Gunisha Kaur

Dr. Gunisha Kaur is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, and an Associate Attending Anesthesiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. She is the Director of the Human Rights Impact Lab, Medical Director of the Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights, a Stephen M. Kellen Term Member at the Council on Foreign Relations, and a Faculty Fellow at the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies.

• M.A., Harvard University (2015)
• M.D., Weill Cornell Medical College (2010)
• B.S., Cornell University (2006)

Dr. Kaur's research pioneers the intersection of anesthesiology and human rights through clinical, neuroscientific, and policy-driven methodologies. Her work focuses on displaced populations, including migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, with key studies on chronic pain in torture survivors, mental health of displaced children, trafficking of young women, and healthcare access barriers. She integrates neuroscience frameworks to analyze trauma's physiological and societal impacts, supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research, and Cornell University.

Her publications span systematic reviews, clinical trials, and ethical analyses addressing global health disparities, refugee pain management, and gender-based violence. Dr. Kaur also authored a foundational book on human rights violations in India (Lost in History: 1984 Reconstructed, 2004) and an interactive digital textbook (Essentials of Global Health and Human Rights for Physicians, 2018). She is board-certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology and advocates for enhanced education on female genital mutilation/cutting in obstetric care.

• National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for refugee pain and neurological disorders research (2020–2030)
• Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research grants
• Cornell University research support

Dr. Kaur leads teams at the Human Rights Impact Lab and collaborates with organizations like the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society. Her work bridges clinical practice, policy advocacy, and technological innovation to address systemic inequities in displaced populations.