Basmah Safdar, MD, FACEP

Basmah Safdar, M.D. is an internationally recognized scholar in sex and gender-specific research with a focus on microvascular health - in the heart, brain and now COVID-19. Funded by a diverse grant portfolio (NIH, CDC, Foundations and Investigator Initiated Industry awards) she has successfully conducted numerous clinical trials and translational research in emergency settings. She leads the Yale CMD (coronary microvascular dysfunction) Registry that intersects with a multi-disciplinary clinical program addressing the systemic nature of microvascular dysfunction including in COVID-19.
Dr. Safdar co-chaired the 2014, Society of Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference on “Sex and Gender Specific Research – Investigate, Understand and Translate how Gender Affects Patient Outcomes” leading the advocacy to address disparities in patient care. She teaches and speaks regularly on this topic at regional and national forums.

In her capacity as the Medical Director of the Chest Pain Center (formerly leading the Women’s Heart Program at Yale New Haven Hospital), Dr. Safdar adeptly combines a data driven approach with extensive operational and content expertise to drive clinical program advancement, programmatic efficiencies, and champions the implementation of value-based chest pain care through the health care delivery continuum.

In her operational and administrative responsibilities, Dr. Safdar applies a systems lens merging her academic expertise with a servant leadership ethos to foster consensus and establish standardized efficient practices. She is deeply committed to cultivating equitable and transparent platforms for patients and physician workforce. Nationally, she recently completed a 3-year term as President of Academy for Women in Academy Emergency Medicine (AWAEM), a national organization for Emergency Medicine and used this platform to collate faculty development resources for early and mid-career women faculty in emergency medicine. She remains committed to teaching and to provide mentorship to undergraduates, medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty at Yale. In her role as Vice Chair, Dr. Safdar leads the faculty affairs, development and mentorship program for the department.

In recognition of her service and exceptional leadership, Dr. Safdar was sponsored by the Dean to participate in the 2023-2024 Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM) Program. This prestigious initiative is dedicated to cultivating a diverse cohort of accomplished women leaders poised to make significant contributions to academic medicine's leadership landscape.