Paramarajan Piranavan, MBBS, has been selected to serve as division chief for rheumatology in the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, effective July 1, 2025.
Dr. Piranavan currently serves as the director of the rheumatology fellowship training program and was selected as interim chief of rheumatology in 2024. He is board-certified in internal medicine and rheumatology by the American Board of Internal Medicine and joined as an assistant professor in rheumatology in 2021.
Dr. Piranavan received a number of awards in recent years including the Q2 Patient Experience Award in 2023, Q1 Patient Experience Award in 2024, Internal Medicine Chairs Excellence Award, and Faculty White Board Wizard Award for Excellence in Didactic Teaching by the UK College of Medicine in 2025.
Dr. Piranavan is a sought-after mentor for residents and fellows. He has been extensively involved in mentorship initiatives throughout his career. Under his interim leadership in rheumatology, he has successfully recruited two fellows to stay as faculty within their division at the conclusion of their fellowship.
As a rheumatologist, Dr. Piranavan has played a key role in building a collaborative research environment within the division, securing industry-sponsored trials, and fostering partnerships with basic science investigators. His research focuses on clinical trials, big data analytics, and collaborative translational studies in autoimmune diseases. His ongoing efforts aim to expand access to innovative therapies and generate real-world insights that inform clinical practice.
Dr. Piranavan earned his medical degree from the University of Colombo and received his internal medicine training in Sri Lanka and Singapore. He pursued his residency in internal medicine at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Mass., followed by a fellowship in rheumatology at SUNY Upstate Medical University in New York.