Michael Cassara

Michael Cassara, DO, MSEd, serves as Associate Professor at Hofstra University's Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine and Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. He concurrently holds executive leadership as Medical Director and Vice President for Interprofessional Education, Research and Practice at Northwell Health's Center for Learning and Innovation, while leading the REBEL Lab as its primary researcher.

His educational credentials include a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Science in Education, with current pre-PhD studies at Maastricht University School of Health Professions Education. Clinical expertise in Emergency Medicine underpins his academic work.

Dr. Cassara's research centers on interprofessional health professions education across diverse clinical professions and expertise levels. His scholarship pioneers simulation-based educational frameworks, competency assessment models, and curricular innovations addressing generational learning differences and microaggression management in clinical training. He emphasizes evidence-based implementation and evaluation of educational interventions.

Notable recognitions include:

• Induction into the Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine Academy for Scholarship
• Top Associate Editor Award for MedEdPORTAL
• Top Reviewer Award for Simulation in Healthcare

As Founding Director of the Emergency Medicine Service Line Simulation Fellowship, he mentors fellows while leading Northwell Health's simulation initiatives. His Harvard Macy Institute faculty experience and leadership roles in the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine and Society for Simulation in Healthcare demonstrate national influence. Current executive responsibilities indicate substantial grant funding for interprofessional education infrastructure.

At the REBEL Lab (Center of Excellence in Healthcare Simulation Research), Dr. Cassara directs research advancing simulation methodology, procedural model validation, and educational theory application in high-stakes clinical environments, with emphasis on emergency medicine training systems.