Dr. Dheerendra Kommala
Chief Medical Officer
Biography
Dheerendra Kommala, MD
Dheerendra Kommala, MD, is Chief Medical Officer at ECRI. Dr. Kommala has more than 25 years of experience as an academic clinician, researcher, and chief medical officer. He leads ECRI’s Medical Office and is a vocal advocate for patient safety.
Prior to joining ECRI, Dr. Kommala was global vice president of medical affairs for Baxter Healthcare. He also served as chief medical officer/global vice president of medical affairs for ConvaTec, and as associate medical director of Global Pharmaceutical Research for Renal Care, Abbott Laboratories. He has successfully introduced new products and services to healthcare markets worldwide by working collaboratively with major health systems, industry leaders, clinicians, and patients.
Dr. Kommala received his initial medical training in India, and completed a fellowship in nephrology at the University of Missouri, Columbia School of Medicine.
Speaking Engagements
Dr. Kommala is frequently invited to share thought leadership and ECRI’s unique industry insights at conferences and events.
- Wound Care Collaborative Community (WCCC) Driving Innovation in Wound Care Summit – "Bridging the Divide with FDA, ECRI, and Industry Alignment" panel (April 10, 2026)
- Advanced Medical Technology Association MedTech Conference – "Turning HTA on Its Head: How Patient Preference Data Can Empower Patients in Value Assessment" panel (October 7, 2025)
- Wound Care Collaborative Community (WCCC) Driving Innovation in Wound Care Summit – “Supporting Innovation: Round Table Discussion with FDA and CMS” panel (May 2, 2025)
- Advanced Medical Technology Association MedTech Conference – “Unlocking Commercial Payer Reimbursement for Innovative Technologies” presentation (October 15, 2024)
- White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Healthcare Safety Forum – “Highlights of Progress in Action” panel (September 17, 2024)
- Medical Device Coverage & Reimbursement Professional Education Course – “Remaining Questions and Obstacles to Address before Reaching Widespread AI Coverage and Adoption in the US” panel (July 10, 2024)
- Wound Care Collaborative Community (WCCC) Inaugural Driving Innovation in Wound Care Summit – “Real-World Evidence in FDA and Payer Decision Making” panel (May 13, 2024)
- Medical Device Innovation Consortium (MDIC) Commercial Payer Council Inaugural Meeting – Navigating Medicare Advantage and Reimbursement for Digital Therapeutics roundtable discussion (January 30, 2024)
- Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) Reimbursement & Health Policy Conference – “Engaging with Medical Directors on Evidence & Coverage” presentation (November 9, 2023)
- Congressional Briefing– "Patient Safety & Home Dialysis - Unnecessary Risks for Kidney Patients" presentation (September 27, 2023)
- Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) Stoelting Conference – “Wearables - Consumer vs Medical Grade/Regulatory Perspective” presentation (September 6, 2023)
- Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) International Annual Meeting – “Advancing Patient Care Excellence through Human Factors Engineering” panel (October 13, 2022)
- National Health Equity Summit – “Embedding Health Equity in Patient Safety and Clinical Quality Initiatives” panel (June 7, 2021)
Request Dr. Kommala as a speaker
To request an interview with Dr. Kommala or extend a speaking opportunity invitation, contact Yvonne Rhodes at YRhodes@ECRI.org.