Christian Arbelaez is the Department of Emergency Medicine Chief at Boston Medical Center and Chair at Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. Previously, he was Vice Chair of Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and prior to that, Assistant Residency Director of the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency Program and the Associate Director of the Office for Multicultural Careers at the Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) in Boston.
He is recognized as a leader nationally and has been an invited speaker for his work around clinical innovation in the areas of HIV testing in the ED, physician leadership development, and workforce diversity. Dr. Arbelaez has participated in several domestic and international volunteer relief efforts including Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief with the American Red Cross, Gallup Indian Medical Center in the Navajo Nation with the BWH, and recently in St. Marc’s, Haiti with Partners in Health. He has been awarded the Dennis Thomson Leadership Award, the James Adams Leadership Award, and the Best Teacher Award at the BWH. He was recently awarded the Young Mentor Award at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Arbelaez earned his medical degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He completed his post-graduate training at the Brown Medical School Residency Program in Emergency Medicine and was selected as a Chief Resident his final year. He earned his Master of Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health as part of the Commonwealth Fund Minority Health Policy Fellowship.
2020 American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP):
International Ambassador Leadership Award
2020 TeleCare Team, Brown Emergency Medicine:
Foundation Leadership Award
2019 Society for Academic Emergency Medicine SAEM:
Leadership in Diversity & Inclusion Award
2018 Academy for Diversity & Inclusion in Emergency Medicine ADIEM/Society of Academic Emergency Medicine:
Chair Development Scholarship Award
2013 Hispanic Scholarship Fund:
“Inspirador” Alumni Hall of Fame Award
2013 YMCA Greater Boston:
YMCA Achievers Award
2008 American College of Emergency Physicians:
Heroes of Emergency Medicine
2008 Harvard Medical School:
Young Mentor Award
2007 Harvard Medical School:
Excellence in Mentoring Minority Students
2007 Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency:
Best Teacher Award
2007 Brigham and Women’s Hospital:
James Adams Leadership Award
2007 Brigham and Women’s Hospital:
Dennis Thomson Leadership Award
2006-2013 Brigham and Women’s Hospital:
Minority Faculty Career Development Award
2006 Brigham and Women’s Hospital:
Shore Fellowship for Scholars Award
2005 Brigham and Women’s Hospital:
Partners Excellence Award - Hurricane Katrina
2004 Brown University Emergency Medicine Program:
The Senior Resident Excellence Award
2004 Brown University/Lifespan Health System:
Haffenreffer House Staff Excellence Award
1998 Association of American Medical College:
Organization Student Representative (OSR)
1996 Houston Baptist University:
Mr. Houston Baptist University/Outstanding Graduating Senior Award
1993-1999 National Hispanic Fund:
National Hispanic Scholarship