GAURI VARADHACHARY

1968-2021

Dr. Gauri Rajani Varadhachary passed away peacefully at home on June 5th due to complications from lung cancer. Her husband, Atul, and her daughters, Tanvi and Riya, were by her side.

Varadhachary was born August 25, 1968 in Mumbai, India where she also attended medical school. After her medical residency in Baltimore she moved to the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston for her fellowship in Hematology and Oncology. She then joined the Baylor Faculty before moving to the MD Anderson Cancer Center where she served for almost twenty years.

Varadhachary was a leading expert in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer and unknown primary tumors. She won numerous awards for her work and is an author on over two hundred academic publications. Throughout her career, she was known for her dedication to quality patient care and for her generosity with her time, energy and empathy.

Varadhachary was passionate about social issues, giving generously of her time and resources. An organization close to her heart was Pratham, India’s largest educational non-profit. She helped create Pratham health, which reached 65,000 preschool children in Mumbai, providing them with iron and micronutrients. Gauri continued her involvement with Pratham, serving on the Pratham Houston Board for many years. She also supported many other organizations in Houston doing great work to help the under-served population whether it be in food security, elder care, or protection against domestic abuse.

Dr. Varadhachary loved traveling, hiking and the outdoors. She organized vacations with family and friends in exotic locations exploring new cities, and immersing herself in different cultures. When not traveling, she fulfilled her love of the outdoors by tending to her verdant garden. Her daughters loved the dichotomy of the professional, well-dressed, successful career woman and the laughing gardener covered in dirt from head to toe.

Varadhachary prioritized her family and friends along with her own passions. She loved spending time with her daughters, helping them with their homework and having family dinner together almost every night. Her daughters are incredibly thankful to have such an amazing role model, successfully balancing an incredible career, a loving family, and fun. She will be remembered as a fountain of laughter, a nurturing friend/ mother, and an empathic doctor. To read tributes from her friends and family or share your own, please visit tinyurl.com/gvtribute.

There will be a virtual Celebration of Gauri Varadhachary’s Life tomorrow (July 19th) from 4:00-5:30pm: tinyurl.com/gvcelebration.