Dr. Hardart stands as a distinguished figure in pediatric critical care and bioethics, holding a professorship in pediatrics at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. His significant roles extend to Interim Chief of Critical Care and Hospital Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, and Director of the Program in Women and Children’s Bioethics at VP&S, showcasing his commitment to the highest standards of patient care and ethical practice within the Ny Presbyterian Critical Care Connect Program environment and beyond. His research delves into critical ethical dilemmas such as healthcare crises, clinical ethics consultation, the pivotal role of family in medical decisions, and the complex ethical dimensions of determining death and organ donation.
Dr. Hardart’s journey in medicine began with an MD from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, followed by a pediatric residency and chief residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital under the mentorship of Dr. Frank Oski. Furthering his specialization, he trained in pediatric critical care medicine and medical ethics at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, guided by Dr. Robert Truog. His comprehensive training includes a fellowship in pediatric critical care medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital, a fellowship in medical ethics at Harvard Medical School, an anesthesiology residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and a Master of Public Health from Harvard School of Public Health, demonstrating his dedication to a multifaceted understanding of healthcare.
His tenure at Columbia has been marked by the establishment of a cutting-edge Pediatric Ethics Committee and Pediatric Ethics Consultation Service, vital components that enhance the NY Presbyterian critical care connect program by ensuring ethical considerations are central to patient care. In 2012, Dr. Hardart founded the Program in Women and Children’s Bioethics at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. This program serves as a hub for core bioethics faculty at VP&S, fostering collaborative research, developing essential educational programs, and providing crucial leadership on the diverse bioethical challenges within obstetrical and pediatric healthcare and research today. The Program’s impact is substantial, now encompassing 11 faculty members, offering a pediatric ethics course within the Columbia University Master of Science in Bioethics Program, creating educational initiatives for housestaff and medical students, and hosting a highly regarded seminar series that enriches the Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) community.
Dr. Hardart’s influence extends to national and state levels, advising the New York Task Force on Life and the Law on critical pediatric ethics matters. His contributions include shaping the NYS Pediatric Brain Death Guidelines and the NYS Pediatric Ventilator Allocation Guidelines, particularly relevant in pandemic scenarios, ensuring ethical frameworks within the NY Presbyterian critical care connect program are robust and responsive to crises. Nationally, he has spearheaded efforts in healthcare ethics consultation, championing the development of a nationally recognized certification pathway for this essential hospital service. As chair of the Clinical Ethics Consultation Affairs Committee of the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities, he led the creation of significant educational resources, including a book, a web-based consultation resource compendium, and a web-based practice test supporting the national certification program for healthcare ethics consultants. Currently, Dr. Hardart dedicates his medical practice to pediatric cardiac critical care, attending in the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, directly applying his ethical expertise within the NY Presbyterian critical care connect program framework to provide exceptional care for critically ill children.
