Reaching Rural Areas

When thinking of expert Duchenne care and research, one may think it only exists in large cities. However, Dr. Aravindhan Veerapandiyan, aka Dr. Panda, the Director of Arkansas Children’s Certified Duchenne Care Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, is challenging that perspective. Since joining the team at Arkansas Children’s in 2018, Dr. Veerapandiyan has been the principal investigator (PI) for more than 15 Duchenne clinical trials while treating over 100 individuals living with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. He brings critically important care and opportunities to the local Duchenne community.

Dr. Panda’s passion for serving individuals in need started long before he became a physician. He grew up in a rural area in the southern part of India where access to basic medical care was difficult. The challenges his father experienced as a physician to bring quality medical care to their rural community and his commitment to giving back motivated Dr. Panda to serve where access to care is difficult. Dr. Panda believes that everyone deserves equal topmost care, no matter where they live. He is passionate and dedicated to bringing that care to patients in Arkansas and beyond.

Dr. Veerapandiyan is the Director of the Comprehensive Neuromuscular Program at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at UAMS College of Medicine. He earned his medical degree from the K.A.P. Vishwanatham Government Medical College in India. He then completed a residency in Child Neurology at Rutgers University – New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey and a fellowship in Neuromuscular Medicine at University of Rochester – Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York.  Dr. Veerapandiyan has a passion for clinical research and education. He has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and has presented his work at national and international  meetings. 

PPMD is thrilled to have Dr. Panda & Arkansas Children’s as part of our Certified Duchenne Care Center network. This dedicated team in Little Rock, Arkansas shows the community that you do not need to live near a large urban center to receive quality care, and exemplifies the CDCC program’s value of bringing comprehensive, coordinated, high-quality Duchenne care to patients, no matter where they live . To learn more about the Arkansas Children’s clinic, please visit our website or email careteam@parentprojectmd.org.