Adam David Lichtman

Adam David Lichtman, M.D. serves as Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology and Chief of General Anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medical College, specializing in complex cardiovascular and aortic surgery anesthesia. Board-certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology with subspecialty certification in Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography, he holds fellowships in the American Society of Echocardiography and American Academy of Wilderness Medicine. His institutional affiliations include NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and active participation in national anesthesia societies.

Dr. Lichtman's research spans cardiothoracic anesthesia, disaster medicine, and vascular anesthesia with 12 significant publications between 2006-2021. His work demonstrates consistent focus on perioperative complications in high-risk surgeries, hemodynamic monitoring innovations, and management of rare anesthetic emergencies. Key trends include systematic analysis of cerebrospinal fluid drainage complications in aortic repairs, novel approaches to pulmonary embolism in pregnancy, and critical examinations of methemoglobinemia management protocols.

• Meritorious Service Medal (Two Awards)
• Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
• Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Three Awards including Operation Iraqi Freedom)
• Fellow-American Society of Echocardiography
• Fellow-American Academy of Wilderness Medicine
• Department of Anesthesiology Prize for Academic Excellence (1994)

Dr. Lichtman's military service significantly informs his clinical practice, having retired as Captain after 23 years in the United States Navy Medical Corps. His teaching emphasizes cardiothoracic anesthesiology, trauma response, and disaster medicine training for both medical and military personnel, with particular expertise in chemical/biological warfare casualty management and undersea medicine. Though no formal grants are listed, his leadership roles include Director of Surgical Services at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and specialty leadership in the Navy's Training in Medical Specialties program.

His clinical operations center on the Department of Anesthesiology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he maintains active surgical services while contributing to continuous quality improvement through the New York State Society of Anesthesiologists Committee. Military medical protocols heavily influence his approach to disaster preparedness and mass casualty incidents within civilian practice.