Currently, I serve as Professor and Chair of Emergency Medicine for the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. In this role, I am the President of UBMD Emergency Medicine, a non-profit faculty practice plan, responsible for staffing the emergency departments of the Buffalo General Medical Center, Erie County Medical Center, the VA Medical Center, Millard Suburban Hospital, DeGraff Memorial Hospital, Brooks Memorial Hospital, Wyoming County Hospital and Eastern Niagara Hospital. UBMD Emergency Medicine has >250,000 annual patient encounters with a staff of over 80 Faculty Physicians and 80 Advanced Practice Providers.
I continue to work clinically at Buffalo General and Erie County Medical Center. I enjoy these challenging work environments due to the acuity of patient needs and the ability to have a significant effect on their lives.
I spent my professional career in academic environments. After brief stint as faculty at Boston University, I’ve been a member of this department for 25+ years. The Department of Emergency Medicine has 48 residents and 4 fellows in their current training programs. It is the training of future physicians that continues to keep me motivated and inspired.
My major research interests developed out of a bad outcome on a patient I treated in residency. I have challenged the dogma of CT followed by LP for patients presenting with acute headache and have led a change in clinical practice to CT CTA. I believe this to be a less invasive and more efficacious diagnostic strategy for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
I’m incredibly proud of the department we have built here at Buffalo. I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate my coworkers. I believe Buffalo is a fantastic place to train and work and can assure all that I am here for the long haul.
I am a graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec and obtained my medical degree from the State University of New York Health Sciences Center at Brooklyn in 1991. I completed my MBA from the University at Buffalo executive program in June of 2014.
I believe in giving back to our community as an active board member of Crisis Services, Horizons Health Management Group Board, Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York and serves on NY American College of Emergency Physicians Board.
Seeking to be part of the resurgence of Buffalo, my wife Maria and I relocated from East Amherst to downtown Buffalo years ago with our three daughters: Madeline, Erin and Lily.
Education and Training:
Hogan Coaching Certification Program (2021)
Leadership Coaching Certification Program, University at Buffalo (2021)
Chair Development Program, Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine (2015)
MBA, State University of New York at Buffalo (2014)
Leadership for Physician Executives, Harvard Medical School (2011)
Billing, Coding & Reimbursement Program, American College of Emergency Medicine (2010)
Hospital Wide Patient Flow, Institute for Health Care Improvement (2008)
Navigating the Academic Waters, Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors (2003)
Residency, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx Municipal Hospital Center, Jacobi Hospital (1995)
Internship, Carney Hospital (1992)
MD, State University of New York Health Sciences Center at Brooklyn (1991)
BS, Chemistry, McGill University (1986)
Employment:
Attending Physician, Erie County Medical Center (2014-present)
Clinical Professor, Emergency Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2014-present)
Vice Chair, Emergency Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2009-present)
Chief of Service, Emergency Medicine, Kaleida Health System (2004-present)
Attending Physician, Emergency Department, Kaleida Health / Buffalo General Hospital (1996-present)
Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo (2006–2014)
Director, Emergency Services, Buffalo General Hospital/ Kaleida Health (1999–2014)
Medical Director Outpatient Addiction Services, Kaleida Health System (2002–2006)
Clinical Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo (1996–2006)
Attending Physician, Emergency Department, Kaleida Health / DeGraff Memorial Hospital (2003–2004)
Attending Physician, Emergency Department, Erie County Medical Center (1996–2002)
Attending Physician Emergency Department, Boston City Hospital (1995–1996)
Attending Physician Emergency Department, Boston University Hospital (1995–1996)
Clinical Instructor, Emergency Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine (1995–1996)
Attending Physician, Emergency Department, Geneva General Hospital (1994–1995)
Attending Physician, Emergency Department, Hudson Valley Hospital (1994–1995)
McCormack, R, Hutson, A. (2010) What are the Unintended Consequences of Changing the Diagnostic Paradigm for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage After Brain Computed Tomgraphy to Computed Topographic Angiography in Place of Lumbar Puncture?. Academic Emergency Medicine (Jan)996-998.
McCormack RF. (1995) Meningitis in a Fourteen Year Old Boy. Emergency and Office Pediatrics (Jan), 8: 118-120.
Books and Book Chapters:
McCormack RF, Krause R. (2010) The Five Minute Emergency Medicine Consult, 4th Edition. In: Bell‘s Palsy. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Publishers
McCormack RF. (2010) The Five Minute Emergency Medicine Consult, 4th Edition. In: Hyperventilation Syndrome. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Publishers
McCormack RF, Krause, R. (2007) The Five Minute Emergency Medicine Consult, 3rd Edition. In: Bell’s Palsy. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Publishers
McCormack RF. (2007) The Five Minute Emergency Medicine Consult, 3rd Edition. In: Hyperventilation Syndrome. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Publishers
McCormack RF. (2006) Essentials of Emergency Medicine, 1st Edition. In: Lymphomas. Jones and Bartlett Publishers
McCormack RF. (2006) Essentials of Emergency Medicine, 1st Edition. In: White Blood Cell Disorders. Jones and Bartlett Publishers
McCormack RF. (2003) The Five Minute Emergency Medicine Consult, 2nd Edition. In: Hyperventilation Syndrome. Williams and Wilkins Publishers
McCormack RF, Krause, R. (2003) The Five Minute Emergency Medicine Consult, 2nd Edition. In: Bell’s Palsy. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Publishers
McCormack, RF Krause R. (1999) The Five Minute Emergency Medicine Consult, 1st Edition. In: Bell’s Palsy. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Publishers
McCormack RF. (1999) The Five Minute Emergency Medicine Consult, 1st Edition. In: Hyperventilation Syndrome. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Publishers
McCormack RF. (1998) Prehospital Emergency Care Secrets. In: Shock. Hanley and Belfus Publishers
McCormack RF. (1998) Prehospital Emergency Care Secrets. In: Thoracic and Abdominal Trauma. Hanley and Belfus Publishers
McCormack RF. (1998) Emergency Medicine – The Core Curriculum. In: Hyperventilation Syndrome. Lippincott-Raven Publishers
"Acute Onset Headache" Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds; Albert Einstein College of Medicine (2010)
"Buffalo Surviving Sepsis Research Project" GME Scholarly Exchange Day; University at Buffalo School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences; Faculty Mentor for Michael Mann, MD (2009)
"Ear, Nose and Throat Emergencies" Daemon College Physician Assistant Program (2009)
"Section Moderator" New York State Regional Research Meeting; Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (2007)
"Acute Joint Inflammation" Family Medicine Residency Program Grand Rounds; University at Buffalo (2005)
"Emergency Department Information Systems" Emergency Department Improvement Strategies Conference (2003)
"Ear, Nose and Throat Emergencies" D'Youville College Physician Assistant Program (2000)
"Multi-System Trauma Overview" Daemon College Physician Assistant Program (1999)
"Ear, Nose and Throat Emergencies / Genital Urinary Emergencies" Implementation of an Emergency Medicine Curriculum (1997)
"Morning Report - Annual Case Presentations" Internal Medicine Residency Program; University at Buffalo
Service Activities:
UBMD Management Council Space Planning Committee; Member (2010–present)
UBMD Management Council Budget Allocations Committee; Member (2009–present)
Kaleida Health Global Vascular Center Emergency Department Planning and Design Committee; Co-Chair (2008–present)
UBMD Management Council Compliance Committee; Member (2008–present)
Crisis Services; Treasurer (2008–present)
UBMD Management Council At Large Faculty Member; Member (2008–present)
Kaleida Health Global Vascular Center Physician Steering Committee; Member (2007–present)
UBMD Project Team; Member (2007)
Crisis Services; Board Member (2007–present)
Faculty Practice Plan - University Emergency Medical Services; Secretary (2007–present)
Faculty Practice Plan - University Emergency Medical Services (Vice President) (2006–2007)
Faculty Practice Plan - University Emegency Medical Services; Director (2006–present)
Kaleida Health Emergency Department Electronic Medical Record Steering Committee; Chair (2005–present)
Kaleida Health Medical Executive Committee; Member (2005–present)
Preceptor, Third Year Medical Students (2004–present)
Erie County Department of Health Electronic Triage Record - Realtime Biosyndromic Surveillance Project Advisory Panel (2003)
Health for All HelpNet Advisory Panel (2003)
Kaleida Health Search Committee Clinical Service Director for Radiology; Member (2003)
Small Group Facilitator for First Year Curriculum Spring (2002)
American Board of Emergency Medicine; Examiner (2002–present)
Kaleida Health Search Committee Clinical Service Director for Emergency Medicine; Member (2001)
Kaleida Health Professional Affiliate Committee; Member (2000–2006)
Buffalo International Airport Fire/Rescue Medical Director; Director (1999–2001)
Kaleida Health Emergency Medicine Advisory Committee; Chair (1999–present)
Buffalo General Hospital Medical Advisory Committee; Member (1999–present)
University at Buffalo School of Medicine Alumni Assocation Mentor Program Mentor (1998–1999)
American College of Emergency Physicians; Finance Team Leader (1998–present)
City of Tonawanda Fire Department Medical Director; Director (1997–2001)
Buffalo Fire Department Medical Director; Director (1997–2000)
Preceptor, Fourth Year Medical Students (1996–present)
Preceptor, Second Year Medical Students (1996–present)
Boston Emergency Medical Service Associate Medical Director; Director (1995–1996)
American Academy of Emergency Medicine; Member
American College of Emergency Physicians Legislative Affairs Network; Member