Bio

Dr. Sarita Khemani is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine and a Hospital Medicine physician specializing in the care of neurosurgical patients. Her clinical work centers on the prevention and management of medical complications in the perioperative setting. Her broader interests lie in optimizing brain health, cognitive performance, and extending health span.

A passionate educator, Dr. Khemani currently serves as Director of the perioperative medicine rotation for medical students. She has also led perioperative education for Stanford Medicine residents and physician assistant students. She is a recipient of the Department of Medicine’s Excellence in Teaching Award.

Dr. Khemani is the founder and co-director of the Stanford Medicine Clinical Summer Internship (SMCSI), a globally recognized program that exposes premedical students to the clinical and academic world of medicine. Under her leadership, the program has expanded access through numerous scholarships for underrepresented and minority students, with a mission to empower future leaders in healthcare.

An invited speaker at national and international medical meetings, Dr. Khemani has also spoken at the Stanford Neurosurgery Grand Rounds and delivered the keynote address at the Stanford Physician Assistant Program’s graduation ceremony. She has been featured on U.S. media platforms and international television as a guest expert.

Dr. Khemani is a member of the American College of Physicians, Society of Hospital Medicine and currently serves on the Stanford Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and the Hospital Medicine Wellness Committee.

Clinical Focus

  • Internal Medicine
  • Neurosurgery Hospitalist
  • Perioperative Medicine

Academic Appointments

  • Clinical Associate Professor, Medicine

Administrative Appointments

  • Co-Director, Stanford Medicine Clinical Summer Internship, Department of Medicine (2015 - Present)
  • Director, Medical Student Perioperative Medicine Rotation (IM), Stanford School of Medicine (2018 - Present)
  • Head, Stanford Lifestyle Medicine Stress Neuroscience, Stanford University (2022 - 2024)
  • Director, Resident Peri-operative Medicine Rotation (IM), Department of Medicine (2015 - 2022)
  • Director, PA student inpatient rotation (IM), Surgical Co-management Hospitalist (2012 - 2018)
  • Preceptor, Practice of Medicine course, Stanford School of Medicine (2012 - 2018)

Honors & Awards

  • Awardee: Division of Hospital Medicine Excellence in Teaching Award, Stanford School of Medicine, Department of Medicine (2016)
  • Nominee: Division of Hospital Medicine Excellence in Teaching Award, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine (2015)
  • Malinda S. Mitchell Quality Award for development of Perioperative Medicine Program (Co-Recipient), Stanford Hospital and Clinics (2013)

Professional Education

  • Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine (2009)
  • Internship: UCSF-Internal Medicine (1995) CA
  • Residency: UCSF-Internal Medicine (1997) CA
  • Medical Education: Indira Gandhi Medical College (1992) India

Contact

  • Academic
    University - Staff Department: Med/Hospital Medicine Position: Clinical Associate Professor
    University - Affiliate Department: Med/Hospital Medicine
  • Clinical (Primary)  Hospitalist for Stanford Medical Center 500 Pasteur Dr Stanford, CA 94305 (650) 498-6092 (fax)

Additional Clinical Info

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 5158

All Publications

  • Exploring the breadth of medicine: 8-year outcomes of a brief clinical summer immersion for premedical students. BMC medical education Weinlander, E., Sams, E., Khemani, S., Jamal, A., Srinivasan, M. 2024; 24 (1): 1387

    Abstract

    Exposure to the breadth of healthcare opportunities is crucial to high-school and college students considering a career in medicine. Most programs revolve around research or subspecialties, limiting exposure to the richness within medicine.We conducted a program evaluation of the Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI) 2-week program, to understand learner viewpoints around CSI program utility, and to assess long term impact. We assess viewpoints by learner level (high school versus college) and participation mode (in-person versus virtual).In 2016 we launched a two-week premedical internship, incorporating AAMC core competencies. In 2022 and 2023, we surveyed past participants, collecting demographic data and evaluating/comparing CSI's impact on educational and career paths, future preferences in healthcare careers, and influential factors of matriculation for high-school and college participants.Of 411 past participants, 42% responded (n = 173). We found minimal significant differences between high school and college students. The primary reason for joining was exploring a career in health professions. Notably, 82% acknowledged Stanford-CSI broadened their medical perspectives, 79% gained clarity on healthcare professionals' daily life, 79% heightened their interest in healthcare careers, 71% enhanced their resumes, and 72% learned valuable clinical skills. In-person participants reported developing more friendships (agree/strongly agree: 60% vs 35%, unpaired t-test: p = 0.01), while virtual participants reported having more interest in research careers (40% vs 68%, p = 0.01). Amongst high school matriculants (n = 133), 46% are now in college and 4% in medical or nursing school. Amongst collegiate matriculants (n = 40), 89% have graduated and 11% are now in graduate or medical school. All respondents believed Stanford-CSI was a worthwhile investment of time and resources, with nearly all reporting subsequent increased interest in medicine.Stanford-CSI's summer internship gives premedical students real-world medical profession exposure and fosters meaningful connections. Our findings and teaching framework can guide similar program developments, supporting future medical education initiatives.

    View details for DOI 10.1186/s12909-024-06301-5

    View details for PubMedID 39609765

  • IN-VIVO AND IN-VITRO EFFECTS OF MACROPHAGE-COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR (M-CSF) ON BRONCHOALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES FOR ANTIHISTOPLASMAL ACTIVITY INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY Khemani, S., Brummer, E., Stevens, D. A. 1995; 17 (1): 49-53

    Abstract

    The in vivo and in vitro effects of M-CSF on bronchoalveolar macrophages (BAM) activity against the intracellular fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc) were studied. Three days after a single subcutaneous (s.c.) dose of M-CSF (2.5 mg/kg), enhanced ex vivo antifungal activity of BAM was measured. BAM from M-CSF-treated CD-1 mice significantly (P < 0.01) inhibited the intracellular multiplication of Hc yeast cells in 20 h assays compared to BAM from control mice. This effect was not observed at days 1, 7, 11 or 21 post-treatment. A dose of 5 mg/kg s.c., but not 1 mg/kg, induced similar antifungal activity in BAM by day 3. Peritoneal macrophages (PM) from M-CSF-treated mice did not have enhanced antifungal activity at days and doses tested. BAM could also be activated for antihistoplasmal activity by M-CSF in vitro. M-CSF at 10,000 U/ml for 24 h or 5000 U/ml for 48 h induced significant (P < 0.01) inhibition of intracellular multiplication of Hc. Interferon-gamma (IFN) plus lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated BAM and PM in vitro to inhibit intracellular multiplication of Hc (P < 0.001); the antihistoplasmal activity was completely inhibited by NG-monomethyl L-arginine (N-MMA), indicating that an L-arginine-dependent nitric oxide-producing mechanism was operative. N-MMA could not inhibit the antihistoplasmal activity of BAM or PM activated by M-CSF in vitro. The mechanism by which M-CSF-activated macrophages inhibit intracellular multiplication of Hc remains to be determined.

    View details for Web of Science ID A1995QN91500006

    View details for PubMedID 7782153