Introducing Raj Alappan, MD, FACP, FASN, former resident and fellow in Yale Department of Internal Medicine. Alappan completed internal medicine residency training in 1995 and fellowship in Nephrology in 2000.
Where are you now?
I’ve been in Columbus, GA since completing my nephrology fellowship in 2000. I am a nephrologist at Renal Associates LLC, a practice that grew from two to seven nephrologists. The practice has expanded to over 420 ESRD points with over 140 home modality points, and has received a DaVita National Award in 2016. I also teach as an Adjunct Associate Clinical Professor at Mercer University School of Medicine and Augusta Medical School of Georgia. Above all, I enjoy serving the renal needs in rural GA–from Phoenix City to Roosevelt Warm Springs, and Lagrange and even in Alabama. I’m also involved in philanthropy, including the current Georgia President of Georgia Association of Physicians of Indian (GAPI) Heritage that has a membership of over one thousand physicians. Also I’ve been chair for various national meetings, such as the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI). I enjoy mentoring premed students, undergraduates and residents in medicine and nephrology. Also deeply involved in clinical and FDA approved phase-2 3 studies within our practice.
What do you love about your career?
I enjoy mentoring premed students, undergraduates and residents in medicine and nephrology.
How did Yale prepare you for your career?
In many ways, Yale prepared me by helping me fuel my passion by providing the knowledge, the feeling of an inclusive and family-like environment starting from my first attending in July 1993 at YPC. There are many people that had an influence on me, such as Dr. Gary Désir, Dr. Ashgar Rastegar, Dr. Steve Huot, Dr. Majid Saddiq, Dr. Dave Podell, then in the renal section Dr. Peter Aronson, Dr. Mark Perazella, and Dr. Ali Abu-Alfa. The foundation has helped me to expand renal care and home modality in rural GA. Being surrounded by eminent scientists with humbleness and simplicity with no ego and sound knowledge made education easy.
One piece of advice you will never forget?
Caring for others was the obvious motto of Yale and to use critical thinking.
What’s a fun fact about you?
I love to sing and be part of staging shows and fundraising. I even emceed for fundraising events during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The DIM spotlight is a feature as part of the DIM Digest, highlighting alumni, former trainees, and faculty of the Department of Internal Medicine.