Champion Health System and Dr Raj Advance a New Model for Minimally Invasive Care
From North Carolina to a broader partnership vision, Dr. Radhakrishnan Ramaraj is connecting vascular innovation, physician education, and community access.
The next chapter in specialized medicine will be shaped by how effectively advanced treatments reach the people who need them. For patients living with persistent joint pain, vascular disease, or wounds that threaten their independence, access to the right expertise can change the course of care.
Champion Health System is building its future around that challenge. Led by Radhakrishnan Ramaraj, MD, FSCAI, known as “Dr. Raj,” the physician-led North Carolina organization brings cardiovascular and vascular expertise together with minimally invasive treatment options in community settings.
As Champion’s President and Medical Director, Dr. Raj is guiding a vision that extends beyond individual procedures: a care model supported by clinician education, coordinated services, and partnerships that can bring specialized expertise into additional communities.
“Our ambition is to make advanced care more accessible while preserving the clinical judgment and personal attention every patient deserves,” says Dr. Raj. “That requires investing in people and building strong clinical partnerships.”
Clinical leadership with an organizational mission
Dr. Raj’s background includes fellowship training at Cedars-Sinai/UCLA and Yale, along with vascular interpretation training at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He also serves as an Associate Professor of Medicine at Campbell University.At Champion, his leadership focuses on clinical direction, education, and program development. The aim is to translate specialized experience into capabilities that a broader team can deliver consistently, with appropriate oversight and follow-up.
Through its North Carolina locations in Oxford, Henderson, Dunn, and Raleigh, Champion serves communities with different healthcare needs and access barriers. Its services connect cardiovascular evaluation, peripheral arterial and venous care, diabetic wound management, and selected embolization treatments. Availability varies by location.
A vascular perspective on chronic knee pain
One area drawing growing attention is genicular artery embolization, or GAE, for selected patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. The procedure targets abnormal small blood vessels associated with inflammation around the knee, with the aim of reducing pain and improving function.
In May 2026, the Society of Interventional Radiology issued a position statement supporting GAE as an option for appropriately selected patients whose symptoms persist despite conservative treatment and who cannot undergo or wish to delay knee replacement. The statement also called for larger randomized trials to strengthen the evidence.
For patients, this creates another question to explore during evaluation: could an image-guided vascular procedure fit their treatment plan? GAE does not restore lost cartilage or eliminate the need for orthopedic care. Outcomes vary, and surgery remains appropriate for many patients.
Champion’s musculoskeletal program also includes evaluation for selected tendon and other musculoskeletal conditions, including persistent plantar fasciitis. These applications are at different stages of clinical development, and evidence for knee osteoarthritis should not be assumed to apply equally to every pain condition.
The organization uses the term TAME™—transarterial micro-embolization—within its musculoskeletal care program. The clinical priority remains identifying appropriate candidates and explaining the proposed technique, alternatives, expected recovery, and potential risks.
An outpatient approach with broader relevance
Champion’s work extends beyond musculoskeletal pain. Its service portfolio includes peripheral arterial disease, venous insufficiency, diabetic wound and limb-preservation care, and embolization options for selected patients with uterine fibroids, enlarged prostate symptoms, and hemorrhoids.
These services share an emphasis on image-guided treatment and individualized decision-making. Many procedures can be performed in outpatient settings, although anesthesia needs, recovery, costs, and insurance coverage depend on the treatment and the patient.
For people in rural and underserved communities, proximity matters. Travel, time away from work, and the need for family support can make specialty treatment difficult to obtain. Champion’s community-based approach seeks to make evaluation and follow-up more practical while maintaining access to specialized expertise.
A partnership vision for responsible expansion
Champion is seeking relationships with physician groups, pain practices, ambulatory surgery centers, and healthcare organizations interested in expanding access to appropriate vascular and embolization services.
Its partnership vision brings together clinical education, operating protocols, and care coordination to support the introduction of services in additional communities. Potential collaborations would be tailored to local needs, available facilities, and the clinical capabilities of each participating team.
For prospective strategic and capital partners, Champion’s growth strategy centers on extending access through existing healthcare relationships and developing outpatient services supported by clinician training. Its North Carolina experience provides a starting point for conversations with organizations across the United States and internationally.
The ambition is to build durable clinical programs with clear referral pathways and reliable follow-up. Expansion would depend on local requirements, appropriate staffing, and the ability to maintain quality as services grow.
“The opportunity is to help more communities gain access to specialized care,” Dr. Raj says. “We welcome partners who share that purpose and understand that lasting growth must be earned through patient trust and clinical quality.”
Connecting patients and partners with Champion
Patients with persistent knee pain or vascular concerns can request an evaluation to understand their diagnosis and available treatment options. Referring clinicians can connect with Champion to discuss patient needs and coordination of care.
Physician groups, surgery centers, healthcare organizations, and prospective strategic or investment partners can contact Champion Health System to explore collaboration. International inquiries are welcome for discussions about education and potential partnerships.
Learn more about services, North Carolina locations, referrals, and partnership inquiries at ChampionHealthSystem.com. Treatment suitability requires an individual clinical evaluation. Benefits and risks vary, and insurance coverage is not guaranteed.
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