A. Koneti Rao, MD, reflects on his 45-year tenure at Temple Health with a sense of gratitude. “I would use two words,” he says, “‘Grateful’ and ‘gratifying.’ Grateful because of the opportunities I’ve had over the years: on the clinical side, the research side, in the Thrombosis Research Center, in the Medical School, and at Temple University Hospital. Grateful to the members of my research team and for the support I’ve had all along from my family.”
Dr. Rao expresses satisfaction when looking back at his career. “It’s also gratifying to look back and say, ‘Gosh, I’ve had the opportunity to do more than I ever thought I could,'” he adds. He highlights his contributions to clinical work with patients having bleeding disorders and the long-standing support of the National Institutes of Health for over forty years in his research on inherited platelet disorders.
Teaching has been another aspect of his career. “On the teaching side, I’ve enjoyed working with medical students, residents, fellows, impacting their development as both physicians and scientists and serving as an editor of a major textbook,” Rao notes.
Starting in 1979 at Temple, Dr. Rao was invited to join the Hematology/Oncology section and the Thrombosis Research Center. Here, he credits Dr. Sol Sherry and Dr. Allan J. Erslev for inspiring his career direction. “Dr. Erslev was a giant in the field who discovered the widely used drug erythropoietin,” Rao states.
His collaboration with Dr. Holm Holmsen during his time at the Thrombosis Research Center fueled Rao’s interest in platelets, contributing to research spanning heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes mellitus.
Dr. Rao currently holds multiple titles, including Sol Sherry Professor of Medicine and Co-Director of the Sol Sherry Thrombosis Research Center. His work on platelet functionality and inherited abnormalities remains critical. “We wanted to understand why platelets don’t work as expected in people who have inherited abnormalities, leading to lifelong bleeding disorders,” he says.
One notable clinical moment included diagnosing two siblings with an inherited deficiency of plasma coagulation Factor XIII, changing their lives with new treatment possibilities.
Dr. Rao’s achievements have earned him several awards, including the Investigator Recognition Award from the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis and the 2025 Dr. Joan Cox Gill Award for Outstanding Service to the Hemostasis & Thrombosis Research Society. “The members of HTRS are highly accomplished clinicians, basic scientists, physician scientists, and other professionals,” he acknowledges. “Knowing some of the previous recipients, I am delighted, honored and humbled.”
Teaching remains close to his heart, with Rao emphasizing the value of collaboration to upcoming physician-scientists. He’s collaborated widely, including editorial work on Henry’s Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods, contributing to Hematology board review courses, and serving as Associate Dean for Temple University’s MD/PhD program.
Looking ahead, Rao is revisiting a personal passion. “As I get towards the end of my active professional career, I think, ‘What do I want to do that will bring new things to my life?’ That, I think, is music,” he shares, having returned to playing the chromatic harmonica.
