Prof. Dr. Rifat Latifi

Dr. Latifi is a tenured professor of surgery at NYMC and Director of the Department of Surgery at Westchester Medical Center, Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital and MidHudson Regional Hospital. All of the hospitals are members of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth). He previously served as vice chairman for Research and Faculty Development at NYMC.

“I have spent more than two years as a member of the New York Medical College community, seeing first-hand and participating in the outstanding work the College does to educate the next generation of leading medical professionals,” said Dr. Latifi. “As I take on this new role as chair of surgery, I look forward to continue to build on long legacy and rich history of the school and reshaping surgical education, passing along everything I have learned, as well as my commitment to helping the underserved globally, to our students.”

Specializing in trauma, general surgery, and critical care—with special interests in complex re-operative surgery, telemedicine, and nutrition support of critically ill patients—Dr. Latifi is a leading force in the field of international telemedicine. He is passionately dedicated to global surgery and international telemedicine as tools of rebuilding healthcare systems in the developing world and post-conflict countries. He established the first teletrauma and telepresence program in Arizona, the Southern Arizona Telemedicine and Telepresence (SATT), which serves residents along the U.S.—Mexico border.

In addition, he initiated, secured funding, and provided oversight to three national telemedicine program teams in Europe and Africa, for which he received the 2015 American College of Surgeons (ACS) and Pfizer International Surgical Volunteerism award. Since 2006, he has participated as a volunteer surgeon in the Philippines and serves on the ACS Committee on Global Engagement, dedicated to advocating for the medically underserved.

Dr. Latifi received the 21st Century Achievement Award for Health from the Computerworld Honors Program and the International Award for Health Promotion from the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC). Last year, he was awarded the Westchester County Doctors of Distinction “No Land Too Far Award” and the Certificate of Appreciation for Dedication and Excellent Work for the Multinational Telemedicine System from NATO. He is the author or co-author of more than 250 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. He has also authored or co-authored and edited 15 books and serves on the editorial boards of a number of peer-review journals.

Dr. Latifi received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Prishtina, Medical Faculty, Prishtina, Kosova. He served as an intern at the University of Prishtina and Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. He completed his residency in General Surgery at the Yale University School of Medicine, and a Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at Lincoln Hospital, affiliated with New York Medical College at the time.  Before joining NYMC/WMCHealth he worked at the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, University of Arizona in Tucson, and Doha, Qatar, where served as Director of Trauma Center.

Education Profile:

Undergraduate Education: University of Prishtina, Kosovo
Medical School: University of Prishtina, Kosovo
General Surgery Residency: Yale University School of Medicine
Surgical Critical Care Fellowship: Lincoln Medical Center/Cornell Medical College

Board Certifications:

Surgery, Surgical Critical Care