Dr. Sudha Garimella MBBS, FAAP is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville and Division Chief of Pediatric Nephrology and Hypertension with Prisma Health- Upstate.
Dr. Garimella earned her MBBS from the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in Pondicherry, India, graduating at the top of her class with an Endowment Prize in Pediatrics. She completed her pediatric internship at Brookdale University Medical Center in Brooklyn, followed by residency and fellowship training in pediatric nephrology at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She joined the Greenville Health System in 2017 and is the Division Chief for Pediatric Nephrology as well as Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at USCSOMG since 2019, balancing patient care with a strong commitment to medical education and scholarly pursuits.
Dr. Garimella’s clinical research focuses on obesity-associated hypertension and chronic kidney disease in children. Her projects encompass investigations into early biomarkers, the roles of microalbuminuria and microRNAs, pulse wave velocity, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and more. She is an experienced clinical trials investigator helping her patients access several industry sponsored trials locally since moving here. In addition, she has helped to develop innovative simulation tools—including haptic “SIMBiopsies”—to enhance procedural skills training for fellows. She has helped develop breath-based devices to monitor uremia, taking the device from concept to testing and commercialization. Her mentored students have won national competitions for best design (U-Sert-diaper dipstick).
Dr. Garimella’s passion for teaching is evident in her interests: general nephrology education, simulation-based learning, quality improvement, small-group instruction, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in mentorship and instructional strategies. She has been an integral part of the Greenville Pediatric residency faculty since 2017, supporting trainees pursuing fellowship training and cultivating the next generation of clinician-educators.
Dr. Garimella has received numerous accolades, such as the Faculty Research Award, Outstanding Mentor Award, and special commendation for her dedication to improving the lives of children with kidney disease. She is actively engaged in professional communities, including the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology (ASPN), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). She has served as the Podcast Editor for the official ASPN research meeting podcast.
As Interim Associate Dean for Research, Dr. Garimella will advance the school’s research agenda by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, enhancing research visibility, and supporting the development of clinician–researchers. Her vision includes innovative mentoring of medical students to launch the next generation of physician-scientists, expanding biomedical research at USCSOMG, and strengthening our institution’s impact on the health of people in the Upstate through research.
In her spare time, she likes listening to audiobooks and podcasts. She loves spending time with her family, going on hikes and traveling the world to experience different cultures.