BOSTON, Mass.— The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is pleased to recognize outstanding leadership across emergency medicine during ACEP21, the world’s largest emergency medicine conference. The annual awards honor emergency physicians for achievements and contributions to the specialty in a range of categories, including policy, education, advocacy, communications, and research.

John G. Wiegenstein Leadership Award
This is ACEP’s highest award. It is presented for outstanding contributions to the organization and is named after the late John G. Wiegenstein, MD, a founding member and first president of ACEP.

Jay A. Kaplan, MD, FACEP, is medical director of care transformation, and director of the Be Well Center for Louisiana Children’s Medical Center Health in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a clinical associate professor of medicine at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and an attending physician and academic faculty for the Louisiana State University emergency medicine residency at University Medical Center New Orleans. Dr. Kaplan is a past president of ACEP as well as current national faculty, and he was named ACEP Outstanding Speaker in 2003. He also serves as a member of the National Academy of Medicine Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience. Dr. Kaplan has a medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his residency and fellowship at the University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento.

James D. Mills Outstanding Contribution to Emergency Medicine Award
This award is for significant contributions to emergency medicine. The award is named after the late James D. Mills Jr., MD, second president of ACEP.

James J. Augustine, MD, FACEP, is an emergency physician and clinical professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He is chair emeritus of the National Clinical Governance Board of US Acute Care Solutions. Dr. Augustine served two terms as a member of the board of directors of ACEP and continues to serve on the ACEP Epidemic Expert Panel. He currently serves as the chair of the task force planning for the future of ACEP’s Clinical Emergency Data Registry. Dr. Augustine served as chair for The Joint Commission Hospital Professional Technical Advisory Committee and on the board of commissioners. He is the vice president of the Emergency Department Benchmarking Alliance (EDBA). He is a national consultant, author, and speaker on emergency department data, operations, and design. He attended medical school and completed his emergency medicine residency at Wright State University.

John A. Rupke Legacy Award
This award is for outstanding lifetime contributions to ACEP. In recognition of longevity and unwavering dedication to the ACEP, the Legacy Award is given in honor of John A. Rupke, MD, one of the initial founding members of ACEP.

Jeffrey D. Bettinger, MD, FACEP, is the founder of Bettinger, Stimler & Associates, LLC (BSA Healthcare), a finance and operations consultancy for emergency physicians. Dr. Bettinger is a 40-year ACEP member and former chair of the ACEP Reimbursement Committee. He also chaired the Florida College of Emergency Physicians’ Medical Economics Committee. Dr. Bettinger co-chaired the ACEP Alternative Payment Model Task Force and is the former chair of the ACEP/Emergency Department Practice Management Association (EDPMA) out-of-network/balance billing workgroup. Dr. Bettinger has a medical degree from Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia and completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Miami. Dr. Bettinger is board certified in both internal medicine (1977) and emergency medicine (1982).

Colin C. Rorrie, Jr., PhD Award for Excellence in Health Policy
This award is for significant contributions to ACEP’s health policy objectives, or for demonstrating outstanding skills, talent, and commitment as an administrative or political leader. The award is named after Colin C. Rorrie, Jr., PhD, who served as ACEP’s executive director from 1982 to 2003.

Susan M. Nedza, MD, MBA, FACEP, is a physician leader who has contributed to advancing quality emergency care in the United States and abroad. She is currently applying her global health policy expertise to improve the health of communities in rural Honduras. Dr. Nedza is a past president of the Illinois College of Emergency Physicians and was the EMS medical consultant to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Dr. Nedza has served as an ACEP committee, section, and task force chair, and as a member of the board of directors. She was also a regional chief medical officer for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Dr. Nedza is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. She completed her emergency medicine residency at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois.

Judith E. Tintinalli Award for Outstanding Contribution in Education
This award recognizes an ACEP member who has made a significant contribution to the educational aspects of emergency medicine.

Michael A. Granovsky, MD, FACEP, is the president of Logix Health, a national emergency medicine coding and billing company. Following the completion of his residency, he founded Greater Washington Emergency Physicians, serving as chief financial officer. Dr. Granovsky is the past chair of the ACEP committees for reimbursement, and national coding and nomenclature advisory. He is the director of the ACEP reimbursement course and a reimbursement subject matter expert to multiple ACEP task forces including alternative payment models, the future of acute care telemedicine, and MIPS Value Pathways. He led the technical expert panel that designed the emergency medicine subspecialty coding certification exam and serves as editor for ED Coding Alert and the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) CEDC Certification Exam. He completed a medical degree at Tufts University and an emergency medicine residency at George Washington University.

Michael S. Beeson, MD, MBA, FACEP, served as past president of the Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine (CORD) and currently serves on the board of directors for the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM). He is an emergency physician and residency director at Summa Health in Akron, Ohio. Dr. Beeson is the current editor-in-chief for ACEP’s Critical Decisions in Emergency Medicine. With the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), he served on the Residency Review Committee for Emergency Medicine (RRC-EM), both Milestones working groups, and three Model of the Clinical Practice of EM task forces. He also assisted in development of the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) used as the blueprint for American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) exams. Dr. Beeson has a medical degree from The Ohio State University and completed an emergency medicine residency at Summa Health in Akron, Ohio.

