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:
Associate Chief of Services, Emergency Medicine, Erie County Medical Center (2025-present)
Medical Director, Lake Erie Beach Volunteer Fire Company (2024-present)
Medical Director, Angola Fire Department (2023-present)
Medical Director, Evans Center Volunteer Fire Department (2023-present)
Clinical Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo (2022-present)
Medical Director, Farnham Volunteer Fire Agency (2022-present)
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 (2016–2022)
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)
Fellow, National Association of EMS Physicians (2024)
Fellow, Air Medical Physician Association (2023)
Fellow, American College of Emergency Physicians (2020)
Chief's Award, UT Health San Antonio Police Department (2019)
Texas Monthly Super Doctors Award - Rising Star Edition (2019)
UT Clinical Excellence Award (2019)
Texas Monthly Super Doctors Award (2018)
San Antonio Scene - Best Doctors Award (2017)
San Antonio Scene - Rising Star Doctors (2017)
GME Quality Improvement Award (2015)
PCOM Alumni Association International Fellowship Award (2012)
Tulane University SPHTM Ernest Carroll Faust Award (2007)
Research Expertise:
Air Medical Services
Disaster Medicine
Emergency Medical Services
Tactical Medicine
Grants and Sponsored Research:
September 2024 Efficacy of Teleconsultation to Improve Prehospital Patient Safety for Critically Ill Infants and Children - A Multicenter, Simulation-based Randomized Control Trial NIH Role: Co-Principal Investigator
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.
National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) (2017–present)
American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) (2017–present)
Special Operations Medical Association (2016–present)
National Association of Emergency Medical Services (2014–present)
Emergency Medicine Residents' Association (2012–present)
American Medical Association (2012–present)
Presentations:
"Airway and Ventilation Management" Medical Director Core Curriculum II, Air Medical Transport Conference (2024)
"HEMS Integration into EMS Systems" Medical Director Core Curriculum II, Air Medical Transport Conference (2024)
"Panel Discussion: Stroke Protocols, Blood Pressure Targets" Air Medical Physician Symposium Lite, Air Medical Transport Conference (2024)
"Best Practices for Heat-Related Emergencies" Vietnam Society of Emergency Medicine Conference (2024)
"Quality Improvement and Quality Assurance" EMS Fellow Education, Mercy Flight of WNY (2024)
"History of Air Medical Transport" EMS Fellow Education, Mercy Flight of WNY (2024)
"Medical Oversight" EMS Fellow Education, Mercy Flight of WNY (2024)
"Regulations: What does it all mean?" Medical Director Core Curriculum I, Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference (2024)
"Panel: Physiologically Difficult Airway Strategies" Air Medical Physician Symposium, NAEMSP (2024)
"Cold Weather Emergencies" Customs and Border Protection (CBP) BORESTAR (2023)
"Updates and Trends in HEMS Programs and Models" Medical Director Core Curriculum I, Air Medical Transport Conference, Air Medical Physician Association (2023)
"Prehospital Stroke Care: How to Save Brain. A 2023 Update" Vietnam Society of Emergency Medicine (2023)
"History of Air Medical Transport" EMS Fellow Education, Mercy Flight WNY (2023)
"Airway and Ventilation Management" Medical Director Core Curriculum II, Air Medical Physician Association (2023)
"Medical Education Advances in Air Medical Education" Air Medical Physician Symposium, Air Medical Physician Association (2023)
"Women in EMS" EMRA Prehospital and Disaster Committee (2022)
"HEMS Utilization: When to call and how to ready your patient" Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds, University at Buffalo (2022)
"International Emergency Medicine in Vietname" Public Health Scholarly Track Meeting, University at Buffalo (2022)
"Airway Ventilation Management" Air Medical Physician Association (2021)