Ryan P. McCormack, MD

My broad clinical background and research experience reflects my commitment to collaborating with others across medical specialties and clinical roles (e.g., physicians, nurses, social workers, peers) as well as patients themselves – so that together, we can improve the quality of healthcare in ways that are practical and address patients’ needs and goals.  Specifically, I received board certification in Emergency and Internal Medicines through a combined residency at the University of Maryland, followed by Addiction Medicine board certification and a Masters of Clinical Investigation and leadership roles in several NIH-funded grants while a NYU.

Currently, I practice in the Emergency Department (ED) at Bellevue Hospital.  I love the broad range of practical knowledge and skills required for emergency medicine.  There’s a real team work approach in the ED, and that appeals to me.  Also, I like that the doors of the ED are always open for anyone, anytime - 24/7/365.  It doesn’t matter what you look like, sound like, or have in your wallet. Everyone is a VIP.

Internal medicine appealed to a different aspect of my intellectual side.  You have a bit more time to put on your thinking cap and consider complex problems amongst patients whom you’ve gotten to know over time. I like being someone’s doctor beyond the ED visit – and I miss that.  My pursuit of addiction medicine came a bit later, and it was more as a response to seeing the unmet needs and related suffering of so very many people - those close to them.

Since arriving at NYU in 2008, much of my work has focused on clinical research funded by the National Institutes of Health, the State of New York, agencies and foundations.  This is my passion. My overall research goals are to bring the best treatment options for alcohol and drug use to patients in the ED, particularly those who are marginalized or at-risk of “falling through the cracks.” For example, if a patient comes after spraining their ankle while having an overdose, we will not only fix the ankle, but also assess their substance use, start treatment when warranted, and provide a referral for ongoing treatment.  Through this work, I have the potential to change practice in EDs across the country.  As a result, many more individuals may receive the life-saving treatment they need than I could deliver as a single ED doctor.