for a Neonatal Clinical Trial. J Pediatr. 2021. doi:34400207  PMID:34400207 
4. Chalak L, Redline RW, Goodman AM, Juul SE, Chang T, Yanowitz TD, Maitre N, Mayock DE, Lampland AL, Bendel-Stenzel E, Riley D, Mathur AM, Rao R, Van Meurs KP, Wu TW, Gonzalez FF, Flibotte J, Mietzsch U, Sokol GM, Ahmad KA, Baserga M, Weitkamp JH, Poindexter BB, Comstock BA, Wu YW. Acute and Chronic Placental Abnormalities in a Multicenter Cohort of Newborn Infants with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy. J Pediatr. 2021;237:190-196. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.06.023. Epub 2021 Jun 16  PMID:34144032 
5. Krishna Acharya, Steven R Leuthner, Isabella Zaniletti, Jason Z Niehaus, Christine E Bishop, Carl H Coghill, Ankur Datta, Narendra Dereddy, Robert DiGeronimo, Laura Jackson, Con Yee Ling, Nana Matoba, Girija Natarajan, Sujir Pritha Nayak, Amy Brown Schlegel, Jamie Seale, Anita Shah, Julie Weiner, Helen O Williams, Monica H Wojcik, Jessica T Fry, Kevin Sullivan, Palliative Care and Ethics Focus Group of the Children’s Hospital Neonatal Consortium (CHNC) (collaborator). Medical and surgical interventions and outcomes for infants with trisomy 18 (T18) or trisomy 13 (T13) at children's hospitals neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) J Perinatol. 2021;41(7):1745-1754. doi:10.1038/s41372-021-01111-9  PMCID: PMCID: PMC8191443   PMID: 34112961 
6. Agarwal P, Natarajan G, Sullivan K, Rao R, Rintoul N, Zaniletti I, Keene S, Mietzsch U, Massaro AN, Billimoria Z, Dirnberger D, Hamrick S, Seabrook RB, Weems MF, Cleary JP, Gray BW, DiGeronimo R;. Venovenous versus venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation among infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: is there a difference in outcome? J Perinatol. 2021. doi:10.1038/s41372-021-01089-4.   PMID:34012056 
7. Jessica L Wisnowski, Stefan Bluml, Ashok Panigrahy, Amit M Mathur, Jeffrey Berman, Ping-Sun Keven Chen, James Dix, Trevor Flynn, Stanley Fricke, Seth D Friedman, Hayden W Head, Chang Y Ho, Beth Kline-Fath, Michael Oveson, Richard Patterson, Sumit Pruthi, Nancy Rollins, Yanerys M Ramos, John Rampton, Jerome Rusin, Dennis W Shaw, Mark Smith, Jean Tkach, Shreyas Vasanawala, Arastoo Vossough, Matthew T Whitehead, Duan Xu, Kristen Yeom, Bryan Comstock, Patrick J Heagerty, Sandra E Juul, Yvonne W Wu, Robert C McKinstry, HEAL Study Group. (Collaborator). Integrating neuroimaging biomarkers into the multicentre, high-dose erythropoietin for asphyxia and encephalopathy (HEAL) trial: rationale, protocol and harmonisation BMJ Open. 2021. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043852   PMCID:8070884  PMID:33888528 
8. Billimoria ZC, Rintoul NE, Sullivan KM, Hamrick SE, Chapman R, Mietzsch U, Keene S, Rao R, Massaro AN, Seabrook RB, DiGeronimo RJ, CHNC ECMO Focus Group.. Noninvasive neurocritical care monitoring for neonates on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: where do we stand? J Perinatol. 2021;41(4):830-835. PMID:32753710 
9. Robin Saoud, Devika Locke, Jessica T Fry, Nana Matoba, Ankur Datta, Robert DiGeronimo, Steven R Leuthner, Carl H Coghill, Girija Natarajan, Jason Z Niehaus, Amy Brown Schlegel, Julie Weiner, Narendra Dereddy, Anita Shah, Kevin M Sullivan. Children’s Hospitals Neonatal Consortium (CHNC) (Collaborator). Withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration: a survey of level IV neonatal intensive care units 2021;41(9):2372-2374. doi:10.1038/s41372-021-01011-y  
10. Cibulskis CC, Maheshwari A, Rao R, Mathur AM.. Anemia of prematurity: how low is too low? J Perinatol.. 2021. doi:10.1038/s41372-021-00992-0 Epub 2021 Mar 4.  PMID:33664467 
