Dr. Shah is Director of Aerospace Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) where he oversees educational, business, and strategic endeavors. This includes the Residency in Aerospace Medicine, one of only two accredited, civilian programs nationwide training physicians to become space medicine experts. He is also responsible for a team of over 30 physicians and scientists that provide space medicine and research expertise to NASA, both in the United States and internationally.

Dr. Shah joined UTMB in 2022 after spending over a decade at NASA in various roles encompassing space medicine operations, research, and clinical care. As the former Medical Director of Johnson Space Center, Dr. Shah was responsible for overseeing healthcare for the NASA astronaut corps and a campus of over 11,000 people. He played a crucial role in Johnson Space Center’s Pandemic Response Group amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, earning the prestigious NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal and a Director’s Commendation for his services.

Before his tenure as Medical Director, Dr. Shah provided operational support to astronauts training in Star City, Russia and at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston, Texas. He has received training and flight time in the NASA T-38 aircraft. He made significant contributions to NASAs Human Research Program, previously serving as the Element Scientist for the Exploration Medical Capability Element.

Dr. Shah is a former President of the Society of NASA Flight Surgeons, an author of several peer-reviewed papers, and a past participant in the esteemed Harvard Program for Chairs of Clinical Services. A graduate of the UTMB Residency in Aerospace Medicine, he is double board-certified in Aerospace Medicine and Internal Medicine and holds Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Public Health.