Weill Cornell Medicine's Department of Emergency Medicine has appointed Junaid Razzak, MD, PhD, as its new Vice Chair of Research and Innovation, a role designed to strengthen the connection between scientific discovery and the development of innovative solutions that improve patient care, education, operations, and community health.
For Dr. Razzak, research and innovation are not separate pursuits. They are two essential parts of the same continuum.
"Research helps us understand problems, generate new knowledge, and evaluate what works," said Dr. Razzak. "Innovation helps us translate that knowledge into practical solutions that improve care, operations, education, and health outcomes. One without the other limits our impact."
He notes that while research provides the evidence needed to advance healthcare, innovation ensures those discoveries make a tangible difference in the lives of patients and communities.
"This role formalizes what our department already does instinctively," he said. "We generate rigorous evidence and then build the tools, programs, and partnerships that translate that evidence into care. I see an opportunity to bring these two disciplines even closer together so that we can accelerate the journey from idea to impact."
Building Connections and Creating Opportunities
In the near term, Dr. Razzak plans to focus on strengthening connections among the many faculty, trainees, and staff already engaged in research and innovation across the department.
"We have talented people with ideas that can improve patient care, education, community health, and operational performance," he said. "The first step is creating opportunities for collaboration and providing support to help those ideas grow."
His vision includes establishing clear pathways for innovators through the department's Innovation Division and the Center for Virtual Care, while expanding partnerships across Weill Cornell Medicine and beyond, including collaborations in artificial intelligence, health informatics, and Cornell Tech.
A Vision for Leadership in Emergency Medicine
Looking ahead, Dr. Razzak envisions Weill Cornell Emergency Medicine becoming a national and global model for integrating academic rigor with innovation.
"Long term, I want Weill Cornell Emergency Medicine to be the place people point to when they ask what an academically serious, innovation-forward emergency department looks like," he said.
His goal is to position the department as a recognized leader in developing, testing, and scaling innovations that improve emergency care locally and globally. These efforts will span technology, data science, clinical care delivery, implementation strategies, and community engagement.
Importantly, Dr. Razzak believes success should be measured not only by traditional academic metrics such as publications and grants, but also by meaningful improvements in patient outcomes and health system performance.
"We've already grown into one of the top-ranked emergency medicine research departments in the country," he said. "The next chapter is making sure that research changes practice, here and globally."
Experience Translating Evidence into Action
Throughout his career, Dr. Razzak has focused on transforming evidence into solutions that can improve health outcomes at scale. His work has spanned emergency care systems, digital health, implementation science, global health, and health services research.
"Across these areas, a recurring theme has been translating evidence into action," he said.
He sees his new role as an opportunity to leverage those experiences in support of colleagues across the department, helping foster new ideas and build the structures necessary to turn promising concepts into meaningful impact.
Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators
Perhaps what excites Dr. Razzak most about the role is the opportunity to support the people behind the ideas.
"Some of the most rewarding moments in academic medicine come from seeing colleagues and trainees pursue ambitious ideas and transform them into programs, discoveries, and innovations that improve people's lives," he said.
He believes the Department of Emergency Medicine is uniquely positioned to lead because of its culture, talent, and entrepreneurial mindset.
"Our department has tremendous talent and an entrepreneurial spirit," he said. "I am excited to help create an environment where people feel empowered to ask bold questions, test new solutions, and collaborate across traditional boundaries."
Advancing Discovery, Innovation, and Impact
Dr. Razzak views the creation of the Vice Chair of Research and Innovation role as an important acknowledgment that discovery and innovation are fundamentally connected.
"This new structure reflects an important recognition that discovery and innovation are not separate activities," he said. "Together, they form a continuum that begins with understanding problems and ends with improving lives."
He hopes the role will serve as a catalyst for greater collaboration, broader impact, and new opportunities for faculty, trainees, and staff who are committed to shaping the future of emergency medicine.
Dr. Razzak also expressed gratitude to Dr. Rahul Sharma, Barbara and Stephen Friedman Professor and Chair of Emergency Medicine, for the opportunity.
"His approach of pushing the boundaries of innovation, bringing together the right talent, and creating a culture of success is impacting patient care in New York and beyond," Dr. Razzak said.
As Vice Chair of Research and Innovation, Dr. Razzak will help guide the department's next phase of growth, ensuring that groundbreaking research not only advances knowledge, but also translates into solutions that improve care and outcomes for patients around the world.
