Dr. Rizwana Popatia is Consultant Paediatric Pulmonologist and Assistant Professor in Pediatrics at the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU). Prior to this, Dr. Popatia worked as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical College and Assistant Attending Pediatrician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. She is board certified in Paediatrics and Paediatric Pulmonology.
Her medical expertise includes paediatric asthma, interstitial lung disease, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, primary ciliary dyskinesia, paediatric aerodigestive disorders, and paediatric bronchoscopy. In addition, Dr Rizwana is the Vice-President of Pediatric Pulmonology Chapter of Emirates Thoracic Society (ETS) and Secretary of Sleep Medicine Chapter of Emirates Thoracic Society (ETS).
Dr. Popatia received her medical degree (M.D.) from M.P. Shah Medical College, India, with top honors and 17 gold medals and was awarded a “Best Resident Physician Award” during her residency tenure in Jamnagar, India. She completed her residency in Pediatrics at the State University of New York – Downstate Hospital, Brooklyn, NY, and a Fellowship in Pediatric Pulmonology at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School. She also served as a Chief Fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical school. She was a member of Harvard ACGME committee and Harvard Patient Safety and Quality Committee.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Popatia is active in medical education and research, and global health. Her current research interests include outcome based research in asthma, asthma education and cardiopulmonary exercise training.
She has multiple publications in eminent journals and has reviewed articles for eminent journals such as the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, JAMA, Journal of Neonatology and Perinatology and BMC Medical Genetics. She is currently the editorial board member of Journal of Pediatrics and Child Care as well as the International Journal of Pediatric Health Care and Advancements.
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, Director of Health System Sciences
Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE
Consultant Pulmonologist and Medical Director
Amana Healthcare, Mubadala Health, UAE
Fellow in Pediatric Pulmonology
Children’s Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School
Pediatric Physician, Clinical and Research Consultant
Oswal trust hospital, Jamnagar, India
Clinical and Research Assistant in Pediatrics
P.D.Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research, India
Senior House Officer
M.P.Shah Medical College and G G Hospital, India
House Officer
M.P.Shah Medical College, Jamnagar, India
Professional Education
Fellowship (Pulmonary)
Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston
Residency (Pediatrics)
SUNY Downstate University Hospital, New York
Residency (Pediatrics)
M P Shah Medical College and G G Hospital, India
MBBS
M P Shah Medical College, India
Teaching
- Pediatrics
- Pulmonary Physiology
- Respiratory and Sleep Medicine
- Health System Science
Honors and Awards
Best Scientific Paper Award in Annual Infectious Disease Forum
Dr. Keya Lahiri Gold Medal award for best paper presentation
Best Scientific Paper Award in National Neonatology Forum
Pfizer Gold Medal award for Top Ranking in Final MBBS
Membership of Professional Bodies/Associations
- Fellow, IHI – Institute of Healthcare Improvement 2021
- Committee Member, American Thoracic Society, Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee, Outpatient management of prematurity related lung disease.
- Evaluator, 36th Annual Vincent du Vigneaud Memorial Research Symposium, Weill Cornell Medical College and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Hospital and Research Center
- Director, Quality Improvement (QI) Program for Pediatric Pulmonology Fellowship
- Co-chair, Program Evaluation Committee (PEC), Division of Respiratory Division, Weill Cornell Medicine
- Co-chair, Core Competency Committee (CCC), Division of Respiratory Division, Weill Cornell Medicine
- Co-chair, Program Evaluation Committee (PEC), Division of Respiratory Division, Boston Children’s Hospital
- Member of Harvard Graduate Medical Education (GME) committee
- Member of Harvard Patient Safety and Quality committee
- Member of American Thoracic Society
- Member of American College of Chest Physician.
- Member of American Academy of Pediatrics
- Member of Indian Academy of Pediatrics
Research Interests
- Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
- Pediatric Pulmonary Clinical studies
- Respiratory diseases of premature infants
- Pediatric sleep medicine
Clinical and Community Service
- Past Secretary, Agakhan Health Board, Saurashtra Council, India.
- Educator for primary care physicians and peripheral health workers about management of asthma as a part of Health and Family Welfare Ministry, Government of India.