Varalakshmi S. Rao, MD

Dr. Rao, originally from Memphis, TN earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. After graduation, she worked with VISIONS Worldwide, a non-profit promoting HIV awareness in India. She went on to earn her M.D from the University of Tennessee, Memphis College of Medicine followed by a year working clinically at Hospital Escuela in Tegucigalpa, Honduras through St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital Outreach Program. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University and her fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Dr. Rao is currently board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases and is a member of the Infectious Disease Society of America. Since completing her trainings, Dr. Rao has practiced clinical infectious disease medicine in the Philadelphia area with additional roles in antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention. Outside of medicine, her interests include traveling, reading, and spending time with her husband, children and rescue dog.