11. Peeples ES, Rao R, Dizon MLV, Johnson YR, Joe P, Flibotte J, Hossain T, Smith D, Hamrick S, DiGeronimo R, Natarajan G, Lee KS, Yanowitz TD, Mietzsch U, Wu TW, Maitre NL, Pallotto EK, Speziale M, Mathur AM, Zaniletti I, Massaro A;. Predictive Models of Neurodevelopmental Outcomes After Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Pediatrics. 2021. doi:10.1542/peds.2020-022962. Epub 2021 Jan 15  PMID:33452064 
12. Weiss EM, Olszewski AE, Guttmann KF, Magnus BE, Li S, Shah AR, Juul SE, Wu YW, Ahmad KA, Bendel-Stenzel E, Isaza NA, Lampland AL, Mathur AM, Rao R, Riley D, Russell DG, Salih ZNI, Torr CB, Weitkamp JH, Anani UE, Chang T, Dudley J, Flibotte J, Havrilla EM, Kathen CM, O'Kane AC, Perez K, Stanley BJ, Wilfond BS, Shah SK.. Parental Factors Associated With the Decision to Participate in a Neonatal Clinical Trial.doi: PMID: JAMA Netw Open.. 2021;4(1):e2032106.. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.32106   PMID:33433595 
13. Rachel Witt, Lisa Chi, Chandra Kellner, Amanda Chamness, Katie Kigin, Rakesh Rao. Endotracheal Tube Replacement in a Neonate Using an Airway Exchange Catheter NeoReviews. 2020;21(11):e782-e786. doi:10.1542/neo.21-11-e782   PMID: 33139518 
14. Rao R, Mietzsch U, DiGeronimo R, Hamrick SE, Dizon MLV, Lee KS, Natarajan G, Yanowitz TD, Peeples ES, Flibotte J, Wu TW, Zaniletti I, Mathur AM, Massaro A.. Utilization of Therapeutic Hypothermia and Neurological Injury in Neonates with Mild Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Report from Children's Hospital Neonatal Consortium. Am J Perinatol . 2020. doi:doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1716341.  PMID:32892328 
15. Whitehead HV, McPherson CC, Vesoulis ZA, Cohlan BA, Rao R, Warner BB, Cole FS.. The Challenge of Risk Stratification of Infants Born Preterm in the Setting of Competing and Disparate Healthcare Outcomes J Peds. 2020;223:194-196. doi: DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.04.043   PMCID: PMC7476078  PMID:32711746 
16. Morris HF, Schuller L, Archer J, Niesen A, Ellsworth S, Egan J, Rao R, Vesoulis ZA, Mathur AM.. Decreasing Unplanned Extubation in the Neonatal ICU With a Focus on Endotracheal Tube Tip Position Respir Care. 2020. doi: doi: 10.4187/respcare.07446  PMID:32265290 
17. Rao R, Lee KS, Zaniletti I, Yanowitz TD, DiGeronimo R, Dizon MLV, Hamrick SE, Natarajan G, Peeples ES, Murthy K, Mathur AM, Massaro A. Antimicrobial therapy utilization in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE): a report from the Children's Hospital Neonatal Database (CHND) J Perinatol. 2020;40:70–78. doi:DOI: 10.1038/s41372-019-0527-2  PMID:<31611619> 
18. Rao R, Lee KS, Zaniletti I, Yanowitz TD, DiGeronimo R, Dizon MLV, Hamrick SE, Natarajan G, Peeples ES, Murthy K, Mathur AM, Massaro A. Antimicrobial therapy utilization in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE): a report from the Children's Hospital Neonatal Database (CHND). J Perinatol. 2020;40(1):70-78. PMID:31611619 
19. Machut KZ, Datta A, Stoller JZ, Rao R, Mathur A, Grover TR, Billimoria Z, Murthy K.. Association of Neonatologist Continuity of Care and Short-Term Patient Outcomes. J Peds. 2019;2019 Sep;212:131-136.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.05.023.   PMID:31201026 
20. Lust C, Vesoulis Z, Jackups R Jr, Liao S, Rao R, Mathur AM. Early red cell transfusion is associated with development of severe retinopathy of prematurity. J Perinatol. 2019;39(3):393-400. doi:doi: 10.1038/s41372-018-0274-9. Epub 2018 Nov 20.  PMCID:PMC6391181  PMID:30459388 
21. Dizon MLV, Rao R, Hamrick SE, Zaniletti I, DiGeronimo R, Natarajan G, Kaiser JR, Flibotte J, Lee KS, Smith D, Yanowitz T, Mathur AM, Massaro AN.. Practice Variation ni anti-epileptic drug use for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy among regional NICUs BMC Pediatrics. 2019;19(1):67. doi:doi: 10.1186/s12887-019-1441-7.  PMID:30813933 
