Rajashree Pandit, MD

Dr. Pandit serves as the Associate Dean of Premedical at D’Youville University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, bringing over two decades of academic and clinical leadership experience from esteemed institutions worldwide.

Her medical journey began at JIPMER, Pondicherry, India, followed by specialized training in Surgery, Biochemistry, and Oncology at top hospitals in India and the United States. Dr. Pandit’s dedication to advancing medical knowledge is evident through her numerous research publications, including contributions to Scientific Reports and Nature.

Dr. Pandit’s educational expertise was cultivated at Saba University School of Medicine, where she advanced from Course Director to Chair of Clinical Medicine. Before joining D’Youville, she served as Dean of Medical and Behavioral Health at a prominent Hispanic-Serving Institution, focusing on expanding education access for underserved populations.

With her global perspective, research acumen, and passion for inclusive education, Dr. Pandit plays a pivotal role in shaping the premedical programs at DYU-COM, preparing students for meaningful careers in osteopathic medicine.

• Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates Certification (ECFMG) (2000)
• Preliminary Surgery Residency, University of Washington in Seattle (2004)
• Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), JIPMER, Pondicherry (1989)

• Ray A, Moore TF, Pandit R, Burke AD, and Borsch DM. An overview of selected bacterial infections in cancer, their virulence factors, and some aspects of infection management. [Submitted to ‘Biology (Basel)’ journal]
• Ray A, Bonorden MJL, Pandit R, Nkhata KJ, and Bishayee A. Infections and immunity: associations with obesity and related metabolic disorders. J Pathol Transl Med (2023); 57(1): 28-42. doi: 10.4132/jptm.2022.11.14. PubMed ID: 36647284.
• Santacruz L, Arciniegas AJL, Darrabie M, Mantilla JG, Baron RM, Bowles DE, Mishra R, Jacobs DO. Hypoxia decreases creatine uptake in cardiomyocytes, while creatine supplementation enhances HIF activation. Physiol Rep. (2017 Aug); 5(16): e13382. doi: 10.14814/phy2.13382. PubMed ID: 28821596.
• Feger BJ, Thompson JW, Dubois LG, Kommaddi RP, Foster MW, Mishra R, Shenoy SK, Shibata Y, Kidane YH, Moseley MA, Carnell LS, Bowles DE. Microgravity induces proteomics changes involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial protection. Scientific Reports. (2016 Sep 27); 6: 34091. doi: 10.1038/srep34091. PubMed ID: 27670941.
• Schechter MA, Watson MJ, Feger BJ, Southerland KW, Mishra R, Dibernardo LR, Kuchibhatla M, Schroder JN, Daneshmand MA, Patel CB, Rogers JG, Milano CA, Bowles DE. Elevated cardiac troponin I in preservation solution is associated with primary graft dysfunction. J Card Fail. (2016 Feb); 22(2): 158-62. doi: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2015.08.339. PubMed ID: 26365053.
• Santacruz L, Darrabie MD, Mantilla JG, Mishra R, Feger BJ, Jacobs DO. Creatine supplementation reduces doxorubicin-induced cardiomyocellular injury. Cardiovasc Toxicol. (2015 Apr); 15(2): 180-8. doi: 10.1007/s12012-014-9283-x. PubMed ID: 25253560.
• Santacruz L, Darrabie MD, Mishra R, Jacobs DO. Removal of potential phosphorylation sites does not alter creatine transporter response to PKC or substrate availability. Cell Physiol Biochem. (2015); 37(1): 353-60. doi: 10.1159/000430359. PubMed ID: 26316082.
• Santacruz L, Hernandez A, Nienaber J, Mishra R, Pinilla M, Burchette J, Mao L, Rockman HA, Jacobs DO. Normal cardiac function in mice with supraphysiological cardiac creatine levels. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. (2014 Feb); 306(3): H373-81. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00411.2013. PubMed ID: 24271489.
• Darrabie MD, Arciniegas AJ, Mantilla JG, Mishra R, Vera MP, Santacruz L, Jacobs DO. Exposing cardiomyocytes to subclinical concentrations of doxorubicin rapidly reduces their creatine transport. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. (2012 Sep 1); 303(5): H539-48. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00108.2012. PubMed ID: 22752631.
• Darrabie MD, Arciniegas AJ, Mishra R, Bowles DE, Jacobs DO, Santacruz L. AMPK and substrate availability regulate creatine transport in cultured cardiomyocytes. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. (2011 May); 300(5): E870-6. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00554.2010. PubMed ID: 21364119.