Editor Profile

Richard Birrer

University/Organization: Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization

Country: Saudi Arabia

 Biography

Dr. Richard Birrer received his MD from Cornell University Medical College NY, NY. An internship in Family Medicine at the Hunterdon Medical Center Flemington NJ was followed by a three year assignment as a family physician and flight surgeon (Captain) with the United States Air Force Europe for which he received the Meritorious Service Medal for healthcare and education. Dr. Birrer completed his family medicine training at SUNY-Health Sciences Center (HSCAB) and Kings County Hospital Brooklyn NY. He received the Parke-Davis Teacher Development Award as Chief Resident thereafter earning a Masters of Public Health at Harvard University Boston MA. He was the first physician director of the East New York Neighborhood Family Care Center Brooklyn NY. From 1983 until 1986 he was Associate Director of the Family Medicine Program and the Director of Undergraduate Education at HSCAB. He was awarded a $225,000 DOH grant for the development of the first community-based school health project in the East New York area. He introduced the principles and practice of family medicine in Egypt as a Senior Fulbright Scholar 1984. In 1985 he was chosen as a Fogarty Health Exchange Scientist to the USSR and the following year became a Salzberg Fellow. Dr. Birrer became the first Chairman of Family Medicine at the Geisinger Medical Center Danville PA in 1986. In 1988 he became Vice Chairman of Family Medicine and Chief of Emergency Medical Services at the Catholic Medical Centers of Brooklyn and Queens. He was chosen as the first Chairman of Emergency Medicine in 1992 and became the organization’s first Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Physician Services in 1996. In 2001 he became the Chief Medical Officer/SVP at the St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center Paterson NJ and subsequently it’s Chief Executive Officer in 2003. He served as the Executive Director of the Manhattan’s Physician Group NY, NY from 2005-2008. From 2009-2013 he was the Executive Director of Saudi Aramco’s Medical Service Organization. He is currently President and CEO of eMD LLC.

Dr. Birrer remains continuously certified in Family, Emergency, Sports and Geriatric medicine. He has published over 300 peer reviewed articles, chapters and monographs and 14 textbooks. He is an avid explorer having climbed all 7 continental summits and visited all 193 UN countries.