Ratna Kiran  Bhavaraju-Sanka, MD

Diagnosis is not the end, but the beginning of practice. ~Martin H. Fischer As a Neuromuscular neurologists, Dr. Sanka would like to pursue options to better the condition of her patients with chronic diseases. Dr. Sanka’s research focus has been in the areas of Muscular dystrophy,  Autoimmune and Idiopathic neuromuscular disorders like Peripheral Neuropathy, Myasthenia gravis, Myopathy and Small fiber neuropathy.  During the course of her work as a clinician and Associate professor, she realized that practicing medicine involves more than treating patients, Sanka assumed the role of the Clinic director to lead our clinic and provide efficient timely care to our patients in the current health care settings. We are developing innovative methods to train and use advance practice providers to overcome the shortage of neurologists.  Dr. Sanka realizes this is the beginning of her career but she is excited about the opportunities lying ahead and ready to face the challenges to become a better clinician, researcher and leader for our department and community. 

• Professional Background

  Education

  • 2004 - Internship - Internal Medicine - University of Illinois College of Medicine
  • 1998 - BM BS - Medicine - Andhra Medical College, NTR University of Health Sciences

  Training

  • 2010 - Postdoctoral Fellowship - Research - University of North Carolina
  • 2009 - Clinical Fellowship - Neuromuscular - University of North Carolina
  • 2007 - Residency - Neurology - University of Illinois College of Medicine
  • 2004 - Internship - Internal Medicine - University of Illinois College of Medicine
  • 1999 - Internship - King George Hospital

  Appointments

  • 10/2018 - Chair and Chair - John. H Doran, M.D, F.A.C.P, Endowed Chair in Peripheral Neuropathy, Dept of Neurology, San Antonio,TX, Neurology, San Antonio
  • 2/2015 - Clinic Director - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Neurology, San Antonio
  • 10/2010 - Attending Physician - University Health SystemSan Antonio
  • 10/2010 - Assistant Professor - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA), Neurology, San Antonio

• Instruction & Training

  • 7/2016 - Present, Neurology Core Clerkship, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 9/2015 - Present, Neurology Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 7/2015 - Present, Neurology Core Clerkship, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 7/2014 - Present, Special Topic, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 5/2014 - Present, Medicine, Behavior Society, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 10/2010 - Present, Neurology Core Clerkship, The University of Texas Health Science Center

• Research & Grants

  Research profile

  Grants

  03/2018-02/2021
  Funding Agency: Amicus Therapeutics, Inc.
  Title: A Prospective Non-Interventional Study In Subjects With Late-Onset Pompe Disease Who Are Currently Being Treated With Enzyme Replacement Therapy
  Role: Co-Investigator

  03/2018-02/2020
  Funding Agency: UCB Biosciences Inc.
  Title: A Multicenter, Randomized, Investigator and Subject Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Treatment Sequence Study Evaluating The Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of UCB7665 In Subjects With Moderate To Severe Myastenia Gravis
  Role: Co-Investigator

  10/2017-09/2020
  Funding Agency: PTC Therapeutics Inc
  Title: A Phase III, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Efficacy and Safety Study of Ataluren In Patients With Nonsense Mutation Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Open-Label EXtension
  Role: Co-Investigator

  08/2016-07/2019
  Funding Agency: Marathon Pharmaceuticals, LLC
  Title: An Open Label, Expanded Access Protocol Intended To Provide Treatment With MP-104 (Deflazacort) To U.S. Children, Adolescents, and/or Adults With Muscular Dystrophy
  Role: Co-Investigator

  07/2015-10/2017
  Funding Agency: Agusta University
  Title: Characterization of Agrin/LRP4 Antibody-Positive Myasthenia Gravis
  Role: Co-Investigator

  08/2015-07/2016
  Funding Agency: Alexion Pharmaceuticals
  Title: A Phase III, Open-Label Extension Trial of ECU-MD-301
  Role: Co-Investigator

  12/2012-11/2029
  Funding Agency: GBS/CIDP FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL
  Title: International Guillain Barre Outcome Study (IGOS)
  Co-Investigator

• Service

  Department

  02/2015-Present UT Health Physicians MARC Neurology (Medical Director)
  02/2015-Present Department UT Health Physicians Neurology Clinic (Clinician)

  Global

  12/2016-Present Manuscript Reviewer JAMA Internal Medicine (Reviewer)
  01/2016-Present Cases for CME in AANEM Website (Peer Review Committee Member)
  08/2014-Present Manuscript Reviewer Muscle & Nerve (Reviewer)

• Publications

  Abstract

  Fadia M, Bhavaraju-Sanka R. Bilateral Foot Drop: Wolters Kluwer; 2018 Mar. (Clinical Neuromuscular Disease).

