Portrait of Vidya Eswaran, MD

Vidya Eswaran, MD

Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine

Biography

Vidya Eswaran, MD, MAS, is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. As a physician and researcher, Dr. Eswaran’ research interests lie in improving outcomes for individuals impacted by substance use disorders, especially for those with a history of criminal legal system involvement. She hopes to create Emergency Department-based and Emergency Department-adjacent interventions to address patients’ medical and psychosocial needs and believes strongly in community engagement throughout the research process. Dr. Eswaran received her bachelor’s degree in biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. She completed residency in Emergency Medicine at Northwestern University and subsequently was selected for the National Clinical Scholars Program at the University of California, San Francisco where she received a master’s degree in clinical research. In addition to her research-related efforts, Dr. Eswaran works clinically as an emergency medicine attending physician in St. Louis, Missouri.

Training

*University of California, San Francisco – San Francisco, CA 07/2020-06/2022, Master’s in Clinical Research

*Baylor College of Medicine – Houston, TX 07/2012-06/2016, Doctor of Medicine

*Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Cambridge, MA 09/2008-06/2012, Bachelor of Science in Biology National Clinician Scholars Program

San Francisco, CA 07/2020-06/2022, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Health Equity and Policy

Northwestern University / McGaw Medical Center – Chicago IL 07/2019-06/2020, Chief Resident

Emergency Medicine McGaw Health Equity and Advocacy Clinical Scholars Program 07/2018-06/2020; Two-year competitive program for McGaw trainees to provide knowledge and skills to identify and address health inequities among their patients and communities.

Northwestern University / McGaw Medical Center – Chicago IL 07/2016-06/2020, Emergency Medicine Resident

