Obituary of Madu Rao

Doctor Madu Rao passed away on December 29, 2020 at 10:15 AM. He was celebrated as a pillar of every community he was a member of. He is deeply mourned by family, friends and academic colleagues. Madu served as Professor of Pediatrics at SUNY- Downstate 1969-2003. He founded and directed the Pediatric Asthma Center, the Pulmonary Function Laboratory, the Sleep Apnea Laboratory, and the Neonatal Metabolic Laboratory in addition to directing the Pediatric Pulmonary Division. He was funded researcher from the National Institute of Health and has authored numerous publications on asthma and other pediatric pulmonary diseases. He has trained generations of pediatric pulmonologists and continued to do so well into his retirement. Dr. Rao and his wife, Alicia B. Rao established a foundation for research awards to those training in the pediatric pulmonary program and scholarships for children with asthma. The foundation also provides much needed aid to orphanages and underserved people in India and the Philippines. He is survived by his wife, Alicia; his elder brother, Prasanna D. L Rao; his younger sister, Usha Hebbar; their spouses; several nieces and nephews and their respective spouses and children.