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Hugh C. Hemmings, M.D., Ph.D.

Anesthesiology

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Biographical Info

Hugh C. Hemmings Jr., MD, PhD, FRCA is the Joseph F. Artusio Jr. Professor and Chair of Anesthesiology, Professor of Pharmacology, and Senior Associate Dean for Research at Weill Cornell Medicine, and Anesthesiologist-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Dr. Hemmings earned a BS in biochemistry from Yale College, a PhD in pharmacology from Yale Graduate School, and an MD from Yale School of Medicine. He completed postdoctoral work at The Rockefeller University, a residency in anaesthesia at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and a fellowship in cardiac anesthesia at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he has been a faculty member for 30 years.

An internationally recognized neuropharmacologist, Dr. Hemmings is an expert in the synaptic effects of general anesthetics and mechanisms of neuronal signal transduction, and his research is supported by the US National Institutes of Health. He is active in several national and international societies for anesthesiology and neuroscience, and serves as editor-in-chief of the British Journal of Anaesthesia. He is an elected Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, a member of the Association of University Anesthesiologists, and a member of the US National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Hemmings has published over 200 articles in anesthesiology and neuroscience, and has edited four books, including Pharmacology & Physiology for Anesthesia: Foundations and Clinical Application, 2e published in 2019.

Education, Training and Faculty Appointments: 

1985-1987 Postdoctoral Associate, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York

1987-1988 Intern, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of Saint Raphael, New Haven, Connecticut

1988 Research Associate, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York

1988-2000 Guest Investigator, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York

1989-1991 Resident, Department of Anaesthesia, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

1991 Fellow in Cardiac Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, The New York Hospital, New York, New York

1991-1995 Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York

1991-1995 Assistant Attending Anesthesiologist, The New York Hospital, New York, New York

1991-1998 Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York

1995-1999 Director of Research, Department of Anesthesiology, Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York

1996-2000 Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York

1996-2000 Associate Attending Anesthesiologist, The New York Hospital, New York, New York

1998-2001 Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York

1999-2013 Vice Chair for Research, Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York

2000-present Professor of Anesthesiology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York

2000-present Attending Anesthesiologist, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York

2000-present Adjunct Faculty, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York

2001-present Professor of Pharmacology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 2013-present Chair of Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York

2017 Senior Associate Dean for Research, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY

Honors and Awards
  • 1977 Phi Beta Kappa
  • 1978-1984 Medical Scientist Training Program Fellowship
  • 1992-1994 Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research/BOC Anesthesiology Young
  • Investigator Award, The Effects of General Anesthetics on Presynaptic Protein Phosphorylation
  • 1992-1996 Cornell Scholar in Biomedical Sciences, Synaptic Protein Phosphorylation as a Target for Anesthetic Action
Board Certifications
American Board of Anesthesiology
Clinical Expertise
Vascular Anesthesia
Neuroanesthesia
Cardiothoracic Anesthesia
Languages
English
Education 
  • Ph.D.
    Yale University
    1987
  • M.D.
    Yale University School of Medicine
    1987
Appointments 
  • Chair of Anesthesiology
    Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University
  • Anesthesiologist-in-Chief
    NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
  • Joseph F. Artusio, Jr. Professor of Anesthesiology
    Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University
  • Professor of Anesthesiology
    Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University
  • Professor of Pharmacology
    Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University

Relationships and collaborations with for-profit and not-for profit organizations are of vital importance to our faculty because these exchanges of scientific information foster innovation. As experts in their fields, WCM physicians and scientists are sought after by many organizations to consult and educate. WCM and its faculty make this information available to the public, thus creating a transparent environment.

Leadership Roles: 
British Journal of Anaesthesia
Other Interest: 
Brown, Gruttadaro & Prato, PLLC