Charles B. Cairns, MD, FACEP

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Get to know Emergency Physician Dr. Charles B. Cairns, who serves patients in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

A towering figure in the field of emergency medicine, Dr. Cairns is the Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Dean of the College of Medicine and Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs at Drexel University.

Under his stewardship, Drexel University has witnessed unprecedented growth and development, marked by transformative partnerships and the establishment of pioneering medical campuses. Notably, his visionary leadership has spearheaded collaborations with institutions such as St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, alongside the establishment of regional clinical campuses across Pennsylvania, California, and North Carolina. The crowning achievement came with the inauguration of the College of Medicine at Tower Health in West Reading.

An honors graduate of Dartmouth College, Dr. Cairns received his medical degree from the University of North Carolina, where he was a Holderness Medical Fellow and received the Medical Faculty Award as an outstanding graduating medical student. He then went on to complete his residency in emergency medicine and fellowship in cardiovascular research at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. 

With an unwavering commitment to his specialty, the doctor is board-certified in emergency medicine by the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM). The ABEM certifies emergency physicians who meet its educational, professional, and examination standards.

Maintaining fellowship status, he is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians (FACEP), the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (FAAEM), and the American Heart Association (FAHA).

A prolific researcher and advocate for scientific inquiry, Dr. Cairns’ body of work comprises over 200 scientific articles and reviews. His pioneering contributions to understanding critical illness and injury have earned him prestigious accolades, including the Outstanding Contribution in Research Award from the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Established Investigator Award from the Emergency Medicine Foundation. 

Beyond his work at Drexel University, his tenure as dean of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the United Arab Emirates University showcased his global perspective and dedication to shaping the future of healthcare on an international scale. Before this, his leadership roles at the University of Arizona witnessed groundbreaking milestones, including the monumental merger with Banner Health.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Cairns led innovative research initiatives to combat the virus, holding pivotal roles in projects such as the NIAID COVID-19 Immunophenotyping study, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation project on COVID-19.

Emergency medicine, also known as accident and emergency medicine, is the medical specialty concerned with the care of illnesses or injuries requiring immediate medical attention. An emergency physician works in an emergency department to care for acutely ill or injured patients on an unscheduled basis.

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