Overview
Dr. Gerardo is Professor and Chair for the Department of Emergency Medicine. He graduated with honors from Stanford University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology, and received his MD degree from University of California, Davis. He went on to complete his residency training in Emergency Medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center. He completed his Masters of Health Sciences from the Duke University Clinical Research and Training Program. In 2000, he joined Emergency Medicine faculty at Duke University and has served in numerous educational, research and administrative leadership roles. His current research focuses on US and global snake envenomation using a variety of methodologies from transitional science and clinical trials to machine learning and implementation science. He has over 90 peer reviewed publications and book chapters, and is published in JAMA, PLOS Medicine, Annals of Emergency Medicine, Academic Emergency Medicine and Clinical Toxicology.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
A case of severe systemic copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) envenomation with shock.
Journal Article Toxicon · April 16, 2025 We report a case of severe systemic copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) envenomation presenting with shock and minimal initial tissue injury. The patient required intravenous fluid resuscitation and a vasopressor infusion but improved with administration o ... Full text Link to item CiteA Critical Issue in the Management of Adult Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Approved by the ACEP Board of Directors January 22, 2025.
Journal Article Ann Emerg Med · April 2025 Full text Link to item CiteDecentralization of snakebite antivenom treatment to indigenous community health centers in the Brazilian Amazon: From demand to the first treatment (the SAVING Program).
Journal Article PLoS Negl Trop Dis · April 2025 Brazilian antivenoms have excellent efficacy in recovering venom-induced coagulopathy, in addition to having a good safety profile with only 10% of patients experiencing a mild reaction such as urticaria or pruritus. More than 3.5 hundred thousand snakebit ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Snakebite Study #2- Pro00112601
Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Ophirex, Inc · 2023 - 2028Surgical Critical Care Initiative (SC2I): Civilian application of military decision support tools for critically injured patients.
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Henry M. Jackson Foundation · 2021 - 2026Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of a Multi-Dose Regimen of Oral Varespladib-Methyl in Subjects Bitten by Venomous Snakes
Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Ophirex, Inc · 2021 - 2025View All Grants