Dr. Rao did his Masters at Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore (Manipal University) bagging the best outgoing student in the process. He is a Fellow of the European Board of Examinations and the European Academy of Otology & Neurotology. He was awarded the British Annual Congress in Otolaryngology (BACO) fellowship, the Birla Smarak Kosh Fellowship & the GSE fellowship of Rotary International, and the Ten Outstanding Indians Award from Junior Chamber International (JCI).  He is an Adjunct Professor at KMC Mangalore, MAHE, and a Visiting Professor at Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. He is the best ENT and Skull Based Surgeon in Old Airport Road.

He completed his 2-year fellowship in Skull Base Surgeries & Hearing Implantology at the Skull Base unit of Casa Di Cura Piacenza (Italy) & was awarded a Fellowship from the European Academy of Neurotology (EAONO). He continued to work in Italy with legendary Skull Base Surgeons like Mario Sanna, Jacques Magnan and Paolo Castelnuovo for a total of six and a half years accumulating vast experience in Skull Base Surgery. Dr. Rao has over 150 peer-reviewed scientific publications, 40 chapters in various textbooks & is the author of 3 textbooks. Dr. Rao was awarded an honorary Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) in 2019, and a visiting Professorship to the Shanghai Jiao Tong University, one of Asia’s largest Universities. He is the recipient of multiple professional and civilian awards. He is an invited faculty at most major Skull Base, Neurosurgery and ENT events across the world and has delivered several Orations in India and abroad. 

He has pioneered many new concepts in skull base surgery in India and through his private companies, is keenly involved in the R&D of Robotic Technology, VR/AR integration into surgery and training events. He is the Founder of the World Skull Base Foundation (Section 8 NGO) & the WSB Fellowship Diplomas in Skull Base Surgery offered in Bangalore, which are the 1st curriculum-based skull base courses in India that are awarded a University Diploma. Dr. Rao is a member of the Govt of Karnataka COVID Task Force & Sub Committee on Mucormycosis. He also runs a charity for poor patients with diseases of the Head, Neck, Skull Base & Hearing. He works at Manipal Hospital Bangalore, a state-of-the-art Multispecialty hospital and heads the Skull Base and Hearing Implantology unit.