Department Blog
The Department is pleased to announce that on July 1, 2026, the School of Medicine promoted Kinjal Sethuraman, MD, MPH, to the rank of Professor of Emergency Medicine as a clinical administrator.
After receiving a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from the University of Rochester, Dr. Sethuraman then completed a Master of Public Health at the University of Michigan. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Sethuraman began her medical training at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. She completed her internship in internal medicine at Johns Hopkins University and her residency at Boston University’s School of Medicine.
In 2011, Dr. Sethuraman’s career brought her to UMSOM, where we jointly appointed her to serve at both the Shock Trauma Center and our Department. With double board certifications in emergency medicine and undersea and hyperbaric medicine, Dr. Sethuraman maintains a clinical focus on the treatment of conditions such as carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, gas embolism, and complex wound care using hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
In addition to her clinical duties, Dr. Sethuraman has played a pivotal administrative role at the University of Maryland Medical Center’s (UMMC) Center for Hyperbaric Medicine—first as its Associate Director, and since 2021, as its Director. UMMC’s Hyperbaric and Dive Medicine Center is one of the busiest 24/7 emergency-capable hyperbaric chambers in the Nation; under Dr. Sethuraman’s leadership, the Center has met significant accreditation milestones.
In terms of scholarship, Dr. Sethuraman has published more than 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and 10 book chapters. Much of Dr. Sethuraman’s research has focused on building a stronger foundation for equity initiatives in academic medicine—with direct implications for our Department and entire specialty. Now among the few female Professors in our Department’s history, Dr. Sethuraman’s promotion is evidence of her devoted focus on leadership, scholarship, and mentorship. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Sethuraman on her well-earned promotion.