Dr. Rahul Sharma is the Barbara and Stephen Friedman Endowed Professor and Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and the Emergency Physician-in-Chief for New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center. He serves as the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Virtual Care at Weill Cornell Medicine. He also holds dual faculty appointments as Professor of Emergency Medicine and Professor of Population Health Sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Dr. Sharma's contributions have made a profound impact on emergency care delivery and the broader healthcare industry. His vision and leadership continue to drive innovations that improve patient outcomes and set new standards for emergency care.
As the founding academic Chair for the Department of Emergency Medicine, he oversees all academic and operational activities for the four Weill Cornell-affiliated Emergency Departments, which include NYP-Weill Cornell Medical Center, NYP-Lower Manhattan Hospital, NYP-Brooklyn Methodist, and NYP-Queens. In total, the Department of Emergency Medicine offers three separate ACGME Emergency Medicine residency programs,15 post-graduate fellowships and treats over 400,000 patients annually, serving a diverse population in New York City. Under Dr. Sharma’s leadership, the department has seen significant advancements in patient care, education, wellness, innovation and research.
He holds several executive healthcare leadership positions, including Chief and Medical Director of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for the NYP enterprise, Chair of the Weill Cornell Medicine Physician Organization Finance Committee, and past president of the New York Presbyterian Hospital Medical Board. Additionally, he serves on the Weill Cornell Medicine Board of Fellows, the New York State Board for Medicine, the Forbes Health Advisory Board, and the Dalton School Board of Trustees. He is a fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine and a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).
As a national leader in emergency medicine, healthcare operations, telemedicine, and virtual healthcare, Dr. Sharma’s operational and research focus is the development of novel care delivery models and the use of technology to enhance patient experience, safety, and overall quality of care. He has launched several innovative virtual care platforms at NYP-Weill Cornell Medicine, including Virtual Urgent Care, ED Telehealth Express Care, and the Community Tele-Paramedicine program. As Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Virtual Care, Dr. Sharma oversees the clinical, education and research missions of the center. His work has been widely recognized, with publications in peer-reviewed journals and invitations to speak at national and international programs, including the National Academy of Medicine. Furthermore, his research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC).
Dr. Sharma’s accomplishments in innovation have been featured in several national media platforms and academic journals such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NEJM Catalyst, and JAMA. Notably, he has been named a Top 25 Innovator in the healthcare industry by Modern Healthcare and recognized as a Crain’s New York Business Notable in Healthcare. The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) honored him with the National Innovative Change in Practice Management Award, and he is also the recipient of the 2024 New York American College of Emergency Physicians (NYACEP) Advancing Emergency Care Award.
Dr. Sharma has an established record as a medical educator and is actively involved in teaching and mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals. He has received two national teaching awards, the Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association (EMRA) National Excellence in Teaching Award and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) National Faculty Teaching Award. He has also launched several fellowships and training programs, including the first Healthcare Leadership and Management (HLM) Program at Weill Cornell Medicine, and the first Physician Assistant Residency Program at NYP-Weill Cornell Medicine.
He serves on several national committees including the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) National Emergency Medicine Practice Committee and National Quality and Patient Safety Committee. In addition, he is an Oral Boards Examiner for the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM).
Dr. Sharma completed his MD/MBA in Health Management from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed his specialty training in emergency medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital, where he was selected as Chief Resident.
