Like many Medical graduates in India, Ravi decided to move to the U.S. to pursue higher education and started his residency in Internal Medicine in Chicago in 1973. In 1974, Ravi married Seshu. Like majority of the marriages around that time, it was an arranged marriage. Seshu has been a constant in Ravi’s life, a pillar of strength and support.”She is a multifaceted person,who excels in everything she does. She is the reason that I have been able to do anything and everything over the past 35 years. I am very fortunate that I found her and married her”, says Ravi.

Ravi and Seshu are blessed with three talented children; Indira.who is studying M P H at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Gopal: Doctoral Studies, Applied Physics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California; and Sriram an Entering freshman, at Lakeside High School, Atlanta, class of 2013

Ravi is Board Certified in Internal Medicine,Hematology,Medical Oncology and Geriatric Medicine. From 1979 to
1995, he was a Faculty member, Emory University School of Medicine, rising to the rank of Associate Professor of Medicine. And from 1995 to present, he has been a Partner, Suburban Hematology-Oncology Associates, a seven person single specialty private practice in Metro Atlanta where his work involves Private practice of Oncology, direct patient care, and clinical research in the management of patients with cancers and blood diseases.
 

Dr.Sarma with Olympic Torch.

Dr. Sarma has played a pivotal role in Indian American Cultural Association(IACA). Soon after arriving in Atlanta, Seshu and Ravi became active members of IACA. Ravi gradually progressed to several key posts. He became Secretary of the Cultural Center Committee, Secretary of IACA and in 1983, Chairman of the Board of Directors. During his tenure as Chairman of the Board, he and the Board members worked hard and purchased the current ICRC property. Ravi was also Editor of IACA’s in-house publication,’Voice of India’ He was also a Founder and Chairman of IASF, the Indian American Scholarship Fund (IASF) of IACA. Which is designed to provide assistance to high school students in Georgia who have been accepted to an undergraduate institution in the United States.

Ravi wanted to do more for the community. He was interested in an authentic Hindu Temple for the growing Hindu community,so he joined a core group who made that dream a reality. Ravi and Seshu have been very passionate and committed in their selfless services in the Hindu Temple of Atlanta in Riverdale,Georgia since its inception. Seshu and Ravi have been long time trustees of the temple and have held various positions of responsibility during the past 25 years.

Dr.Sarma has held the following positions with the temple:
Editor: Various temple special publications, 1992-2000;
Chairman, Humanitarian and Community Services Committee, 1996-2000
Treasurer: 2001-02
Secretary: 2003-04
Vice President: 2005-06
President: 2007-08
Ex-Officio, Immediate Past President: 2009-10


Due to space constraints, it is not possible to give a very detailed account of Ravi’s immense contributions in community service. In brief, he has an enviable track record of services for the temple and its devotees. Some of the projects accomplished under his tenure include Consecration of Siva Temple and Renovation of Venkateswara Temple; expansion of the range of services offered by the temple and initiating of an outreach program; strengthening the Bala Vihar program and involving youth in community services projects; and fiscal responsibility. During his two year term as president, the range of activities and capital expenditures required a strong fund -raising effort. Ravi and the Temple Officials were able to do that without borrowing any monies to accomplish the goals.
 

Dr.Ravi Sarma being bestowed with TAMA Award 2007

Despite the enormous pressures of his professional job, Dr.Sarma has been actively involved with many Associations:
He is a Life member of IACA, Telugu Association of Metro Atlanta,(TAMA) and Georgia Association of Physicians of Indian origin(GAPI).
Founder member of GASCO, the state medical oncology society.
Member of MAG, the state physicians’ organization,
Member of ASCO, the American Society of Clinical Oncology,
Fellow, the American College of Physicians, FACP.
Ravi has played a big role in humanitarian efforts to help Bhutanese refugees settle down in Atlanta, Georgia. From 2007 to present, he has been an untiring and dedicated member of the Bhutanese Refugee Family Support Program

It is heartwarming to note that Ravi’s varied services to the community has not gone unrecognized. Among the many well-deserved accolades and Awards are:

Appreciation Award from the Bhutanese American Community, in December, 2008
Life Time Leadership and Service Award: Telugu Association of Metro Atlanta, in Silver Jubilee Year, 2007
Distinguished Service Award. IACA, 1988 and many others.

One honor of which Dr.Sarma is especially proud of is when in 1996-he was a Torch Bearer, Centennial Olympics, Atlanta, in recognition of his dedication to the care of cancer patients and research in cancer.

When asked “Who has inspired him most in his life.?” Ravi replied, “My aunt, my father’s younger sister, who just passed away at the age of 86”

And what about hobbies?
“I am trying to understand the immense intellectual contribution of our ancient sages. I am trying to drink the ocean of knowledge with a spoon,” he humbly commented.

Dr.Sarma firmly believes in giving back to the community and making a difference in the lives of less fortunate and disadvantaged members of the community. “One’s spirit can be kept alive by giving a little of ourselves to make a lot of someone else’s life”, he says.