Sishir Rao, M.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor
To see if Sishir Rao is accepting new patients, or for assistance finding a UC Davis doctor, please call 800-2-UCDAVIS (800-282-3284).
Specialties
Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Radiology - Interventional Radiology
Radiology - Vascular
Department
Locations and Contact
Philosophy of Care
I am passionate about partnering with my patients to come up with a customized, minimally invasive treatment plan that is right for them. I value compassionate patient-centered care from the initial pre-procedural consultation through post-procedural follow-up. I bring best practices from a variety of leading institutions including residency and fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, and serving as a IR attending physician and global health director at Baylor College of Medicine. I am committed to providing innovative procedures to a diverse patient population, including the underserved. I collaborate closely with primary care as well as medical and surgical specialists to provide patients with personalized, evidence-based care.
Outside of medicine, I have a variety of hobbies. I was a former competitive swimmer and cross-country runner. I continue to pursue these as hobbies. I enjoy spending time outdoors, and enjoy sailing and hiking. I also enjoy international traveling, history, cuisine, and film.
Clinical Interests
Dr. Rao is a vascular and interventional radiologist with expertise in minimally invasive procedures with imaging guidance. Interventional Radiology is at the forefront of innovation in healthcare, able to reach any area of the body with a tiny incision and a variety of needles, wires, and catheters. He performs procedures for a variety of conditions including peripheral vascular disease, interventional oncology, trauma, pain management, women's health, gastric and biliary, and venous interventions. Dr. Rao is passionate about offering cutting-edge, minimally invasive procedures to his patients with shorter recovery time and less potential complications than traditional surgery.
Research/Academic Interests
Dr. Rao's research interests are focused on quality and safety in interventional radiology, appropriateness and workflow in imaging, and resident and medical student education.
Division
Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Center/Program Affiliation
Vascular Center
Trauma Program
Undergraduate School
M.D., Rice University, Houston TX 2006
Medical School
M.D., Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 2012
Internship
Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 2012-2013
Residency
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA 2013-2017
Fellowship
Interventional Radiology, Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA 2017-2018
Massachusetts Radiological Society, Resident Fellow Section (MRS-RFS) Leadership 2014-2018, including President from 2016-2017 and member of the MRS board from 2017, 2018
Clinical Fellow/Junior Teaching Faculty Harvard Medical School, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
City of Chelsea, MA Nominated for and member of the Planning Board, 2016, 2017, 2018
Massachusetts General Hospital Radiology Department Nominee for the Global Health Service Award in 2016, 2017
Clinical Process Improvement Leadership Program (CPIP) Graduate, Massachusetts General Hospital/Partners Healthcare, 2015
MGH Global Health Travel Grant Recipient, Mass General Hospital/Partners HealthCare, 2015
Society of Interventional Radiology Resident Travel Scholarship, 2015
Rice University/Baylor College of Medicine Medical Scholar 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Baylor College of Medicine AOA Nominee, 2011
Rice University Trustee Distinguished Scholar 2004, 2005, 2006
National Merit Scholar 2004, 2005, 2006
National Advanced Placement Scholar, 2004
Digumarthy SR, Gullo RL, Levesque MH, Sayegh K, Rao S, Raymond SB, Otrakji A, Kalra MK. Cause determination of missed lung nodules and impact of reader training and education: Simulation study with nodule insertion software. J Cancer Res Ther. 2020 Jul-Sep;16(4):780-787. doi:10.4103/jcrt.JCRT_312_17. PMID:32930118.
Succi MD, Yun BJ, Rao S, Rao S, Gottumukkala RV, Glover M 4th, White BA, Lev MH, Raja AS, Prabhakar AM. Turning around cancer: Oncology imaging and implications for emergency department radiology workflow. Am J Emerg Med. 2020 Feb;38(2):317-320. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2019.158435. Epub 2019 Sep 10. PMID:31759782.
Rao S, Rao S, Rincon S, Caruso P, Ptak T, Raja AS, Prabhakar AM, Harvey HB. Assessment of Pediatric Neurotrauma Imaging Appropriateness at a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center. J Am Coll Radiol. 2016 Jul;13(7):788-93. doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2016.02.022. Epub 2016 Apr 12. PMID:27084071.
Rao S, Rao S, Dhindsa-Castanedo L, Benndorf G. Rapidly evolving large extracranial vertebral artery pseudoaneurysm in Behçet's disease: Case report and review of the literature. Mod Rheumatol. 2015 May;25(3):476-9. doi:10.3109/14397595.2013.843751. Epub 2014 Mar 4. PMID:24593167.
Rao S, Rao S, Harvey HB, Avery L, Saini S, Prabhakar AM. Low back pain in the emergency department-are the ACR Appropriateness Criteria being followed? J Am Coll Radiol. 2015 Apr;12(4):364-9. doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2014.10.020. Epub 2014 Oct 31. PMID:25703700.
Rao S, Swartz A, Obeid L, Rao S, Joyce B, Whitehouse S, Horst M, Butler J, Kinnen R, Shepard A, Rubinfeld I. E-portfolio competency metadata: pilot study for a call to action. J Med Syst. 2012 Apr;36(2):457-62. doi:10.1007/s10916-010-9490-3. Epub 2010 May 6. PMID:20703705.
Rao S, Patel A, Levin K, Lu M, Garbarino K, Myers D, Walker EM, Ryu S, Ho Kim J, Movsas B. How often are previously undetected radiographic abnormalities detected at the time of CT simulation for breast cancer patients? Am J Clin Oncol. 2010 Jun;33(3):262-4. doi:10.1097/COC.0b013e3181a76a3d. PMID:19823073.
Rao S, van Holsbeeck L, Musial JL, Parker A, Bouffard JA, Bridge P, Jackson M, Dulchavsky SA. A pilot study of comprehensive ultrasound education at the Wayne State University School of Medicine: a pioneer year review. J Ultrasound Med. 2008 May;27(5):745-9. doi:10.7863/jum.2008.27.5.745. PMID:18424650.
Haurani MJ, Rubinfeld I, Rao S, Beaubien J, Musial JL, Parker A, Reickert C, Raafat A, Shepard A. Are the communication and professionalism competencies the new critical values in a resident's global evaluation process? J Surg Educ. 2007 Nov-Dec;64(6):351-6. doi:10.1016/j.jsurg.2007.06.012. PMID:18063268.
Musial JL, Rubinfeld IS, Parker AO, Reickert CA, Adams SA, Rao S, Shepard AD. Developing a scoring rubric for resident research presentations: a pilot study. J Surg Res. 2007 Oct;142(2):304-7. doi:10.1016/j.jss.2007.03.060. Epub 2007 Aug 23. PMID:17719066.