Kaori P. Tanaka, DO

Biography

Kaori P. Tanaka DO, MSPH, FACEP, FAMPA, FAEMS

Associate Chief of Service, Emergency Medicine

Dr. Kaori Tanaka is Associate Chief of Service for Emergency Medicine at ECMC; and Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo. 

Dr. Tanaka is dual board certified in Emergency Medicine (ABEM) and Emergency Medical Services (ABEM), with specialty training in EMS, Critical Care Air Transport Medicine and Tactical Medicine.  She completed her residency at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo and received her fellowship training in EMS through SUNY at Buffalo.  She currently works as an attending physician in the Emergency Department at Buffalo General Hospital and Erie County Medical Center.  Dr. Tanaka is also the System Medical Director and a flight physician for Mercy Flight of WNY, covering both ground and air ambulances (rotor and fixed wing). 

Dr. Tanaka’s research interests center around prehospital resuscitation, training prehospital providers, critical care transport medicine and international emergency medicine.  She has a passion for international emergency medicine development and has worked in Vietnam through the International Federation of Emergency Medicine and Vietnam Society of Emergency Medicine.  She serves on national committees with the American College of Emergency Physicians, National Association of EMS Physicians, and the Air Medical Physician Association. 

Education and Training:

• Board Certified, American Board of Emergency Medicine, EMS Subspecialty (2019)
• Fellowship, Emergency Medical Services, University at Buffalo (2016)
• Residency, Emergency Medicine, University at Buffalo (2015)
• DO, Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine – Georgia Campus (2012)
• MPH, Public Health, Tropical Medicine, Parasitology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (2007)
• BS, Biochemistry, University of Dallas (2004)
• ABLS, ACLS, PALS, ATLS, BDLS, ADLS Certified
• Disaster Medicine, Infectious Disease Response Unit (IDRU), STRAC (Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council)/NETEC (National Ebola Training & Education Center)
• EMS Provider, National Registry EMT – Basic (NREMT-B)
• Incident Command Service (ICS)/FEMA
• Moderate-Complexity Laboratory Director

Employment:

• Associate Chief of Services, Emergency Medicine, Erie County Medical Center (2025-present)
• Medical Director, Lake Erie Beach Volunteer Fire Company (2024-present)
• Medical Director, Angola Fire Department (2023-present)
• Medical Director, Evans Center Volunteer Fire Department (2023-present)
• Clinical Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo (2022-present)
• Medical Director, Farnham Volunteer Fire Agency (2022-present)
• Mentorship, NYACEP (2020-present)
• Clinical Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo (2019-present)
• Attending Physician, Buffalo General Medical Center (2019-present)
• Attending Physician, Erie County Medical Center (2019-present)
• System Medical Director, Mercy Flight, Inc. (2019-present)

Awards and Honors:

• Fellow, National Association of EMS Physicians (2024)
• Fellow, Air Medical Physician Association (2023)
• Fellow, American College of Emergency Physicians (2020)
• Chief’s Award, UT Health San Antonio Police Department (2019)
• Texas Monthly Super Doctors Award – Rising Star Edition (2019)
• UT Clinical Excellence Award (2019)
• Texas Monthly Super Doctors Award (2018)
• San Antonio Scene – Best Doctors Award (2017)
• San Antonio Scene – Rising Star Doctors (2017)
• GME Quality Improvement Award (2015)
• PCOM Alumni Association International Fellowship Award (2012)
• Tulane University SPHTM Ernest Carroll Faust Award (2007)