Effective March 1, 2023, Venkatesh will head the emergency medicine programs at Yale University School of Medicine and Yale New Haven Hospital, with a clear focus on promoting an accessible, inclusive work environment and patient experience.
Alexandra Martinez Garcia
Correspondent contribution
Marisa Brier
Effective March 1, 2023, MED ’14 Arjun Venkatesh will become the new face of emergency medicine at Yale University.
As the new chief of emergency medicine at Yale University School of Medicine and chief of emergency medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital, Venkatesh’s goals for the program center on a patient-centered approach and efforts to create an equitable environment for all.
After a nationwide search, Venkatesh was chosen for his exceptional leadership abilities, according to Nancy Brown — dean of the Yale University School of Medicine and professor of internal medicine.
“Under Dr. Venkatesh’s leadership, we have the opportunity to influence the practice of emergency medicine, not just at Yale but nationally,” Brown told the paper.
Venkatesh worked at the Yale Center for Outcome Research and Evaluation, also known as CORE, for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, where he researched and advanced efforts to improve the quality of the U.S. health care system in terms of patient outcomes, costs of care, and overall equity.
In this role, Venkatesh aims to achieve these goals in the emergency medicine departments at Yale, namely, by maintaining and growing a diverse and comprehensive medical team. He highlighted the importance of this guidance in the settings of both the School of Medicine and Yale New Haven Hospital by linking these efforts to create the best possible experience for patients of all backgrounds.
“We are the front door of the hospital, we are a refuge for the vulnerable who are seeking care,” Venkatesh said. “If we don’t look like our community, we won’t cure our community. We will continue to work purposefully not only in hiring, but also in creating a culture of inclusivity in our department so that people who are underrepresented in medicine will continue to seek opportunities at Yale.”
Venkatesh has always been passionate about the diagnostic mysteries that medical professionals face every day in the field of medicine. He said his formative experience as a sophomore medical student aligns perfectly with the way emergency medicine works.
“Emergency medicine hooked me the first time I had the chance to follow a faculty member and learn how to use a stethoscope,” Venkatesh said. “I also appreciate that emergency care has been one of the few places in medicine that aligns with my values—we care for anyone, anytime regardless of their ability to pay—and it’s a unique privilege to be part of the healthcare safety net.”
Venkatesh will lead the Division of Emergency Medicine Education which receives some of the NIH’s highest funding for its work, according to MED ’01 SPH ’11 Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Sharon Chekejian.
“In our faculty group are first-class researchers in substance use disorders[s]Developing Global Emergency Care, Simulation and Ultrasound Education.” “We all have our own clinical work as well as care for the community around us.”
The medical school has a drive for continuous improvement, Chikejian said, noting that Venkatesh is an ideal candidate with experience in clinical care, education and research to further that goal.
Chekijian cited the mission of “advancing science as the practice of emergency medicine” for the emergency medicine program at Yale while praising Venkatesh’s status as one of the best professionals for making this a reality.
“Emergency medicine is a fairly new specialty in the field of medicine,” Chekejian said. “This means that we take the construction of the specialty and its field very seriously.”
Yale New Haven Hospital is the only hospital in Connecticut with Level I adult and pediatric casualty facilities.