Sumera R. Ahmad

Dr. Sumera R. Ahmad is a board-certified Pulmonologist and Critical Care Specialist at Mayo Clinic Rochester, specializing in chronic cough, obstructive lung disease, and humanizing ICU care. She serves as Subcommittee Head of the Chronic Cough Clinic and is an active member of the Pulmonary Embolism Response Team.

• MBBS: Aga Khan University Medical College (2005)
• Internal Medicine Residency: Saint Elizabeth's Medical Center (2010)
• Medical Degree: University of Massachusetts Medical School (2015)
• Board Certifications: Pulmonary Disease (2014), Critical Care Medicine (2015)

Her research focuses on improving ICU communication through innovative tools like the Get to Know Me Board, addressing language barriers in critical care decision-making, and optimizing pulmonary embolism management. She investigates patient-centered outcomes following critical illness, particularly in elderly populations, and contributes to evolving chronic cough clinical practices. Her work bridges clinical care with medical humanities to enhance patient dignity during critical illness.

Dr. Ahmad's publication record shows consistent output in high-impact journals including Chest, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, and Critical Care Explorations, with recent emphasis on ICU humanization strategies, pulmonary embolism protocols, and pandemic-related critical care innovations. Her collaborative research spans multiple institutions and frequently addresses practical clinical challenges in real-world settings.

• Top Performing Clinician Award (Mayo Clinic Rochester, 2025)
• Department of Medicine Highest Rated Clinical Educator (2024)
• Appreciation Award from Lady Reading Hospital (2024)
• Multiple early-career awards for clinical excellence at St. Elizabeth Medical Center

As an active educator, Dr. Ahmad mentors residents through Mayo Clinic's Internal Medicine Residency Program and develops simulation-based training tools. Her leadership in the Chronic Cough Clinic and Pulmonary Embolism Response Team demonstrates commitment to multidisciplinary care. She participates in critical care quality improvement initiatives including ICU mortality review and diversity/equity/inclusion efforts within pulmonary medicine.

Dr. Ahmad directs the Chronic Cough Clinic at Mayo Clinic Rochester, where her team develops diagnostic protocols and treatment algorithms for refractory cough cases. Her research group collaborates with critical care, infectious disease, and allergy/immunology specialists to address complex cough etiologies through a holistic approach.