Sima Desai, M.D., MACP, FRCP (she/her)

  • Professor of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, School of Medicine
  • Harry W. Masenhimer Jr., M.D. Term Professorship in Internal Medicine, Medicine, School of Medicine
  • Vice Chair of Education, Department of Medicine, Medicine, School of Medicine
  • Assistant Dean for Accreditation, GME
  • Associate Program Director, Medicine, School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Sima Desai graduated from the University of New Mexico receiving her BS and BA in Biology and Chemistry, respectively.  She graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine followed by Internal Medicine Residency and Chief Residency at OHSU.  She was recruited along with her co-chiefs to start the hospitalist program at OHSU and has enjoyed a career in caring for patients and teaching resident and students since that time.  Her career path has ranged from being the Section Chief for the Hospitalist Division to being an Associate Program Director before serving as Program Director for 15 years. Dr. Desai is currently the Vice Chair of Education for the Department of Medicine as well as the Assistant Dean for Accreditation in GME. She is passionate about learning, teaching, mentoring and coaching all learners. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing tennis, watching baseball and reading.

Education and training

  • Degrees

    • B.A., 1990, University of New Mexico
    • B.S., 1989, University of New Mexico
    • M.D., 1994, University of New Mexico School of Medicine

  • Internship

    • Oregon Health & Science University, 1995

  • Residency

    • Oregon Health & Science University, 1997
    • Chief Residency, Oregon Health & Science University, 1998

  • Certifications

    • Internal medicine, 1997
    • Internal Medicine, 2007, 2017

Memberships and associations:

  • ACP Member
  • ACGME Appeals Panel
  • Oregon ACP Executive Council

Areas of interest

  • Medical education
  • Adult learning theory
  • Diagnostic reasoning
  • Mentorship

Honors and awards

  • Faculty Teaching Award, OHSU Internal Medicine Residency Program, multiple years
  • Marion L. Krippaehne MD Humanism Award, OHSU Internal Medicine Residency Program, multiple years
  • ACGME Parker Palmer Courage to Teach Award
  • J. David Bristow MD Award, OHSU School of Medicine, multiple years
  • ACP Laureate Award, Oregon ACP Chapter
  • Leonard Tow Humanism Award, OHSU School of Medicine
  • Mastership in the American College of Physicians
  • Fellowship in the Royal College of Physicians

Publications

Elsevier pure profile

Selected publications

  • Burnett, Joel R, Bryanna De Lima, Kelsi Manley, Emily S Wang, Kelly McGarry, Tracey L Henry, Michael Kisielewski, Daniel I Kim, and Sima S Desai. 2025. “Advocacy Curriculum Planning Among Internal Medicine Residency Programs: Results from a National Survey of Program Directors.” Journal of Health Advocacy, August. https:/​/​doi.org/​10.70440/​001c.142995
  • Warm, E, Desai, S, Bowen, J. Navigating the Discontinuity Crisis in Medical Education. N Engl J Med 2025; 392:2447-2457. Vol 392 No 24 (PMID 40561530)
  • Burnett JR, De Lima B, Wang ES, McGarry K, Kim DI, Kisielewski M, Manley K, Desai SS, Eckstrom E, Henry TL. How Are We Teaching Advocacy? A National Survey of Internal Medicine Residency Program Directors. J Gen Intern Med. 2025 Jan;40(1):89-95. doi: 10.1007/s11606-024-08753-3. Epub 2024 May 6. (PMID: 38710862)
  • Roberts, J.K., Schub, M., Singhal, S. Norwood, J, Cassini,T, Hudler, A, Ramadurai, D, Smith, C, Desai, S, Weintraub, J, Hasler, S, Schwiesow, T, Connors, G, Didwania, A, Hargett, C, Wolf, M. Exploring US internal medicine resident career preferences: a Q-methodology study. Adv in Health Sci Educ 28, 669–686 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-022-10172-0 (PMID 36264447)

Publications