  Agarwal T, Bhavaraju-Sanka R, Jackson CE. Unusual Cause of Childhood Onset Ptosis and Ophthalmoplegia: Wolters Kluwer; 2018 Mar. (Clinical Neuromuscular Disease).

  Bhavaraju-Sanka R, Romero R. Cauda Equina Syndrome?; 2016 Mar. (Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular Disease).

  Santillan A, Aamodt W, Bhavaraju-Sanka R. Pearls and Oysters: Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension and Posterior Reversible Enchephalopathy Syndrome; 2016 Feb. (Neurology; vol. 86, no. 6).

  Singh P, Bhavaraju-Sanka R. Young Male With Subacute Progressive Neuropathy and Gangrene of the Toes; 2014 Jan. (Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular Disease; vol. 15, no. 3).

  Book Chapter

  Bhavaraju-Sanka R. Evaluation of Small Fiber Neuropathy. In: Somayaji Ramamurthy, Ameet Nagpal, Maxim Eckmann, Larry Driver (eds). Ramamurthy`s Decision Making in Pain Management. 2018.

  Bhavaraju-Sanka R. Entrapment Syndrome-Lower Extremities. In: Somayaji Ramamurthy, Ameet Nagpal, Maxim Eckmann, Larry Driver (eds). Ramamurthy's Decision Making in Pain Management. 2018.

  Bhavaraju-Sanka R. Entrapment Syndrome: Upper Extremities. In: Somayaji Ramamurthy, Ameet Nagpal, Maxim Eckmann, Larry Driver (eds). Ramamurthy's Decision Making in Pain Management. 2018.

  Bhavaraju-Sanka RK, Jackson CE. Endocrine Myopathy. In: Michael J Aminoff, Robert D Daroff (eds). Encyclopedia of Neurological Sciences 2E. 2014.

  Journal Article

  Howard JF Jr, Utsugisawa K, Benatar M, Murai H, Barohn RJ, Illa I, Jacob S, Vissing J, Burns TM, Kissel JT, Muppidi S, Nowak RJ, O'Brien F, WAng JJ, Mantegazza R, REGAIN Study Group. Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab In Anti-Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody-Positive Refractory Generalised Myasthenia Gravis (REGAIN): A Phase 3, Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicentre Study Lancet Neurol 2017 Dec;16(12):976-986.

  Victor RG, Sweeney HL, Finkel R, McDonald CM, Byrne B, Eagle M, Gemans N, Vandenborne K, Dubrovsky AL, Topaloglu H, Miceli MC, Furlong P, Landry J, Elashoff R, Cos D, Tadalafil DMD Study Group. A Phase 3 Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Tadalafil For Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Neurology 2017 Oct;89(17):1811-1820.

  Jacobs BC, Van Den Berg B, Verboon C, Chavada G, Cornblath DR, Gorson KC, Harbo T, Hartung HP, Hughes RAC, Kusunoski S, Van Doorn PA, Willison HG, IGOS Consortium. International Guillain-Barre Syndrome Outcome Study: Protocol of A Prospective Observational Cohort Study On Clinical And Biological Predictors of Disease Course And Outcome In Guillain-Barre Syndrome J Peripheral Nerv Syst 2017 Jun;22(2):68-76.

• Clinical

  Board Certifications

  • 2016 - United Council of Neurological Specialties - Autonomic Disorders - United Council of Neurological Specialties - Autonomic Disorders
  • 2011 - American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology/Neuromuscular Medicine - American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
  • 2008 - American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology - American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology