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 centers 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:
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)
Chief Medical Advisor, Blue Spear Solutions (2016-present)
Assistant Professor, Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education (ORISE) (2018–2019)
Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio (2016–2019)
Associate Program Director - EMS Fellowship, Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (2016–2019)
Attending Physician, UTHSCSA Emergency Medicine Department (2016–2019)
Clinical Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio (2016–2019)
Director of Special Operations, Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (2016–2019)
Associate Program Director, Emergency Medicine Residency, Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (2018)
Assistant Advisor, EMS Scholarly Track, Emergency Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo (2015–2016)
Attending Physician, FDR Medical Services, DeGraff Memorial Hospital (2015–2016)
Fellow, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Medicine, University at Buffalo (2015–2016)
Clinical Assistant Instructor, Emergency Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo (2012–2016)
Chief Resident, Emergency Medicine, University at Buffalo (2014–2015)
Resident, Emergency Medicine, University at Buffalo (2012–2015)
Emanuel T, Varney SM, McRoy G, Tanaka K. (2020) Cannabis and acute myocardial infarction. JAAPA : official journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (Aug), 33(8): 23-26.