MCALLEN, Texas - The leadership team at UTRGV School of Medicine has formed a search committee to identify and appoint the inaugural holder of the school’s first endowed chair in orthopedic surgery.
The new endowed chair has come about thanks to the generosity of Drs. Subram G. And Elizabeth G. Krishnan. Earlier this week, UTRGV and the Krishnans announced the Subram G. Krishnan M.D. and Sumant “Butch” Krishnan M.D. Endowed Chair for Orthopaedic Surgery. UTRGV President Guy Bailey expressed gratitude to the couple for their support, saying it represente a significant investment in advancing orthopaedic surgery in South Texas.
“This is a transformative philanthropic gift for our institution,” Bailey said. “One that will empower the next generation of physicians and transform healthcare in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.”
Dr. Everardo Cobos, interim dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine and chair of the Department of Medicine and Oncology, said the endowed chair will help address the shortage of specialized orthopedic care in underserved communities, enhance training for future orthopedic surgeons, and elevate the school’s academic reputation.
“Orthopedic conditions are a leading cause of pain and disability in our region,” Cobos said. “This endowed chair represents a pioneering investment in orthopedic surgery education and healthcare innovation at UTRGV.”
The endowed chair will support the recruitment of top-tier orthopedic faculty, paving the way for innovative clinical and surgical training for UTRGV medical students and residents, Cobos explained. Additionally, he said, it will foster research into new surgical techniques and treatments, while strengthening community outreach programs in musculoskeletal care.
Since 2016, the Krishnans have supported various UTRGV initiatives, including the Sujata G. Krishnan Endowed Chair in Neurosciences and the Krishnan All-Around Physician Scholarship. In 2022, they established the Sumant “Butch” Krishnan M.D. Award for Outstanding All-Around Fourth-Year Medical Student, covering the full cost of a medical student’s final year. In 2024, the university’s simulation hospital in Harlingen was renamed the UTRGV Drs. Subram G. and Elizabeth G. Krishnan Simulation Hospital.
“This endowment is a commitment to healing, to education and progress,” Dr. Subram G. Krishnan said. “It reflects our belief in the power of medical science to restore lives and livelihood – not just bones and joints.”
This is the second endowed chair established at UTRGV by Drs. Subram G. & Elizabeth G. Krishnan, furthering their commitment to healthcare in the region.
“This endowment will support the department and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley,” said Dr. Elizabeth G. Krishnan, a retired board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist. “It will fund research and education for the next generation of orthopedic surgeons.”
