About Dr. Varagur
Dr. Kaamya Varagur is a resident in the Division of Plastic Surgery. She graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton University with a degree in Neuroscience and minor in classical vocal performance. She was subsequently named a Gates Cambridge Scholar by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, through which she completed her MPhil in Music at the University of Cambridge and sang at King’s College. She went on to complete her medical education at Washington University in St. Louis, where she served as a research fellow within the Division of Plastic Surgery and the Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Institute at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. She hopes to pursue a career in academic plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Societies
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Resident Program
- American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association
- American Medical Women’s Association
- Phi Beta Kappa Society
Awards/Honors
2024
Richard S. Brookings Medical School Prize- Excellence in Medical School Curriculum
2024
Robert Carter Medical School Award- Top Research Merit
2024
Medical Fund Society Prize in Surgery- Excellence in the Study of Surgery
2023
American Society of Plastic Surgeons Top Medical Student Abstract
2021
Doctor James L. O’Leary Neuroscience Prize, Washington University
2020
Young Women in Science Award—1st Place, Original Research, AMWA
2019
Distinguished Student Scholarship, Washington University
2018
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
2018
Phi Beta Kappa, Princeton University
2018
Summa cum laude in Neuroscience, Princeton University
2015
Shapiro Prize for Academic Excellence, Princeton University
Research
Publications
- Varagur K, Ribaudo JG, Keller M, et al. Understanding Trends in Incidence and Management of Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer in a National Sample Using Claims Data. J Surg Oncol. Jun 19 2025;doi:10.1002/jso.70010
- Varagur K, Chryssofos S, Douglas TO, et al. Characterizing age at velopharyngeal dysfunction in patients with cleft palates. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. Mar 2025;102:123-130. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2025.01.024
- Varagur K, Murphy J, Skolnick GB, et al. Impact of Neighborhood Deprivation and Social Vulnerability on Outcomes and Interventions in Patients with Cleft Palate. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. Jan 9 2024:10556656231226070. doi:10.1177/10556656231226070
- Bruzek AK, Koller GM, Karuparti S, Varagur K, et al. MRI analysis of neurodevelopmental anatomy in myelomeningocele: prenatal vs postnatal repair. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. Jan 18 2024;doi:10.1002/uog.27586
- Varagur K, Sullivan J, Chiang SN, Skolnick GB, Sacks JM, Christensen JM. Investigating Weekend Effect in the Management of Upper and Lower Extremity Degloving Injuries. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. Oct 2023;11(10):e5345. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000005345
- Yang PH, Karuparti S, Varagur K, et al. Association of germinal matrix hemorrhage volume with neurodevelopment and hydrocephalus. J Neurosurg Pediatr. Oct 1 2024;34(4):347-356. doi:10.3171/2024.3.PEDS22376
- Bruzek AK, Koller GM, Karuparti S, Varagur K et al. MRI analysis of neurodevelopmental anatomy in myelomeningocele: prenatal vs postnatal repair. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. Jan 18 2024;doi:10.1002/uog.27586
- Karuparti S, Dunbar A, Varagur K, et al. Predictors and timing of hydrocephalus treatment in patients undergoing prenatal versus postnatal surgery for myelomeningocele. J Neurosurg Pediatr. Mar 8 2024:1-10. doi:10.3171/2023.10.PEDS23327
- Karuparti S, Flanders TM, Dunbar A, Varagur K, Strahle JM. Head growth in patients with myelomeningocele treated with prenatal and postnatal surgery. J Neurosurg Pediatr. Mar 8 2024:1-10. doi:10.3171/2023.11.PEDS23328
- Sullivan J, Skladman R, Varagur K, et al. From Augmented to Virtual Reality in Plastic Surgery: Blazing the Trail to a New Frontier. J Reconstr Microsurg. Oct 26 2023;doi:10.1055/a-2199-3870Linkugel AD, Trivedi PB, Varagur K, et al. Multidisciplinary Optimal Outcomes Reporting and Team Clinic Retention in Isolated Nonsyndromic Cleft Palate. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. Oct 6 2023:10556656231205974. doi:10.1177/10556656231205974
- Chiang SN, Varagur K, Ribaudo JG, Skolnick GB, Sacks JM, Christensen JM. Dual-port and single-port tissue expanders in postmastectomy breast reconstruction: A retrospective cohort study. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. Mar 2025;102:473-479. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2023.09.019
