Heidi N. Suffoletto MD, FACEP
Heidi N. Suffoletto
MD, FACEP
Assistant Professor
Department of Emergency Medicine
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Emergency Medicine; Sports Medicine
Contact Information
Patient Care
Patient Care
This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.
View this physician on UBMDProfessional Summary:
Dr. Suffoletto is a Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician with subspecialty fellowship training in Primary Care Sports Medicine. She is a Clinical Associate Professor in the departments of Emergency Medicine and Orthopaedics. Clinically, splits her time as an attending physician at Buffalo General Medical Center and Oishei Childrens Hospital Emergency Departments and her Sports Medicine Clinic, where she cares for patients with non-operative musculoskeletal injuries and concussion. She also is the interim physician at Narins Eating Disorder Center, where she provides medical care for patients with disordered eating.
She served at the director of quality improvement for the Buffalo General Emergency Medicine from 2008-2016 before shifting her focus to the development of a sports medicine program within the department of Emergency Medicine. In 2020, she became the first director of the newly formed Sports Medicine Division within the Department. She continues to teach and mentor fellows, students, and residents, as well as undergraduate and masters students in the Athletic Training program at UB. In 2019, she was appointed to the role of Associate Program Director for the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship.
In addition, she has served as team physician for the SUNY Erie Community College athletic programs since 2002, and is currently the Airway Physician for the NHL Buffalo Sabres and NLL Buffalo Bandits. She also serves as Visiting Team Medical Liaison and an Unaffiliate Neurotrauma Consultant for the NFL.
Most recently, she has become involved in several projects focusing on CPR education within minority and underserved communities within the WNY area.
A lifelong Buffalo native, she celebrates the city and with her unique role, feels compelled to promote youth sports as necessary to foster the overall health of the community. As such, in 2020, she was invited to join the advisory board of Project Play, WNY.
Education and Training:
- Fellowship, Primary Care Sports Medicine, SUNY at Buffalo Medical-Dental Consortium (2006)
- Residency, Emergency Medicine, SUNY at Buffalo Medical-Dental Consortium (2002)
- MD, SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine (1999)
- BA, Chemistry, Willams College (1995)
- Pre-Medical, Undergraduate Studies, College of William and Mary (1992)
- BLS, ACLS, PALS Certified
- NIH Stroke Scale Certified
- Suboxone Prescriber
Employment:
- Attending Physician, Narins Center for Eating Disorders (2022-present)
- NFL Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant, Buffalo Bills (2022-present)
- Clinical Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo (2021-present)
- Clinical Associate Professor, Orthopaedics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo (2021-present)
- Team Physician, Niagara University Athletics, Women's Basketball (2020-present)
- Attending Physician, John R. Oishei Childrens Hospital (2018-present)
- Physician, University at Buffalo Bulls Athletics (2017-present)
- Team Physician, Buffalo Bandits, National Lacrosse League (2017-present)
- NFL Visiting Team Medical Liasion, Buffalo Bills (2015-present)
- Team Physician, Buffalo Sabres (2015-present)
- Head Team Medical Physician, Erie Community College (2002-present)
- Director Sports Medicine Division, Emergency Medicine
- Primary Care Sports Physician, UBMD Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine (2017-present)
- Clinical Assistant Professor, Orthopaedics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo (2009-present)
- Clinical Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo (2006-present)
- Attending Physician, Buffalo General Hospital (2002-present)
- Head Team Physician, Buffalo Beauts, National Women's Hockey League (2018–2019)
- Attending Physician, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital (2012–2019)
- Attending Physician, Buffalo Centre for the Treatment of Eating Disorders (2017–2018)
- Physician, International Ice Hockey Federation (2017–2018)
- Physician, National Hockey League Scouting Combine (2017)
- Physician, National Hockey League Scouting Combine Physicals (2015–2017)
- Primary Care Sports Physciain, University Sports Medicine (2009–2012)
- Attending Physician, Erie County Medical Center (2002–2012)
- Clinical Instructor, Emergency Medicine, SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine (2002–2006)
Awards and Honors:
- Faculty Excellence in Scholarly Activity (2023)
- Buffalo Top Doctor, Emergency Medicine and Sports Medicine 2022 - 2025 (2022)
Journal Articles:
- Harvey BW, Kelleran KJ, Suffoletto H, Ma C, Nan N, Penque MD, Lerner EB. (2022) Emergency Department Patients' COVID-19 Vaccination Status and Self-Reported Barriers. The western journal of emergency medicine (Mar), 23(3): 292-301. doi:10.5811/westjem.2022.1.54615
- Haider MN, Cunningham A, Darling S, Suffoletto HN, Freitas MS, Jain RK, Willer B, Leddy JJ. (2021) Derivation of the Buffalo Concussion Physical Examination risk of delayed recovery (RDR) score to identify children at risk for persistent postconcussive symptoms. British journal of sports medicine (Dec), 55(24): 1427-1433.
