A Distinction for Suneja by Katy Chamber Heralds His Contributions in Medicine

By Jawahar Malhotra

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Dr. Randeep Suneja, with his wife Seema (with flowers) after the award presentation from the Katy Chamber of Commerce with Texas State Senator Lois Kolkhorst (second from left) and US Congressman Michael McCaul (on left of Suneja) and the Directors and Committee members of the Katy Chamber of Commerce at the Gala held on Friday, February 20 at Safari Texas Ranch in Sugar Land.

SUGAR LAND: Its probably one of the largest professional services medical practice in the bustling and rapidly-growing city of Katy, not only in physical size of the building but also in the number of patients that have visited for treatment, a fact that was not lost on the President of the Katy Chamber of Commerce as she spoke from the podium at the organization’s gala held this past Friday, February 20 at the Safari Texas Ranch.

“It’s an honor to present this (night’s) final award to Dr. Randeep Suneja,” said Ann Hodge, “who is one of the most incredible physicians I have ever met. He has treated over 58,000 patients in his long career as a cardiologist.” In introducing Suneja as the recipient of the Chamber’s Citizen of the Year Award, Chamber Chairman of the Board Ted Adams referred to him as “the J.J. Watt of the cardiology world”, a reference to the acclaimed defensive end of the Houston Texans. Adams went on to read from Suneja’s biographical sketch printed in the gala souvenir. Suneja is the first physician and first Indo-American to be recognized by the KCC in its 48 year history, a testament to his skill, reputation and the presence of other Indo-American businesses in Katy.

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Dr. Randeep Suneja and his wife with his partners Dr. Pai (extreme left) and Dr. Desikan (fifth from right) and their office staff at the Katy Chamber of Commerce Gala last Friday, February 20.

As Suneja’s wife Seema, partner cardiologists Dr. Ram Pai and Dr. Kamal Desikan who recently joined the practice, several members of the staff and many of his friends listened, they heard of the remarkable growth of Houston Cardiology Center which Suneja established 25 years ago in 1993 with a $75,000 loan, no patients and one employee. He opened the Katy office in 1998 and relocated from the West Houston Professional Building on Richmond near Kirkwood to the 10,000 building he built. The practice now has 25 employees and provides a full range of cardiovascular services.

The gala brought together 540 business people, and their guests, to an evening of entertainment by a five-member soul group that hit all the notes right, and were accompanied by the stunning Theresa Grayson who played a mean set of saxophones. Among the speakers and presenters were US Congressman Michael McCaul doing the Pledge of Allegiance to the US Flag and State Senator Lois Kolkhorst doing the Pledge to the Texas Flag. Others in attendance were US Congressman John Culberson and Jay Guerrera from US Senator John Cornyn’s regional office. Suneja was presented with the US and Texas flags that were carried aboard jets on a ceremonial flyover of the Texas Capitol building in Austin earlier in the day.

An elated Suneja could not contain his enthusiasm at receiving the honor. “I am humbled by this award,” he said onstage at the mic. “Next to God, I want to thank my team, my staff, wife and especially my parents – my mom for developing a faith in God, and my dad for leadership skills.” A congenial man who genuinely enjoys spending time with his patients when so many others are too overworked to try, Suneja follows up with each one of them. We take care of our patients with heart and soul,” he added, referring to the catchy slogan of the practice, ‘I treat, HE cures’.

In closing, Suneja shared his vision for the future of Cardiology Center of Houston, and in doing so threw out a challenge for the next decade. “Our new goal is ’25 by twenty-twentyfive’, or to reduce cardiovascular disease by 25 per cent by 2025 and we need you all to help in that effort.”