Jasnit Makkar Named Chief of Emergency Radiology
Jasnit Makkar, MD, has been named chief of the Division of Emergency Radiology for the Department of Radiology at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S). Makkar is a board-certified radiologist specializing in abdominal imaging.
Makkar will oversee a large group of overnight radiologists who serve multiple high-volume emergency rooms in Manhattan and Westchester, including a comprehensive stroke center at NewYork-Presbyterian Milstein Hospital and a level one trauma center at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. His appointment is effective July 1, 2025.
“I’m excited that Dr. Makkar is stepping into this leadership role," said Ajay Gupta, MD, MS, James Picker Professor of Radiology and chair of the Department of Radiology. “Imaging plays a central role in emergency care, guiding timely diagnosis and treatment for some of our most vulnerable and critically ill patients. Dr. Makkar's clinical expertise, dedication to education, and deep understanding of clinical operations make him exceptionally well-suited to advance the quality of the emergency imaging services we provide at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia.”
In addition to his deep clinical expertise, Makkar has been a leader of the Department of Radiology’s education mission. He served as program director for the Diagnostic Radiology Residency from 2021 to 2025, and as associate residency program director from 2018 to 2021. As program director, Makkar oversaw the residency’s expansion from eight to ten residents per year and implemented workflow improvements that led to reduced resident burnout, including during emergency radiology rotations which are the most challenging of radiology residency training.
Makkar is well-positioned to introduce innovations to the emergency radiology workflow, which relies heavily on residents to meet the volume of diagnostic imaging. “Radiology is extremely important to the emergency room, and I’m excited to create a really collaborative environment,” said Makkar, noting the challenges that are inherent to leading a group of radiologists who work at night and largely off site. “I look forward to making improvements to the educational and clinical experience which ultimately will lead to better patient outcomes.”
Makkar earned his medical degree from New York Medical College. He completed a diagnostic radiology residency at Westchester Medical Center, followed by a Body MR Fellowship at Mt. Sinai Health System. He joined Columbia Radiology in 2016.