- Baez J, Suffoletto H. (2021) Migrating Swollen Joint and Lyme Disease: A Case Report. Journal of emergency nursing (Jul), 47(4): 543-550.
- Chow YC, Waterbrook AL, Suffoletto HN, Dolbec K, Myers RA, Denq W, Hwang CE, Kiel JM, Monseau AJ, Balcik BJ, Santelli JA, Oshlag BL, Hudson KB, Delasobera BE, Feden JP, Davenport M, Childress JM, Desai NN, Gould SJ, Holschen JC. (2021) Recommended Musculoskeletal and Sports Medicine Model Curriculum for Emergency Medicine Residency Training. Current sports medicine reports (Jan), 20(1): 31-46.
- Leddy JJ, Haider MN, Ellis MJ, Mannix R, Darling SR, Freitas MS, Suffoletto HN, Leiter J, Cordingley DM, Willer B. (2019) Early Subthreshold Aerobic Exercise for Sport-Related Concussion: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr (Feb).
- Castner J, Suffoletto H, Suffoletto HN. (2018) Emergency Department Crowding and Time at the Bedside: A Wearable Technology Feasibility Study. J Emerg Nurs (Nov), 44(6): 624-631.
Abstracts:
- Dymott J, Suffoletto H, Leddy J. (2007) Middle and High School Students Education Regarding the Dangers of Anabolic Steriods. Acad Emerg Med, (Jan)
Professional Memberships:
- American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (2017–present)
- American College of Emergency Physicians; Sports Medicine Section
Presentations:
- "Emergencies on the Ice: Case Discussion and Panel" Practical Application of Hockey Medicine; New York University School of Medicine (2019)
Service Activities:
- ; Faculty Senator (2024–2026)
- Mentor to PhD candidate, project regarding increasing community access to public AEDs; Faculty Mentor, Social Justice Fellowship (2024–2025)
- Mentee to Medical Student, project regarding barriers to learning CPR among community members presenting to ED; Faculty Mentor, Social Justice Fellowship (2023–2024)
- SUNY Buffalo Spring Clinical Research; Poster Judge (2023–present)
- Spring Clinical Research Day; Poster Judge (2023–present)
- Ad Hoc Committe for Clinical Promotions; Committe Memeber (2022–2025)
- Ad hoc committee on promotion of clinical faculty (2022–present)
- Project Play Western New York; Advisory Council Member (2020–present)
- Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship SUNY Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine; Associate Program Director (2019–present)
- Narins Eating Disorder Center; Advisory Board Member (2019–present)
- Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Associate Program Director (2019–present)
- Orchard Park Little League; Board Member (2019–present)
- Orchard Park Little League; COVID Officer (2019–present)
- SUNY at Buffalo; Preceptor, Athletic Training Program (2019–present)
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo; Director & Faculty Member, Sports Medicine Scholarly Track (2018–present)
- University at Buffalo; Director, Sports Medicine Division, Department of Emergency Medicine (2018–present)
- UBMD Emergency Medicine; Advanced Practice Provider Academy (2017–present)
- Orchard Park Little League; Medical Advisor (2017–present)
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo; Mentor to Resident "Family", Department of Emergency Medicine (2016–present)
- Adopt-a-Family Gift Giving, Buffalo General Medical Center Emergency Department; Coordinator (2015–present)
- Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute; Director, Continuous Quality Improvement, Emergency Department (2008–2016)
- Buffalo General Hospital; Member, Quality Improvement Council (2008–2009)
- Boys and Girls Club of Orchard Park; Advisory Board Member (2006–2007)
- Chase Corporate Challenge; Medical Director (2004–2006)
- National Junior College Athletic Association Hockey Championship; Head Physician (2004)
- Buffalo General Hospital; Physician Committee Member (2004)
- Empire State Games; Physician (2003)
- Buffalo General Hospital; Physician Committee Member, General Electric Initiative (2003)
- YMCA Turkey Trot; Medical Director (2002–2005)
- Health Care Quality Control Committee, Planned Parenthood; Member (2002–2004)
- University at Buffalo, Emergency Medicine; Clinical Supervision of Residents, Fellows, Fourth Year Medical Students (2002–present)
- ; Mentor to Undergraduate Pre-Medical, Physician Assistant Students (2002–present)
- University at Buffalo; Preceptor, First and Second Year Medical Students (2002–present)
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo; Emergency Medicine Resident Selection Committee Member (2001–2006)
- Chase Corporate Challenge; Physician (2000–2003)