Although he’s lived in America for almost 20 years, Dr. Raamis Khwaja returns to India whenever an opportunity arises to visit his grandparents and to soak in the lasting values and traditions – education, service, authenticity – that they imparted on his parents. Those deep-rooted characteristics undoubtedly helped in Dr. Khwaja’s selection as this year’s Goldings Award recipient.

Dr. Raamis Khwaja

What this award means: Receiving recognition from the faculty and fellows I had a chance to work with during the rheumatology rotation is a distinction I will forever cherish. They are role models in their knowledge of medicine, kind demeanor, and support for each other. I enjoyed the opportunity to learn from them and hope to make a similar impact as they have on the lives of people I care for. I also want to thank my classmates for their support through the years. They are an incredible group of individuals. I hold a great deal of love and respect for each of them in my heart.

Mentor comment: Raamis approached his work with enthusiasm and a strong desire to learn. At the bedside, he developed a warm relationship with the patients, gathering and interpreting relevant information in a facile manner. He is drawn to the care of the neediest, expressing empathy and care for the very sick patients we encountered on the service. His performance was truly commendable. – Dr. Salahuddin Kazi, Professor of Internal Medicine and Internal Medicine Vice Chair of Education

Background and family: My family moved from India when I was 7, and we have since lived in Chicago and Dallas. My parents are very dear to me and constantly provide support and guidance. My sister is a senior at UT Austin and will be starting medical school in the fall. I also keep in close touch with my grandparents in India. They are huge influences in my life – my paternal grandfather studied philosophy at Cambridge and my maternal grandfather studied engineering at Manchester before coming back to India and leaving behind a truly remarkable legacy.

What led to your career path: I grew up in a loving family that placed an emphasis on education, service, and authenticity. I felt a physician most closely embodied those traits, and I felt it would be the best combination of earning a living and giving back to the communities that had shaped me. While at Southern Methodist University, for instance, I received tremendous support and was able to conduct a research project on water contamination and public health in my hometown of Aligarh, India.

Surprising fact: I originally wanted to study history and be a writer before choosing medicine. At SMU, I majored in biochemistry and also was in the liberal arts honors program.

Future plans: I will be serving my residency in internal medicine at UT Health Science Center at Houston, and I am interested in rheumatology and hematology/oncology as possible careers.

About the award: The award, presented to the most outstanding medical student in rheumatology, is named for Dr. Eliot A. Goldings, a former Division of Rheumatic Diseases faculty member who died in 1988. Dr. Goldings distinguished himself as a scholar, teacher, and clinician.