Ian G. Wittman, MD

When I was 13 years old, my uncle died from AIDS, and my experience being present in his final days influenced my decision to pursue a career in medicine. Observing the care he received and seeing how the doctors and nurses guided him and our family through a difficult time gave me a great appreciation for the field and inspired me to care for others. I knew that I wanted to specialize in emergency medicine as soon as I walked into an emergency room for the first time as a trainee during medical school. I was drawn to the fast-paced environment and the breadth of knowledge across all specialties that it requires.

As chief of service for the Emergency Department at NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn, my team and I treat people who have any type of medical condition, ranging from heart attack and stroke to severe injuries and more minor complaints. We strive to provide the highest quality of care in an efficient and thorough manner. As a Level 1 Trauma Center, Comprehensive Stroke Center, and STEMI Receiving Center, we’re recognized for providing what we believe to be the most comprehensive and high quality emergency care in Brooklyn.

More than any other specialty, emergency medicine requires a team approach to care. When people come to us, they’re guided and treated by a team of doctors, nurses, physician assistants, aides, pharmacists, transporters, care managers, and social workers. Only through interdisciplinary collaboration are we able to achieve the best outcomes. Our emergency department treats more than 95,000 people annually. People come to us on what is often one of the worst days of their lives, and it’s our job to provide comfort, support, and timely and efficient evidence-based care.

In addition to providing clinical care, I have a special interest in treating underserved communities. Our staff in Brooklyn is proud to serve our local community, which is one of the most ethnically and socioeconomically diverse areas in the country. In recent years I have also been passionate about improving care for those with opioid use disorder. In all of our NYU Langone emergency departments, we screen all patients over the age of 13 for opioid use disorder, and for those who screen positive, we offer counseling and medications to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses and to decrease people’s dependence on opioids. We’ve made great strides in making this care available to our patients.