Robert W. Neumar, MD, PhD, is Professor of Emergency Medicine and Molecular and Integrative Physiology at the University of Michigan Medical School, where he is also a member of the Max Harry Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation and the Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) Laboratory. He served as Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Michigan from 2012 to 2024.
Professor Neumar has been deeply committed to the field of resuscitation for over 35 years, beginning with Sarnoff Fellowship under Chuck Brown at The Ohio State University (1988-1989) and a research fellowship with Peter Safar at the University of Pittsburgh International Resuscitation Research Center (1990-1993). He obtained his PhD as a research fellow under the mentorship of Professor Blaine White at Wayne State University (1993-1995). As faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, he served as Associate Director for the Center for Resuscitation Science (2007-2012) in partnership with Lance Becker. Subsequently, as Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Michigan (2012-2024), he built a world class cardiac arrest research program and facilitated the establishment of the Max Harry Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation at the University of Michigan.
In his own words: “Since being introduced to resuscitation science as a medical student, I have been fascinated by the pathophysiology of cardiac arrest, sustained by my mentors and mentees, and driven by the potential to improve outcomes for the most critically ill human condition.”
Professor Neumar is internationally recognized as a leader in the field of resuscitation science. He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed articles, with over 40,000 citations and an h-index of 66. His basic science research has focused on the molecular mechanisms of brain injury caused by cardiac arrest and therapeutic strategies to improve neurologic outcomes. His laboratory and clinical research have also explored the role of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) as a rescue strategy for refractory cardiac arrest.
Professor Neumar has a long track record of research mentorship and collaboration. He currently co-chairs the Neuro-EM Scholars Program in the United States, which is a national NIH-funded K12 Career Development Program to train early-career emergency medicine faculty in research on neurological disorders in pre-hospital and emergency department settings. He previously led the NHLBI-funded K-12 Career Development Program in Emergency Critical Care Research at the University of Michigan and the AHA Strategically Focused Research Center entitled the Michigan Resuscitation Innovation and Science Enterprise (M-RISE). Most recently, he has led the establishment of the Transcontinental Cardiac Arrest Experimental Network for Discovery (TRANSCEND): an international consortium of experimental cardiac arrest laboratories funded by the Laerdal Foundation that supports a preclinical cardiac arrest registry and provides the infrastructure to perform multicenter pre-clinical trials. As a mentor and sponsor, he has fostered the development of new scientific leaders in the field of resuscitation science and facilitated research collaborations across a broad range of disciplines and geographies.
Professor Neumar’s leadership has also helped shape the vision, mission, values, and impact of numerous resuscitation-focused organizations. He previously chaired the American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee (2013-2015) and currently serves as Co-Chair of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (2016-present). He also chaired the AHA Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support subcommittee (2008-2010) and served on the ILCOR Advanced Life Support Task Force (2007-2020). He has contributed to numerous AHA Emergency Cardiovascular Care guidelines and ILCOR Consensus on Science and Treatment Recommendations. Professor Neumar co-chaired the ILCOR writing group that published the first consensus statement defining post-cardiac arrest syndrome in 2008. This landmark article catalyzed international research efforts and led to the development of internationally adopted practice guidelines. He is also the founding President and Board Chair of SaveMiHeart (2015-Present), a non-profit consortium of community stakeholders, first responders, EMS systems, and health systems focused on data-driven improvement of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest care and outcomes in the State of Michigan. Beginning in 2023, he has chaired the biennial Wolf Creek Conference, which over the past 50 years has provided a unique forum for robust intellectual exchange between thought leaders and scientists from academia and industry focused on advancing the science and practice of cardiac arrest resuscitation.
Dr. Neumar's significant contributions have earned him several prestigious accolades, including the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Award for Outstanding Contribution in Research, the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) John Marx Leadership Award, the Association for Academic Chairs in Emergency Medicine (AACEM) Distinguished Service Award, and election to the National Academy of Medicine.