Dr. Rahul Sharma is a nationally recognized physician executive, academic leader, researcher, and healthcare innovator. He serves as Chair of the New York State Board for Medicine, the Barbara and Stephen Friedman Endowed Professor and Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, Emergency Physician-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center, and Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Virtual Care at Weill Cornell Medicine. He also serves as Chief and Medical Director of Emergency Medical Services for the NewYork-Presbyterian health system. At Weill Cornell Medicine, he holds dual professorships in Emergency Medicine and Population Health Sciences.

Combining clinical expertise with an MBA in Health Management, Dr. Sharma brings a distinctive perspective to healthcare leadership, integrating clinical operations, organizational strategy, research, education, and emerging technologies to advance patient care and institutional performance. His work focuses on transforming healthcare delivery, developing innovative models of care, and translating research and technology into practical solutions that improve access, quality, safety, and the patient experience.

As the founding academic Chair of Emergency Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, Dr. Sharma leads the academic, clinical, and operational strategy for four affiliated emergency departments that collectively care for more than 400,000 patient visits annually. Under his leadership, the department has expanded its clinical programs, research enterprise, educational infrastructure, and innovation initiatives. He has advanced fellowship training, physician leadership development, and innovative educational programs while strengthening the department’s position within one of the nation’s leading academic medical systems.

A pioneer in digital health and virtual care, Dr. Sharma has helped develop innovative care delivery models at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. Through the Center for Virtual Care, he leads efforts spanning clinical innovation, research, and education to advance technology-enabled care and prepare healthcare professionals for an evolving healthcare environment.

Dr. Sharma’s research focuses on novel care delivery models, virtual and community-based care, healthcare quality and safety, and emerging technologies in medicine. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, and his research has received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Association of American Medical Colleges. His scholarly work and leadership have been recognized through invitations to speak at national and international forums, including the National Academy of Medicine, and through publications and coverage in leading medical journals and national media.

His leadership extends across healthcare delivery, physician governance, and public policy. As Chair of the New York State Board for Medicine, Dr. Sharma helps guide discussions on physician licensure, medical education and training, professional standards, and the evolving practice of medicine. He also serves as the Co-Chair of the New York State Education Department Advisory Committee on Long-Term Clinical Clerkships. He has also served as President of the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Medical Board and as Chair of the Weill Cornell Medicine Physician Organization Finance Committee. In addition, he serves on several institutional executive committees, including the Weill Cornell Medicine Physician Organization Executive Committee, the Weill Cornell Medicine Board of Fellows and he is the current Chair of the Weill Cornell Physician Organization Practice Operations Committee.  Dr. Sharma serves as an Oral Boards Examiner for the American Board of Emergency Medicine and is Co-Chair of the Innovations Workgroup for the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine. 

Dr. Sharma has received national recognition for his contributions to healthcare innovation, leadership, and medical education, including recognition as a Top 25 Innovator in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare, a Crain’s New York Business Notable in Healthcare, the American College of Emergency Physicians’ National Innovative Change in Practice Management Award, and the New York ACEP Advancing Emergency Care Award. He is also the recipient of national teaching awards from the Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Dr. Sharma earned his MD and MBA in Health Management from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed his Emergency Medicine residency at NYU Langone Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital, where he served as Chief Resident. He is a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine and a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.