Dr. Y. Michael Shim has been appointed as the new chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, effective April 1, 2026. This leadership change marks a significant step for the division, which is renowned for its comprehensive approach to treating a wide spectrum of pulmonary and critical care conditions, encompassing everything from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to interstitial lung diseases and severe lung infections. Under Dr. Shim’s guidance, the division aims to further enhance its clinical care capabilities, bolster translational research, and expand its educational mission to train the next generation of pulmonary specialists.
The Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine has long been at the forefront of addressing complex pulmonary ailments and critical illnesses requiring intensive care. Their expert clinicians and scientists provide essential services to patients in intensive care units, managing the intricate care of respiratory failure, acute lung injury, and other life-threatening conditions. Moreover, the division’s research portfolio has continuously pushed forward understanding in pulmonary hypertension, sepsis, and emerging lung diseases, reflecting a dedication to holistic patient care and innovation in treatment modalities.
Dr. Shim brings with him an impressive track record from his more than twenty years at the University of Virginia, where he was a professor of medicine and radiology, holding the prestigious John L. Guerrant Endowed Professorship. His experience uniquely merges advanced pulmonary imaging with clinical management of obstructive airway diseases. Given this background, Dr. Shim is well-positioned to lead Weill Cornell’s efforts in integrating state-of-the-art imaging technologies and personalized medicine approaches into routine pulmonary care, thereby bridging the gap between bench research and bedside application.
A transformative element in Dr. Shim’s research has been his pioneering work using hyperpolarized Xenon gas magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This cutting-edge imaging modality involves the inhalation of laser-polarized Xenon gas to generate remarkably detailed, three-dimensional images of lung ventilation and function without the use of ionizing radiation. This technology enables clinicians and researchers to visualize regional lung function with unprecedented clarity, contributing invaluable insights into diseases such as COPD, asthma, and interstitial lung diseases, where traditional imaging falls short in capturing physiological abnormalities at a microregional level.
The clinical relevance of hyperpolarized Xenon MRI cannot be overstated. In patients with COPD, for example, this non-invasive technique reveals the heterogeneity of ventilation defects and identifies early alterations in lung function that might not yet be evident on standard spirometry or conventional imaging. Furthermore, it illuminates functional changes post-lung transplantation, enabling better monitoring of graft health and early detection of allograft rejection. Dr. Shim’s leadership in the Phase 3 clinical trial that culminated in the 2022 FDA approval of hyperpolarized Xenon gas as the first inhaled MRI contrast agent underscores the clinical importance and translational impact of this technology.
At Weill Cornell Medicine, Dr. Shim will spearhead initiatives to expand access to specialized pulmonary care across multiple NewYork-Presbyterian campuses, including outreach efforts in Upper East Side, Lower Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. This system-wide strategy prioritizes early detection, prevention, and treatment of chronic lung diseases across diverse urban populations, addressing critical gaps in care exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. His vision encompasses enhancing outpatient pulmonary care services while maintaining excellence in ICU and inpatient pulmonary management.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated the urgent need for accessible, high-quality pulmonary care nationwide. Dr. Shim emphasizes that, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic, there is rising demand for pulmonary service delivery that is both comprehensive and equitably accessible. Expanding community-based pulmonary services is essential for managing the long-term respiratory sequelae that many patients face, including post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), frequently referred to as long COVID.
Beyond clinical leadership, Dr. Shim is deeply committed to education and mentorship. He will enhance hands-on training opportunities to nurture future leaders in pulmonary and critical care medicine, integrating emerging technologies and research into curricula. As new diagnostic and therapeutic tools such as hyperpolarized Xenon MRI become clinical standards, clinicians must be adept at interpreting and utilizing these innovations to optimize patient outcomes, a goal Dr. Shim aims to realize through robust educational programming.
Dr. Shim’s research extends beyond imaging innovation. His NIH-funded projects cover a diverse range of pulmonary pathologies, including COPD pathophysiology, acute lung injury, vape-induced lung injury, sepsis, and lung allograft rejection. His interdisciplinary work, leveraging imaging, clinical research, and molecular insights, has been published in premier scientific journals such as Science, Nature, and the New England Journal of Medicine, underscoring his status as a leading figure in pulmonary medicine research.
His clinical and academic credentials are equally distinguished. Board-certified in pulmonary disease, critical care medicine, and internal medicine, he is a fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians and an active member of the American Thoracic Society, the American College of Physicians, and the Society of Hospital Medicine. His training spanned several top institutions, including medical school at the Medical College of Virginia, internal medicine residency at Northwestern University, and pulmonary and critical care fellowship as well as an advanced fellowship in asthma and obstructive airway disease at Yale University.
Dr. Shim’s tenure at the University of Virginia was marked by innovative clinical program development, including his leadership of the COPD specialty clinic, which in 2007 was the first academic center in the U.S. to receive Joint Commission certification as a center of excellence in advanced COPD care. This achievement highlighted his commitment to translating research discoveries into superior clinical programs that directly benefit patient populations.
Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian welcome Dr. Shim with great anticipation for his transformative impact in pulmonary and critical care medicine. His appointment promises not only to sustain but to significantly magnify the division’s influence in advancing lung health through innovative research, exemplary clinical care, and comprehensive education. As lung diseases continue to challenge public health on multiple fronts, leaders like Dr. Shim are essential to driving forward the technologies and therapeutic paradigms that will redefine patient outcomes in the coming decades.
Subject of Research: Advanced pulmonary imaging and obstructive airway diseases, including hyperpolarized Xenon gas MRI applications in COPD, asthma, lung transplantation, acute lung injury, and pulmonary hypertension.
Article Title: Dr. Y. Michael Shim Named Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, Pioneering Advanced Lung Imaging Innovations
News Publication Date: March 25, 2026
Web References:
https://medicine.weill.cornell.edu/divisions-programs/pulmonary-critical-care-medicine
https://vivo.weill.cornell.edu/display/cwid-daz9001 (Dr. Dana Zappetti)
https://vivo.weill.cornell.edu/display/cwid-kyr9001 (Dr. Kyu Rhee)
https://vivo.weill.cornell.edu/display/cwid-myleswo (Dr. Myles Wolf)
Image Credits: Weill Cornell Medicine
Keywords: pulmonary medicine, critical care, hyperpolarized Xenon MRI, COPD, asthma, lung transplantation, lung imaging, obstructive airway disease, pulmonary hypertension, translational research, critical illness, pulmonary rehabilitation, advanced lung disease
