Yvette Calderon

Yvette Calderon is an American physician who is Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine for Jefferson Health System. Her research has focused on health disparities in Manhattan, with a particular focus on HIV and hepatitis C. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2022.

Early life and education Calderon was raised in a housing project in Hell's Kitchen. Her parents both emigrated to Manhattan from Puerto Rico. Her father was a member of Borinqueneers, the 65th Infantry Regiment who served during the Korean War. She was mentored by a philanthropist who created a program to keep students off the streets, and had the opportunity to visit the Mount Sinai Health System. She eventually attended Brown University, then earned her medical degree at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Calderon was Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital. Calderon's father died from the disease. This motivated her to ensure all hospitalized COVID-19 patients would be able to hear the voice of people they knew. She investigated health disparities during COVID-19, and tried to persuade reluctant community members to get the vaccine.

Calderon developed the first digital HIV diagnostic and counseling program, which has been deployed in various clinical settings.

Awards and honors 2003 Inducted into Leo M. Davidoff Society 2013 The Linda Laubenstein Award for Excellence in HIV care 2015 New York City Health and Hospital Corporation: Doctor’s Day Award 2019 Crain Communications Notable Women in Healthcare 2021 Crain’s New York Champion of Change Award 2022 Elected Fellow of the National Academy of Medicine

Selected publications