Gary Vilke MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Dr. Gary M. Vilke, MD is an Emeritus Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and a nationally recognized leader in emergency medicine, EMS, and in-custody death research. He completed his undergraduate education at the University of California, Berkeley, and earned his medical degree from UC San Diego, where he also completed a surgical internship and residency in emergency medicine. He is board-certified in emergency medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM).

Dr. Vilke has held numerous leadership roles at UC San Diego Health, including Medical Director of Risk Management and Vice Chair of Clinical Operations for the Department of Emergency Medicine, overseeing multiple emergency departments and urgent care centers. Over his 30-year clinical career, he also served as Chief of Staff, Chair of the Patient Care and Peer Review Committee, and President of the UCSD Academy of Clinician Scholars. He directed Custody Services for 16 years, overseeing medical care for inmates across seven San Diego Sheriff’s jails.

A distinguished leader in EMS and disaster medicine, Dr. Vilke has served as Medical Director for the County of San Diego EMS, the San Diego County Metropolitan Medical Strike Team (MMST), and numerous fire departments and air ambulance services. He founded the UCSD EMS/Disaster Medicine Fellowship Training Program and served as its inaugural director. He currently serves as Medical Director for multiple EMS agencies in San Diego County.

Dr. Vilke’s research focuses on prehospital care, cardiac arrest, use-of-force physiology, and in-custody deaths. He has led large, multi-center clinical trials funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium, securing more than $5 million in research funding. He has also received research support from organizations such as the National Institute of Justice, the Police Executive Research Forum, and the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths.

An accomplished scholar, Dr. Vilke has authored over 350 peer-reviewed publications, more than 100 textbook chapters, and two textbooks. His research has been published in leading journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Annals of Emergency Medicine, and Resuscitation. He co-authored Guidelines for Investigating Officer-Involved Shootings, Arrest-Related Deaths, and Deaths in Custody and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Emergency Medicine Reports. Throughout his career, he has mentored more than 400 students, residents, fellows, and faculty members.