22. Natarajan G, Mathur A, Zaniletti I, DiGeronimo R, Lee KS, Rao R, Dizon M, Hamrick S, Rudine A, Cook N, Smith D, Flibotte J, Murthy K, Massaro A; Children's Hospitals Neonatal Consortium (CHNC).. Withdrawal of Life-support in neonatal Hypoxic-ischemic Encephalopathy Pediatr Neurol. 2019;91:20-26. doi:doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2018.08.027. Epub 2018 Nov 23.  PMID:30559002 
23. Rao R, Trivedi S, Distler A, Liao S, Vesoulis Z, Smyser C, Mathur AM.. Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in neonates with Mild hypoxic-ischemic encephaloapthy treated with Therapeutic Hypothermia Am J Perinatol. 2019. doi:doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1676973.  PMID:30609430 
24. Whitehead HV, Vesoulis ZA, Maheshwari A, Rao R, Mathur AM. Anemia of prematurity and cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy: should transfusion thresholds in preterm infants be revised? J Perinatol. 2018. doi:doi: 10.1038/s41372-018-0120-0  PMID:29740185 
25. Vesoulis ZA, Liao SM, Rao R, Trivedi SB, Cahill AG, Mathur AM. Re-examining the arterial cord blood gas pH screening criteria in neonatal encephalopathy Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. . 2017. doi:<10.1136/archdischild-2017-313078>  PMID:28942435 
26. Bhandari R, Lindley A, Bhatla D, Babic A, Mueckl K, Rao R, Brooks P, Geiler V, Gross G, Al-Hosni M, Shenoy S. Awareness of cord blood collection and the impact on banking. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2017;64(7). PMID:28111924 
27. Vesoulis ZA, Rao R, Trivedi SB, Mathur AM. The effect of therapeutic hypothermia on heart rate variability. J Perinatol. 2017;37(6):679-683. doi:10.1038/jp.2017.42  PMID:28383534 
28. Trivedi SB, Vesoulis ZA, Rao R, Liao SM, Shimony JS, McKinstry RC, Mathur AM. A validated clinical MRI injury scoring system in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Pediatr Radiol. 2017;11(47):1491-1499. doi:10.1007/s00247-017-3893-y. Epub 2017 Jun 16.  PMID:28623417 
29. Morales DM, Silver SA, Morgan CD, Mercer D, Inder TE, Holtzman DM, Wallendorf MJ, Rao R, McAllister JP, Limbrick DD Jr. Lumbar Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers of Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus of Prematurity: Amyloid Precursor Protein, Soluble Amyloid Precursor Protein α, and L1 Cell Adhesion Molecule. Neurosurgery. 2017;80(1):82-90. PMCID:PMC5326702  PMID:27571524 
30. Rao R, Trivedi S, Vesoulis Z, Liao SM, Smyser CD, Mathur AM. Safety and Short-Term Outcomes of Therapeutic Hypothermia in Preterm Neonates 34-35 Weeks Gestational Age with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy J Pediatr. 2016. doi:doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.11.019  PMID:27979578 
31. Massaro AN, Murthy K, Zaniletti I, Cook N, DiGeronimo R, Dizon ML, Hamrick SE, McKay VJ, Natarajan G, Rao R, Richardson T, Smith D, Mathur AM; Children's Hospital Neonatal Consortium. Intercenter Cost Variation for Perinatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy in the Era of Therapeutic Hypothermia. J Peds. 2016;173:76-83. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.02.033  PMID:26995699 
32. Srinivasakumar P, Zempel J, Trivedi S, Wallendorf M, Rao R, Smith B, Inder T and Mathur A. Treating EEG seizures in Hypoxic Ischemic encephalopathy: A randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics. 2015;136(5):e1302-9. doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-3777  PMID:26482675 
33. Yarborough CK, Bandt SK, Hurth K, Wambach JA, Rao R, Kulkarni S, White FV, Frater JL, Leonard JR. Congenital Acute leukemia with unique translocation t(11;19)(q23;p13.1) Cureus. 2015;7(7):e289. doi:10.7759/cureus.289  PMCID:4523210  
34. Juan Remon, Sachin Amin, Sangeeta Mehendale, Rakesh Rao, Angel Luciano, Steven Garzon, and Akhil Maheshwari . Depth of Bacterial Invasion in Resected Intestinal Tissue Predicts Mortality in Surgical Necrotizing Enterocolitis J Perinatol. 2015. 
