James J. Gallagher

James J. Gallagher, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery and Director of the William Randolph Hearst Burn Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medicine. As a board-certified surgeon, Dr. Gallagher specializes in burn surgery, critical care medicine, and trauma. He serves as the Aronson Family Foundation Associate Professor in Burn Care at Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, and is an Associate Attending Surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

Dr. Gallagher's educational background includes:

• M.D. from State University of New York Upstate Medical University (1992)
• B.S. Summa Cum Laude in Biochemistry from State University of New York at Buffalo (1988)

Dr. Gallagher's research and clinical interests focus on improving burn care globally, particularly in resource-limited settings. His work spans multiple domains including:

• Burn Care and Treatment: Developing innovative approaches to burn management, fluid resuscitation, and wound healing
• Global Surgery: Building surgical capacity in underserved regions, particularly through his work in Tanzania
• Health Disparities: Examining racial and socioeconomic factors affecting burn outcomes
• Mass Casualty Response: Improving triage and transfer protocols for burn patients during disasters

His extensive publication record demonstrates a clear trajectory from fundamental burn treatment techniques to broader systems-level approaches for improving burn care worldwide. Recent research particularly emphasizes global burn registry development, burn care in resource-limited settings, and addressing health disparities in burn outcomes across different demographic groups.

Dr. Gallagher has received notable recognition for his work:

• New York SuperDoctor: an Honor given to 5% of all New York physicians
• Board Certification from the American Board of Surgery

As an educator and mentor, Dr. Gallagher has developed international surgical exchange programs that have trained numerous young burn surgeons. His work in Tanzania has created a sustainable model for burn care development in resource-limited settings. Dr. Gallagher has secured research funding, including a 2024-2026 grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging & Bioengineering as Co-Investigator for "Surgical drape with a releasable acrylic adhesive for atraumatic negative pressure wound therapy."

Dr. Gallagher leads the William Randolph Hearst Burn Center, the only burn center in New York City verified by the American Burn Association. He has established strong collaborative relationships between the Tanzanian burn team and the New York burn team, resulting in the opening of pediatric and adult burn centers in Mwanza, Tanzania that are staffed entirely by local healthcare professionals. His "BurnED" initiative continues to work toward improving burn care throughout Tanzania and participating in the World Health Organization's Global Burn Registry.