Hi there, I’m Rishi

I’m a Harvard-trained cardiothoracic anesthesiologist and cardiovascular intensive care physician working in academic medicine in the world’s largest medical campus – the Texas Medical Center.

I divide my time between the operating room and cardiovascular ICU, caring for critically ill patients while teaching residents and fellows. I’m passionate about education, lifelong learning, technology, investing, and creating free, open-access medical education (FOAMed) to enhance patient safety and promote team-based, patient-centered care. I also conceptualize and program a suite of free, iOS/iPadOS medical reference apps at RKRef.app.

RK.MD is where I share my reflections on medicine, education, technology, and life. Thanks for stopping by!

Rishi Kumar, MD, FACC, CMQ

Adult Cardiac Anesthesiologist &
Cardiovascular Intensive Care Physician

Roles:

  • Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
  • Medical Director of the Memorial Hermann TMC Organ Donor Care Center (DCC)
  • Interim Co-Director – Critical Care Anesthesiology Division
  • Associate Medical Director of the UTHealth Master of Science in Anesthesia (MSA) Program
  • Program Director – Dual Cardiac Anesthesia/Critical Care Fellowship Track

Board Certifications:

  • Anesthesiology (American Board of Anesthesiology)
  • Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology (American Board of Anesthesiology)
  • Critical Care Medicine (American Board of Anesthesiology)
  • Diplomate, Advanced Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography (National Board of Echocardiography)
  • Diplomate, Critical Care Echocardiography (National Board of Echocardiography)

Designations:

  • Fellow, American College of Cardiology (FACC)
  • Certified in Medical Quality (CMQ), American Board of Medical Quality

Interests:

  • Cardiovascular intensive care
  • Cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesiology
  • Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS)
  • 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)
  • Mechanical circulatory support
  • Organ donor specialty care
  • Application of artificial intelligence to medical education and diagnostics
  • ICU and perioperative pharmacology
  • Advanced monitors
  • Free, open-access medical education (#FOAMed) over social media
  • Web development, PC gaming, hardware assembly, and basically all things tech!

Purpose

The word “doctor” comes from docere — Latin for “to teach.”

I have always loved teaching. The process of learning complex topics, distilling them to their essence, and teaching them to others is one of the great joys of my life. I learn with the intention to teach my patients, trainees, and colleagues, whether by sharing notes, cultivating procedural skills, sketching diagrams, or offering hard-earned advice shaped by both successes and mistakes. In this way, academic medicine has become my refuge.

This passion for educating others fuels my study habits, appreciation for other disciplines in healthcare, and overall improvement as a physician every day. Social media outlets like this blog allow me to use technology to spread my love of free, open-access medical education (FOAMed).

As a physician, I aim to offer guidance and reassurance to those on similar journeys, while also curating and creating informative content for the general public and healthcare trainees.