35. Morales DM, Holubkov R, Inder TE, Ahn HC, Mercer D, Rao R, McAllister JP 2nd, Holtzman DM, Limbrick DD Jr. Cerebrospinal fluid levels of amyloid precursor protein are associated with ventricular size in post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus of prematurity. PLoS One. 2015;10(3):e0115045. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0115045  PMCID:PMC4349693  PMID:25738507 
36. Massaro AN, Murthy K, Zaniletti I, Cook N, DiGeronimo R, Dizon M, Hamrick SE, McKay VJ, Natarajan G, Rao R, Smith D, Telesco R, Wadhawan R, Asselin JM, Durand DJ, Evans JR, Dykes F, Reber KM, Padula MA, Pallotto EK, Short BL, Mathur AM. Short-term outcomes after perinatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy: a report from the Children's Hospitals Neonatal Consortium HIE focus group. J Perinatol. 2014. doi:10.1038/jp.2014.190  PMID:25393081 
37. Liao SM, Rao R, Mathur AM. Head Position Change Is Not Associated with Acute Changes in Bilateral Cerebral Oxygenation in Stable Preterm Infants during the First 3 Days of Life. Am J Perinatol. 2014. doi:10.1055/s-0034-1390348  PMID:25282608 
38. Murthy K, Evans JR, Bhatia AM, Rothstein DH, Wadhawan R, Zaniletti I, Rao R, Thurm C, Mathur AM, Piazza AJ, Stein JE, Reber KM, Short BL, Padula MA, Durand DJ, Asselin JM, Pallotto EK, Dykes FD. The association of type of surgical closure on length of stay among infants with gastroschisis born≥34 weeks' gestation. J Pediatr Surg. 2014;49(8):1220-5. doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2013.12.020  PMID:25092080 
39. Srinivasakumar P, Limbrick D, Munro R, Mercer D, Rao R, Inder T, Mathur A. Posthemorrhagic ventricular dilatation-impact on early neurodevelopmental outcome. Am J Perinatol. 2013;30(3):207-14. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1323581  PMID:22898993 
40. Rao R, Bryowsky K, Mao J, Bunton D, McPherson C, Mathur A. Gastrointestinal complications associated with ibuprofen therapy for patent ductus arteriosus. J Perinatol. 2011;31(7):465-70. doi:10.1038/jp.2010.199  PMID:21252965 
41. Rao R, Mashburn CB, Mao J, Wadhwa N, Smith GM, Desai NS. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in infants <32 weeks gestational age: correlation with antenatal factors and postnatal outcomes. Pediatr Res. 2009;65(5):548-52. doi:10.1203/PDR.0b013e31819d9ea5  PMCID:PMC2735819  PMID:19190539 
42. Vachharajani AJ, Rao R, Keswani S, Mathur AM. Outcomes of exomphalos: an institutional experience. Pediatr Surg Int. 2009;25(2):139-44. doi:10.1007/s00383-008-2301-y  PMID:19066916 
43. Rao R, Sampers JS, Kronsberg SS, Brown JV, Desai NS, Anand KJ. Neurobehavior of preterm infants at 36 weeks postconception as a function of morphine analgesia. Am J Perinatol. 2007;24(9):511-7. doi:10.1055/s-2007-986675  PMID:17907073 
44. Rao R, Shashidhar H. Intestinal lymphangiectasia presenting as abdominal mass. Gastrointest Endosc. 2007;65(3):522-3, discussion 523. doi:10.1016/j.gie.2006.10.026  PMID:17321261 
45. Rao R, Lowas S, Shashidhar H. Surgical complications of Salmonella Enteritis. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2005;44(9):767-9. PMID:16327962 
46. Rao R, Logan B, Forrest K, Roszman TL, Goebel J. Lipid rafts in cytokine signaling. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2004;15(2-3):103-10. doi:10.1016/j.cytogfr.2004.01.003  PMID:15110794 
47. Goebel J, Forrest K, Flynn D, Rao R, Roszman TL. Lipid rafts, major histocompatibility complex molecules, and immune regulation. Hum Immunol. 2002;63(10):813-20. PMID:12368033 
48. Rao R, Desai NS. OxyContin and neonatal abstinence syndrome. J Perinatol. 2002;22(4):324-5. doi:10.1038/sj.jp.7210744  PMID:12032797 
49. Rao R, Ramji S. Pulse oximetry in asphyxiated newborns in the delivery room. Indian Pediatr. 2001;38(7):762-6. PMID:11463963