𝗨𝗧𝗥𝗚𝗩 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗭𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗬 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗪𝗢 𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 𝗥𝗚𝗩 𝗣𝗛𝗬𝗦𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗗 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗜𝗥

          

Drs. Subram G. and Elizabeth G. Krishnan, center (UTRGV photo)

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) has established its first-ever endowed chair in orthopaedic surgery, thanks to a major philanthropic gift from two longtime Valley physicians, Drs. Subram G. and Elizabeth G. Krishnan.

Announced during a press conference Tuesday, the Subram G. Krishnan M.D. and Sumant “Butch” Krishnan M.D. Endowed Chair for Orthopaedic Surgery will enhance surgical training, research, and healthcare access across the region.

Drs. Krishnan, who have provided more than four decades of care in the Rio Grande Valley, said the gift reflects their continued commitment to improving healthcare for local communities.

“This endowment is a commitment to healing, to education, and to progress,” said Dr. Subram G. Krishnan, a retired orthopaedic surgeon. “It reflects our belief in the power of medical science to restore lives, not just bones and joints.”

Named in honor of Dr. Subram G. Krishnan and his son, Dr. Sumant “Butch” Krishnan, a shoulder surgery specialist at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, the chair will support the recruitment of top faculty and fund research into advanced surgical techniques. It also aims to address a critical shortage of orthopaedic care in underserved South Texas communities.

UTRGV President Guy Bailey called the gift transformative, noting it will strengthen both the university’s academic mission and local healthcare infrastructure.

“With the growth of the Valley, this chair ensures residents can get high-quality orthopaedic care without leaving the region,” said Dr. Sumant Krishnan in a video message during the event. “It’s incredible to see the legacy my parents have built here.”

Dr. Elizabeth G. Krishnan, a retired OB-GYN, emphasized that the endowment will help educate and train the next generation of orthopaedic surgeons at UTRGV. “We believe in investing in our future physicians and giving back to the community that gave us so much,” she said.

This marks the second endowed chair established at UTRGV by the Krishnans. Their previous contributions include:

• The Sujata G. Krishnan Endowed Chair in Neurosciences

• The Krishnan All-Around Physician Scholarship

• The Sumant “Butch” Krishnan M.D. Award, covering the full cost of a medical student’s final year

• The UTRGV Drs. Subram G. and Elizabeth G. Krishnan Simulation Hospital in Harlingen, renamed in 2024

Dr. Everardo Cobos, interim dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine, said the new chair is a strategic step forward in boosting the university’s academic reputation and clinical impact.

“Orthopaedic issues are a leading cause of pain and disability here,” Cobos said. “This endowment is a visionary investment in education, research, and improved care for our region.”

A search is now underway to appoint the first faculty member to hold the new endowed chair.