John McCabe, MD, FACEP, created our Department of Emergency Medicine and twice served as chair (January 1991-December 1996 and December 2003-October 2009).

As part of that role, he developed the residency training program, which currently trains 11 residents per year. In addition, Dr. McCabe oversaw development and opening of a mass casualty unit and upgraded infirmary at the New York State Fairgrounds, expanded the Hyperbaric Oxygen and wound care center, and oversaw expansion of our campus emergency services to include 100,000 visits a year.

He served in multiple leadership roles nationally, including president of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), president of the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), chair of the board of directors of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), editor of the journal Resuscitation, as well as being listed regularly on Becker’s Hospital Review’s list of top physician leaders of healthcare institutions.

Dr. McCabe served as vice president/vice dean for clinical affairs from December 1996-June 2001 for the Upstate Medical University college of Medicine, as well as senior associate dean for planning/resource management from September 2001-September 2002.

Dr. McCabe served as senior vice president for hospital affairs/chief executive officer of Upstate University Hospital from June 2009 to January 2017. Under his leadership, Upstate opened its Upstate Cancer Center in 2014 and earned its Comprehensive Stroke Center designation in 2015. He also oversaw Upstate University Hospital’s acquisition of Community General Hospital, which has allowed Upstate to bring unique services to the region, including the area’s first pediatric after hours care center and geriatric emergency department.

During Dr. McCabe’s tenure as CEO, University Hospital saw significant growth, and a return to financial stability. Also, over the last 20 years, Dr. McCabe has created and maintained an educational exchange with numerous hospitals in China and, has been a central participant in the development of the emergency medicine specialty in India.

Dr. McCabe earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester and his medical degree from Upstate Medical University, and completed residency training in emergency medicine at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

An endowed scholarship fund has been created in honor of Dr. McCabe.