Pavitra Kotini-Shah, MD

Dr. Kotini-Shah is a tenured Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and the Director of Research Strategy and Innovation for the Department of Emergency Medicine. She is fellowship-trained in point-of-care ultrasound and resuscitation research. She completed an NIH BIRWCH K award in 2023 that supported her work on understanding sex/gender disparities in cardiac arrest. She is currently conducting translational research on sex hormone and inflammatory differences in cardiac arrest patients. Simultaneously, she is conducting community-oriented research addressing gender disparities in bystander CPR. Her work in cardiac arrest/resuscitation and interest in women’s health have allowed Dr.Kotini-Shah to serve on the Maternal Morbidity Review Committee for the Illinois Department of Public Health. She is also an advocate for gender parity in the workplace and has published on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on academic faculty. Her advocacy efforts for women are exemplified by the publication of an Op-Ed on sex as a biological variable, interviews on the radio and podcasts on sex differences in acute cardiovascular conditions, and appearances on news media educating the public on bystander CPR. At the national level, she serves on the Science Subcommittee of the American Heart Association (AHA) and was a member of the writing group for the 2025 ALS Guidelines. She is also a passionate advocate for women's health research, serving as a Collaborative Member of Women's Health Access Matters (WHAM) and Women's Health Advocates (WHA), and as Faculty Advisor for the Women in Medicine Research Lab. Her scientific work has resulted in presentations at the American Public Health Association, the American Heart Association, the American College of Emergency Physicians, and the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. She has traveled internationally for resuscitation research and presented at international conferences in Rwanda, Greece, and India.

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Fellowship, Emergency Ultrasound and Resuscitation, University of Illinois Chicago
Residency, Emergency Medicine, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak MI
Doctor of Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School
Master’s Coursework in Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Engineering (Minor in Business), Virginia Commonwealth University

Ongoing research focuses on point-of-care ultrasound in cardiac and hypertensive emergencies, early diagnosis of acute chest syndrome, and use of optic nerve sheath diameter as a prognostic marker in neurologic and cardiac arrest patients. She is also leading and collaborating on system-level initiatives to improve cardiac arrest outcomes through the Heart Rescue India and Heart Rescue Illinois programs.