SUMMARY
Neha P. Raukar, M.D., M.S., conducts research focused on improving patient outcomes through early identification of conditions, intervention, education and innovation. As a practicing emergency medicine physician, researcher, educator and advocate for innovative approaches to health, her work focuses on the intersection of health care innovation, sports medicine and geriatric health.
Focus areas
- Sports medicine. Dr. Raukar is involved in projects to reduce the burden of life-threatening diseases in athletes including identification and prevention of sudden cardiac deaths, exertional heat illnesses and head injuries. She is internationally known for her expertise in sports medicine and her commitment to preserving the health and safety of athletes.
- Geriatric emergency medicine. Dr. Raukar finds innovative solutions that lead to reduced morbidity and mortality for older adults. Multidisciplinary interventions that leverage technology and push current processes to address the unique needs of older patients are being developed and tested in Mayo Clinic's emergency department (ED).
- Leadership. Dr. Raukar currently works on projects related to women's leadership, addressing horizontal violence among residents and developing a training program for residents to learn strategies to address inappropriate patient behaviors.
- Diversity, equity and inclusion. As co-director for the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine's 2022 Consensus Conference, Dr. Raukar is developing a prioritized research agenda identifying existing gaps to better understand and address how structural racism impacts emergency care; she has presented on this topic at several national meetings.
Significance to patient care
Older patients are a vulnerable population and can experience functional decline related to an ED visit. This is demonstrated by the high mortality rate in the months following such visits. The delivery of acute care to complex patients in a busy environment presents its own unique challenges, and Dr. Raukar is both investigating ways to identify those who would benefit from multidisciplinary interventions and discerning different strategies to optimize outcomes.
Dr. Raukar is invested in the future of health care delivery and the development of resilient physician leaders. By cultivating a growth mindset, Dr. Raukar works to create a health care team armed to face challenges.
Dr. Raukar's work in sports medicine helps athletes of all ages and activity levels return to play after an injury.
Professional highlights
- Member, Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, National Federation of State High School Associations, 2018-present
- Co-creator, Emergency Medicine X: Creating Innovations Towards Equity (ExCITE), 2017-present
- Vice chair, Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine, 2016-present
- Excellence in Teaching Fellow, Academy of Education Excellence, Mayo Clinic, 2020
- Educator of the Quarter, Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 2019
- Speaker, Youth Athletes in America — Does Practice Really Make Perfect? TedXProvidence, 2018
- Member, Committee on Sports-Related Concussions in Youth, National Academy of Sciences, 2012-2013