- Varagur K, Murphy J, Skolnick GB, et al. Family Experiences with Diagnosis of Craniosynostosis: Thematic Analysis of Online Discussion Boards. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. Jul 24 2023:10556656231190043. doi:10.1177/10556656231190043
- Varagur K, Shetty AS, Saoud K, et al. Association between Bioimpedance Spectroscopy and Magnetic Resonance Lymphangiography in the Diagnosis and Assessment of Lymphedema. J Reconstr Microsurg. Jul 5 2023;doi:10.1055/a-2102-0261
- Varagur K, Murphy J, Ochoa E, et al. Impact of neighborhood deprivation and social vulnerability on long-term outcomes and desire for revision in patients with craniosynostosis. J Neurosurg Pediatr. May 26 2023:1-10. doi:10.3171/2023.4.PEDS2343
- Varagur K, Jacobson L, Teixeira R, Patterson JMM, Skolnick GB, Mackinnon SE. Following a Surgical Paradigm Shift Through the Adoption of Nerve Transfers Among Board-Eligible and Practicing Plastic Surgeons. Hand (N Y). May 5 2023:15589447231167582. doi:10.1177/15589447231167582
- Chiang SN‡, Varagur K‡, Skolnick GB, Naidoo SD, Smyth MD, Patel KB. "Calvarial Vault Remodeling Technique for Lambdoid Craniosynostosis.". Plast Reconstr Surg. May 16 2023;doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000010685 ((‡ =co-first authors)
- Chen J, Varagur K, Xun H, et al. Predictors and Consequences of Intraoperative Anastomotic Failure in DIEP Flaps. J Reconstr Microsurg. Feb 3 2023;doi:10.1055/a-2003-7890
- Varagur K, Zubovic E, Skolnick GB, et al. Porous Polyethylene Versus Autologous Costochondral Reconstruction for Microtia: Incidence and Analysis of Secondary Procedures. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. Published online October 11, 2022:10556656221132034. doi:10.1177/10556656221132034
- Chiang SN, Finnan MJ, Varagur K, Skolnick GB, Sacks JM, Christensen JM. The Association between Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema and Area Deprivation Index. J Reconstr Microsurg. Published online September 20, 2022. doi:10.1055/a-1947-8212
- Varagur K, Skolnick GB, Naidoo SD, Smyth MD, Patel KB. School-age outcomes in patients with unilateral coronal synostosis: comparison of fronto-orbital advancement and endoscopic strip craniectomy. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics. 2022;1(aop):1-8. doi:10.3171/2022.1.PEDS21401
- Varagur K, Sanka SA, Strahle JM. Syndromic Hydrocephalus. Neurosurgery Clinics of North America. 2022;33(1):67-79. doi:10.1016/j.nec.2021.09.006
- Smith HJ, Durakovic N, Patel B, Varagur K, et al. Clinical Staging to Estimate the Probability of Severe Postoperative Complications in Patients With Vestibular Schwannoma. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2021;147(11):991-998. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2021.2626
Published Abstracts
- Botros MM, Mintz R, Varagur K, Skolnick G, Sacks JM. D105. Anatomical Training and Legacies of Abuse in Surgery (A.T.L.A.S.): Surgeons’ Ethical Decisionmaking around Problematic Resources in Surgery and Surgical Education. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2024;12(S5):118. doi:10.1097/01.GOX.0001018896.12858.f2
- Varagur K, Skolnick GB, Naidoo SD, Grames LM, Grellner C, Zanaboni H, Snyder-Warwick AK, Patel KB. Patient Opinions on Telemedicine Visits in Cleft/Craniofacial Multidisciplinary Team Clinic. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery-Global Open 11(10S):p 88-89, October 2023. | DOI: 10.1097/01.GOX.0000992344.74136.61
- Varagur K, Saoud K, Pinni SL, Sullivan J, Christensen JM. D130. Relative Outcomes of Flap-based Reconstruction and Incisional Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy for Groin Coverage in the Setting of Vascular Intervention. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery–Global Open. 2023;11(4S):123-125.
- Varagur K, Murphy J, Ochoa E, et al. SP12. Area Deprivation Impacts Outcomes and Interventions in Patients with Craniosynostosis or Cleft Palate. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery–Global Open. 2023;11(5S):127-128.
- Varagur K, Saoud K, Ochoa E, Shetty A, Sacks JM, Christensen JM. SP21. Association between Bioimpedance Spectroscopy and Magnetic Resonance Lymphangiography in the Diagnosis and Assessment of Lymphedema. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. 2023;11(5 Suppl)
Book Chapters
- Varagur K, Christensen JM. Radial Forearm Flap. In: Atlas of Reconstructive Microsurgery. Thieme; 2024 (With editorial office).
- Varagur K, Sacks JM, Johannesson L. Uterus Transplantation. In: Atlas of Reconstructive Microsurgery. Thieme; 2024 (With editorial office).