A. Reema Kar, MD

Dr. Reema Kar joined the faculty at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in April 2021 as an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Acute Care Surgery. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology at the Pennsylvania State University, and graduated from the Penn State College of Medicine in 2008. Dr. Kar completed her General Surgery residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She further specialized with dual fellowship training in Burn Surgery at Johns Hopkins, and Surgical Critical Care at Yale University. She is board certified in both General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care.

Dr. Kar divides her clinical time among the Surgical Critical Care, Trauma, and Emergency General Surgery services. She has previously practiced Burn Surgery at Johns Hopkins, and has served as Co-Director of a Wound Care Program affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dr. Kar is passionate about improving medical education and surgical training. She is firmly committed to supporting the next generation of surgeons as they rise through medical school, residency, and fellowship. Her goal as an academic surgeon is to foster a nurturing environment for learners that is conducive to growth and development as clinicians and professionals. She is dedicated to encouraging medical students to pursue careers in surgical fields, and has earned numerous awards and recognitions for her teaching and mentorship. She has served previously as a Clerkship Director for the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science Physician Assistant Student surgery rotation, and as the site director for the Acute Care Surgery rotation for the Johns Hopkins Physician Assistant Residency. She is the co-director of the Advanced Selective in Critical Care for fourth year medical students at RWJMS, and serves on the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Curriculum Committee and M3/M4 Advanced Clerkship Planning Committee.

Dr. Kar’s academic interests involve diversity, equity, and inclusion in surgery. She founded the Women In Surgery Experience at Rutgers/RWJMS (WISER,) a forum for female surgical residents, fellows, and faculty to interact and collaborate with the goal to promote camaraderie and mutual support. Dr. Kar’s research focuses on gender disparities and implicit bias in academic surgery, and the unique professional experiences of women in surgery.

Dr. Kar is a member of the American College of Surgeons, Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, and the American College of Academic International Medicine.

Philosophy of Care:

Dr. Kar’s motivation to work in Acute Care Surgery stems from her experiences caring for victims of a school shooting. She is deeply committed to delivering emergency care to critically ill and injured patients, while striving to help their families navigate the complexities of a hospital course often involving multiple surgeries and long ICU stays.

Publications