Sharma named emergency medicine chief at Weill


Weill Cornell Medicine
Dr. Rahul Sharma stands outside the Lisa Perry Emergency Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Dr. Rahul Sharma has been named emergency physician-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and chief of the Division of Emergency Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, effective Feb. 1.

Sharma succeeds Dr. Neal Flomenbaum, who assumed a new role as chief of emergency medical services at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell.

In his new role, Sharma oversees all operations for the Lisa Perry Emergency Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center as well as for the Division of Emergency Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. Sharma will continue to serve as medical director of strategic initiatives and making care better for NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell.

“The emergency department at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell and the Division of Emergency Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine is in excellent hands with Dr. Sharma as its new leader,” said Dr. Augustine M.K. Choi, physician-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell and the Weill Chairman of the Weill Department of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. “He is an outstanding physician who has contributed to numerous advances in emergency care.”

Sharma, who is also an associate professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, said, “Our emergency medicine team has a remarkable track record of innovation and providing high-quality care to our patients. As chief of emergency medicine, I look forward to continuing to deliver the very best emergency care for those in need. I would also like to thank Dr. Flomenbaum, who has been a tremendous inspiration and mentor to all of us in emergency medicine.”

Most recently, Sharma served as executive vice chief of emergency medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medicine, where he was responsible for strategic development of innovative educational and patient-centered programs in the emergency department. Previously, he was medical director and associate chief of service of the emergency department at NYU Langone Medical Center where he led post-Superstorm Sandy emergency department rebuilding efforts, including the planning and launch of a new emergency department.

Sharma has a distinguished record as a medical educator. He was honored with two national teaching awards, including the Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association National Excellence in Teaching Award and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) National Faculty Teaching Award. In addition, he developed the first physician assistant residency program at NewYork-Presbyterian, as well as the emergency medicine in-service board review program at NewYork-Presbyterian.

His work on operational improvement, patient flow and leadership development has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. He currently serves on two American College of Emergency Physicians national committees – the National Emergency Medicine Practice Committee and National Quality and Patient Safety Committee – and he recently chaired the ACEP Emergency Medicine Practice Subcommittee on Triage. Sharma also serves as an oral boards examiner for the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

He received a combined medical and Master of Business Administration degree in Health Management from Tufts University School of Medicine. He completed his specialty training in emergency medicine at NYU Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital, where he was selected chief resident. 

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Sarah Smith