Publications

  1. Johnson L, Kaser T, Miller Z, Cooper B, Chapman-Kramer K, Coffey M, et al. Goal completion among participants of a region-wide hospital-based violence intervention program: an observational cohort study. Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open. 2026;11:e002073. https://doi.org/10.1136/tsaco-2025-002073
  2. Suh M, Manisundaram N, Staggers KA, Robinson M, Eswaran V. A Cohort Study of Emergency Department Trauma Evaluation and Outcomes by Incarceration Status. Journal of Correctional Health Care. 2026;32(5):320-327. doi:10.1177/10783458261462704
  3. Eswaran V, Chao S, Weber W, Khatri U, Suh MI. Not Just an Adverse Outcome: Emergency Departments as an Opportunity for Collaboration for Carceral Health. Journal of Correctional Health Care. 2026;32(4):250-254. doi:10.1177/10783458261447495
  4. Eswaran V, Cohen R, Kaser T, Wurcel AG, Mancini M, Chapman-Kramer K, Szoko N, Page K, Coffey M, Mueller K. High prevalence of criminal legal involvement among non-fatally injured ED patients – an exploratory retrospective observational cohort analysis. Health Justice. 2026 Mar 27;14(1):19. doi: 10.1186/s40352-026-00407-2. PMID: 41893975; PMCID: PMC13045160.
  5. Turner A, Medrano T, Nguyen KD, Huang X, Bicette R, Eswaran V, Adesina A. Effect of Awareness of Excessive Use of Force on the Psychological Well-being and Workplace Environment of Emergency Physicians: A Pilot Study. West J Emerg Med. 2026 May 18;27(3):688-697. doi: 10.5811/westjem.48904. PMID: 42258847; PMCID: PMC13246211.
  6. Johnson D, Alvarez L, Hooft A, et al. Comparing Disparate Application of Physical Restraints on Patients Seeking Emergency Mental Health Care at Two San Francisco Emergency Departments. Health Equity. 2026;10. doi:10.1177/24731242251394114
  7. Eswaran V, Dong F, Li X, Szlyk HS, Dell NA, Kasson E, Williams J, Cavazos-Rehg PA. Leveraging a digital health intervention to improve recovery outcomes among people with substance misuse experiencing housing insecurity. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2026 Feb 1;279:113022. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2026.113022. Epub 2026 Jan 3. PMID: 41512653; PMCID: PMC12955705.
  8. Suh M, Chary AN, Molina MF, Farrell CM, Mycyk MB, Eswaran V. Physician Perceptions of the Evaluation and Management of Incarcerated Patients in the Emergency Department. J Emerg Med. 2025 Nov;78:42-48. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2025.07.052. Epub 2025 Aug 5. PMID: 40945397.
  9. Onyechi AS, Dark C, Eswaran V. An innovative interprofessional mock trial experience: Collaboration between emergency medicine residency program and law school as a tool to demonstrate medical malpractice litigation. AEM Educ Train. 2025 Jun 11;9(3):e70055. doi: 10.1002/aet2.70055. PMID: 40510551; PMCID: PMC12153004.
  10. Suh M, Molina MF, Chary AN, Farrell CM, Mycyk MB, Eswaran V. A multi-site assessment of emergency staff knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding care for incarcerated patients. Am J Emerg Med. 2024 Aug;82:211-213. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2024.05.019. Epub 2024 May 25. PMID: 38849223.
  11. Eswaran V, Molina MF, Hwong AR, Dillon DG, Alvarez L, Allen IE, Wang RC. Racial Disparities in Emergency Department Physical Restraint Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Intern Med. 2023 Nov 1;183(11):1229-1237. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.4832. PMID: 37747721; PMCID: PMC10520842.
  12. Rodriguez RM, Nichol G, Eucker SA, Chang AM, O’Laughlin KN, Pauley A, Rising KL, Eswaran V, Morse D, Li C, Patel A, Duber HC, Arreguin M, Shughart L, Glidden D; PROCOVAXED Study Network. Effect of COVID-19 Vaccine Messaging Platforms in Emergency Departments on Vaccine Acceptance and Uptake: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2022 Dec 27. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.5909. PMID: 36574256.
  13. Yore M, Fockele CE, Duber HC, Doran KM, Cooper RJ, Lin MP, Campbell S, Eswaran V, Chang B, Hong H, Gbenedio K, Stanford KA, Gavin N. 2021 SAEM Consensus Conference Proceedings: Research Priorities for Implementing Emergency Department Screening for Social Risks and Needs. West J Emerg Med. 2023 Feb 24;24(2):302-311. doi: 10.5811/westjem.2022.10.57368. PMID: 36976611; PMCID: PMC10047739.
  14. Eswaran V, Chen JH, Khatri UG, Marotta PL, Vaughn MG. Prevalence of criminal legal involvement among emergency department patients: Insights from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2021-2023. PLoS One. 2026 Jul 8;21(7):e0351233. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0351233. PMID: 42418431; PMCID: PMC13345442.
  15. Dillon DG, Porto GD, Eswaran V, Shay C, Montoy JCC. Identification and Treatment of Opioid-Associated Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Emergency Medical Service Protocols. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(5):e2214351. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.14351
  16. Eswaran, V, Chang, AM, Wilkerson RG, O’Laughlin KN, Chinnock B, Eucker SA, Baumann BM, Anaya N, Miller DG, Haggins AN, Torres JR, Anderson ES, Lim SC, Caldwell MT, Raja AS, REVVED UP Investigators, Rodriguez RM. Facemasks: Perceptions and Use in an ED Population During COVID-19. PLOS One. 2022 Apr 13;17(4):e0266148. PMID: 35417505
  17. Rodriguez R.M., O’Laughlin K, Eucker, S. A., Chang, A.M., Rising, K.L, Nichol, G, Pauley, A, Kanzaria, H, Gentsch, A.T., Li, C, Duber, H, Butler, J, Eswaran, V, Glidden, D. PROmotion of COvid-19 VA(X)ccination in the Emergency Department—PROCOVAXED: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial. Open Access (2022) Trials, 23 (1), art. no. 332, Cited 2 times. DOI: 10.1186/s13063-022-06285-x
  18. Eswaran V, Raven MC, Wang RC, Cawley C, Izenberg JM, Kanzaria HK. Understanding the association between frequent emergency department use and jail incarceration: A cross-sectional analysis. Acad Emerg Med. 2022 May;29(5):606-614. doi: 10.1111/acem.14437. Epub 2022 Feb 10. PMID: 35064709; PMCID: PMC10231420.
  19. Eswaran V, Wang RC, Vashi AA, Kanzaria HK, Fahimi J, Raven MC. Patient reported delays in obtaining emergency care during COVID19. Am J Emerg Med. 2022 Jun;56:306-309. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.08.007. Epub 2021 Aug 8. PMID: 34391581; PMCID: PMC8349312.
  20. Rodriguez RM, Torres JR, Chang AM, et al. The Rapid Evaluation of COVID-19 Vaccination in Emergency Departments for Underserved Patients Study. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 2021 Oct;78(4):502-510. DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2021.05.026. PMID: 34272104; PMCID: PMC8165082
  21. Eswaran V, Allen KC, Bottari DC, Splawski JA, Bains S, Aks SE, Swoboda HD, Moore PQ, Tran TH, Salisbury-Afshar E, Lank PM, McCarthy DM, Kim HS. Take-Home Naloxone Program Implementation: Lessons Learned From Seven Chicago-Area Hospitals. Ann Emerg Med. 2020 Sep;76(3):318-327. PMID: 32241746.
  22. Eswaran V, Allen KC, Cruz DS, Lank PM, McCarthy DM, Kim HS. Development of a take-home naloxone program at an urban academic emergency department. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2020 Nov-Dec;60(6):e324-e331. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2020.06.017. Epub 2020 Jul 18. PMID: 32690447.
  23. Parker RB, Stack SJ, Schneider SM; ACEP Diversity Summit 2016 Attendees. Why Diversity and Inclusion Are Critical to the American College of Emergency Physicians’ Future Success. Ann Emerg Med. 2017 Jun;69(6):714-717. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.11.030. Epub 2017 Jan 27. PMID: 28139303.
  24. Medford-Davis LN, Eswaran V, Shah RM, Dark C. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s Effect on Emergency Medicine: A Synthesis of the Data. Ann Emerg Med. 2015 Nov;66(5):496-506. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2015.04.007. Epub 2015 May 11. PMID: 25976250.

Honors & Awards

BJC Patient Experience Award Honor Roll, 2026

Dr. Marcus Martin Scholarship Award, Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine, 2026

Medical Student Feedback of the Month Award, Department of Emergency Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 2023                           

Most Liked Abstract, UCSF Health Service Research Symposium, 2021        

Guest Speaker with Biggest Impact, ExxonMobil Safety Program, 2020               

Northwestern Annual Education Awards: Best Role Model, 2020                         

Exemplary Model of Professionalism, Feinberg Medical School, 2019

Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital PGY2 of the Year, 2018                                        

EMRA Leadership & Advocacy Travel Grant, 2016                                                                

Gold Humanism Honor Society Induction, 2015

Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association Local Action Grant, 2014                          

Laya W. Wiesner Award – Woman who most enhanced MIT community, 2012

Girl Scout Gold Award, 2008