David Kessler

David Kessler, MD, MSc is a Professor of Pediatrics and Vice Chair of Innovation & Strategic Initiatives in Columbia’s Department of Emergency Medicine. In this role, he works across teams to develop novel programs and lead strategic initiatives to solve complex healthcare challenges. After graduating from Princeton University and Mount Sinai School of Medicine’s global health track in Pediatrics, he completed Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship, and Emergency Ultrasound training at Bellevue Hospital, along with a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation from NYU.

Dr. Kessler is co-founder of INSPIRE (International Network for Simulation-based Pediatric Innovation, Research, and Education), which has helped foster a global community of investigators dedicated to collaboration, mentorship, and advancing simulation scholarship. His career focuses on improving patient outcomes through innovative technology, with extensive experience in clinical research, curriculum development, grant-funded projects, and international leadership in Simulation and Emergency Ultrasound.

Dr. Kessler has a long track record of collaboration across disciplines to design, test, and leverage technology to improve education, safety, and clinical care.

Dr. Kessler has a long track record of leading cross-disciplinary collaborations to design, test, and leverage technologies that meaningfully improve training, safety, and clinical care. Current research interests include exploring include the development of artificial intelligence for automatic ultrasound feature recognition, virtual and augmented reality for skills training, and leveraging natural language processing for communication training and assessment.

Dr. Kessler has published numerous peer-review publications and curricula. Some highlights papers- some titles are highlighted below:

Development and testing of a deep learning algorithm to detect lung consolidation among children with pneumonia using hand-held ultrasound

Using Natural Language Processing to Compare Task‐Specific Verbal Cues in Coached versus Non‐Coached Cardiac Arrest Teams during Simulated Pediatrics Resuscitation

A smartwatch-based CPR feedback device improves chest compression quality among health care professionals and lay rescuers

Defibrillator Training in the Virtual Setting is Feasible and Improves Medical Student Self-Efficacy

A Comprehensive Infant Lumber Puncture Novice Procedural Skills Training Package: An INSPIRE Simulation-Based Procedural Skills Training Package

See more of Dr. Kessler's scholarly work on his National Library of Medicine bibliography page

Master of Science in Clinical Investigation, New York University
Doctor of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Princeton University
Certificate in Theater and Dance, Princeton University

Contact Information

REBEL Lab

Awards and Honors

1/2026 Presidential citation for service to the Research Committee as Vice Chair

Society for Simulation in Healthcare

1/2023 Presidential citation on behalf of the Research Summit leaders

Society for Simulation in Healthcare

5/2021 Columbia Biomedical Engineering Technology Accelerator (BIOMEDx)

Team project finalist “SONO-PATCH the world’s first wearable imaging device”

Awarded Ignition grant ($25,000) for continued development of wearable ultrasound prototype with Professor Ken Shepard.

4/2021 Excellence in Ultrasound Innovations Award

Awarded by Ultrasound Division Department of Emergency Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

9/2020 Inducted as a Fellow in the Society for Simulation in Healthcare Academy

Competitive selection process (Academy includes fewer than 100 fellows worldwide)