Michael Christopher Kurz, MD

  • Professor of Medicine
  • Research and Scholarly Interests: Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Cardiac Arrest, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Emergency Medical Services, Ischemia, Systems, Health Care
  • Websites: Research Network Profile
  • Contact: mkurz@uchicago.edu

Dr. Kurz’s research focuses on sudden cardiac arrest including intra- and post-arrest care, novel serum biomarkers for ischemia-reperfusion injury, rehabilitation for cardiac arrest survivors, and construction of resuscitation systems of care. He has conducted resuscitation research funded by the NIH, Department of Defense, and various foundations (UAB Health Services Foundation, Zoll Medical Foundation, Emergency Medicine Foundation) and professional organizations (Society of Critical Care Medicine).



Dr. Kurz’s academic work includes over 150 peer-reviewed manuscripts, editorials, and reviews, including work published in NEJM, JAMA, Circulation, Critical Care Medicine, and the Annals of Emergency Medicine. He currently serves as a guest editor for Circulation. Nationally he is the immediate-past chair of the American Heart Association (AHA) Emergency Cardiac Care Committee (ECC) Systems of Care Subcommittee and has contributed to the AHA ECC guidelines since 2010. He will Chair of the 2025 AHA advanced life support (ALS) guidelines.



As a mentor he has trained dozens of residents and fellows many who have successfully become physician-scientists.

Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
Fellowship - Emergent Cardiac Care
2007

University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Residency - Emergency Medicine
2006

University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
MD - Medicine
2003

University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
MS-HES - Biostatistics and Clinical Trials Administration
2003

University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
BA - Public Health Policy and Ethics
1999

Clarifying National Institutes of Health Investment Estimates for Sepsis Research.
Clarifying National Institutes of Health Investment Estimates for Sepsis Research. Ann Emerg Med. 2025 Nov; 86(5):559-560.
PMID: 41110939

Part 1: Executive Summary: 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.
Part 1: Executive Summary: 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2025 Oct 21; 152(16_suppl_2):S284-S312.
PMID: 41122893

Part 9: Adult Advanced Life Support: 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.
Part 9: Adult Advanced Life Support: 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2025 Oct 21; 152(16_suppl_2):S538-S577.
PMID: 41122884

Letter of Concern from the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine Regarding ACGME Proposed Changes.
Letter of Concern from the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine Regarding ACGME Proposed Changes. West J Emerg Med. 2025 Jun 27; 26(4):769-772.
PMID: 40795015

National Institutes of Health Funding of Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Research.
National Institutes of Health Funding of Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Research. Ann Emerg Med. 2025 Oct; 86(4):441-443.
PMID: 40464720

American Heart Association Automated External Defibrillator Symposium: Summary and Recommendations.
American Heart Association Automated External Defibrillator Symposium: Summary and Recommendations. J Am Heart Assoc. 2025 Apr; 14(7):e039291.
PMID: 40105094

Recovery Potential in Patients After Cardiac Arrest Who Die After Limitations or Withdrawal of Life Support.
Recovery Potential in Patients After Cardiac Arrest Who Die After Limitations or Withdrawal of Life Support. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Mar 03; 8(3):e251714.
PMID: 40131275

Use of machine learning models to identify National Institutes of Health-funded cardiac arrest research.
Use of machine learning models to identify National Institutes of Health-funded cardiac arrest research. Resuscitation. 2025 Mar; 208:110545.
PMID: 39961491

Successful cardiac arrest resuscitation by a layperson participant in a novel AED-equipped response corps: A case report.
Successful cardiac arrest resuscitation by a layperson participant in a novel AED-equipped response corps: A case report. Resusc Plus. 2025 Mar; 22:100900.
PMID: 40091895

Evaluating the National Institutes of Health Pipeline for Resuscitation Science Investigators.
Evaluating the National Institutes of Health Pipeline for Resuscitation Science Investigators. J Am Heart Assoc. 2024 Jun 18; 13(12):e035854.
PMID: 38879460

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