Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has named Dr. Arthur L. Diskin as its vice president and global chief medical officer for its Medical and Public Health Department.

In his position, which is new to the company, Dr. Diskin is responsible for managing the medical facilities and staff that provide daily care for the company’s guests, as well as the medical care of more than 40,000 crew members.  This includes the company’s new Crew Wellness Program and the management of all public health issues, working in coordination with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Dr. Diskin also oversees the company’s Guest Care Team, which provides one-on-one assistance to guests and their families involved in medical or other emergencies.

“We are delighted to have Art join our team,” said Gary M. Bald, senior vice president of Safety, Security, Environment, Medical and Public Health for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.  “Art is a pioneer in the field of cruise ship medicine.  His expertise and experience in emergency medicine and medical services onboard cruise ships will be an invaluable asset to our company. We look forward to his assistance with one of our top priorities, the health and wellbeing of our guests and crew members.”

Dr. Diskin attended college and medical school at the University of Miami, and completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at the Los Angeles County Medical Center/University of Southern California.  He is Board Certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Dr. Diskin is the past president of the Florida College of Emergency Physicians, former Chief of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital and Chair of the Section on Cruise Ship and Maritime Medicine of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Dr. Diskin assisted in creating the Emergency Medicine Residency Program at Mount Sinai Medical Center.  This program, affiliated with Nova Southeastern School of Medicine, is currently one of only seven Emergency Medicine residency programs in Florida.

Dr. Diskin was a consultant to Carnival Cruise Lines since 1990, most recently serving as Medical Director.  In that role he was responsible for guest and crew care, medical facilities and staff, developing medical, evacuation and disaster management policies and advising the ships’ physicians.  He also has served as a physician onboard cruise ships since the 1980s.