Award for Outstanding Contribution in Research
The award is presented to an ACEP member who has made a significant contribution to research in emergency medicine.

Ahamed H. Idris, MD, FACEP, began his medical career in the US Army, trained as a clinical specialist and served as a medic with the 1st Air Cavalry in Vietnam from 1969-70. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement. Dr. Idris’ research focuses on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and severe traumatic injury. He was co-author of a study on transfers to a public hospital published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1986 which led to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). In 1986, he joined the emergency medicine faculty at the University of Florida. There he focused his research on laboratory models of low blood flow states, such as shock and cardiac arrest. Since 2003, he has been a professor of emergency medicine at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and director of the Dallas-Fort Worth Center for Resuscitation Research (DFWCRR), that was part of the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium. Dr. Idris has a medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago and completed a residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago.

Outstanding Contribution in EMS Award
This award is for outstanding contributions of national significance or application in Emergency Medical Services. The award is not limited to ACEP members.

Craig A. Manifold, DO, FACEP, (posthumous) leaves an exceptional legacy of high character, service, and achievement. Dr. Manifold was a recognized leader in emergency medicine and emergency medical services (EMS). He served as EMS medical director for multiple ground, air, law enforcement, fire-based, private, critical care, and US governmental agencies in San Antonio. He was a former chair of the ACEP EMS Committee, medical director of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, board member of the National Registry of EMTs, and the Hope Shield Foundation. He served as a leader of the Metropolitan EMS Medical Directors (“Eagles”) Global Alliance. Dr. Manifold had a medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed an emergency medicine residency through the Joint Military Medical Center Emergency Medicine Residency at San Antonio.  

Community Emergency Medicine Excellence Award
This award recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to advancing emergency care and/or health care in the community where they practice.

Michael A. McGee, MD, MPH, FACEP, is the president and chief executive officer of Premier Urgent Care and Occupational Health Center in Chicago Hyde Park, and a full partner with Vituity Healthcare at Methodist Hospital in Gary/Merrillville, Indiana. He worked as an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Emory/Grady Medical Center in Atlanta. Dr. McGee is the chair of the Firearm Violence and Injury Prevention Committee of the ACEP Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity (DIHE) Section for ACEP. Dr. McGee has a Master’s in Public Health (MPH-Epidemiology/Biostatics) from the University of Illinois in Chicago and a Medical Degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago. He completed an emergency medicine residency at New York University (NYU) / Bellevue Hospital Medical Center in New York, NY.

Council Meritorious Service Award
This award is given for contributions to the growth and maturation of the ACEP Council.

Sanford H. Herman, MD, MS, FACEP, is the community behavioral health medical director, for the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. He began practicing emergency medicine in 1986 and has been an active participant in the Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee chapters. He has been a councilor since 1989 and was a member of the ACEP Council steering committee from 2000-2002. He holds a Master of Science in Zoology from Eastern Michigan University and a health policy certificate from the University of California Los Angeles. He received his medical degree from The American University of the Caribbean and trained in general surgery in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Council Champion in Diversity and Inclusion Award
This award celebrates a sustained commitment to the diversity of contributions to emergency medicine and an environment of inclusivity that enhances the work of the ACEP Council.

Rebecca B. Parker, MD, FACEP, is a practicing emergency physician in Tucson and Casa Grande, Arizona, and chief coding officer for health care financial services of TeamHealth. Dr. Parker is a past president of ACEP and launched the specialty’s diversity and inclusion initiative, which continues to make an impact across emergency medicine. She previously served as chair of the ACEP board, chair of the Coding and Nomenclature Committee and Young Physicians Section. Dr. Parker has a medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School and completed an internship and residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, Texas.

Disaster Medical Sciences Award
This award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions of national/international impact to the field of disaster medicine.

Joseph A. Barbera, MD, is currently an associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering at The George Washington University. Dr. Barbera was the lead medical subject matter expert for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) Response System and the Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) International Search & Rescue program. His experience includes scene-response to hurricanes, mine disasters, earthquakes, mass terrorism, biological terrorism, tsunami, and school collapse. He has been a medical team manager for the Fairfax, Virginia US&R Task Force since the early 1990s. Dr. Barbera is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and completed residencies in family medicine at the University of Connecticut and in emergency medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Jacobi Medical Center.

Honorary Membership Award
This award is for outstanding service to ACEP or to the specialty of emergency medicine.

Sally Winkelman spent most of her career working with non-profit professional membership organizations. Prior to retirement, she served for eight years as an account executive with Badger Bay, a Wisconsin-based association management company, where she was the executive director for the Wisconsin chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians and several statewide medical specialty associations. She is grateful to be part of a professional community of ACEP chapter executives who support each other and serve their state chapters with unwavering dedication and professionalism. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in management and marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Diane K. Bollman Chapter Advocate Award
This award is presented to an ACEP chapter executive or chapter staff member who has made a significant contribution to advancing emergency care and their ACEP chapter. The award is named after Diane K. Bollman, who served as the executive director of the Michigan College of Emergency Physicians for 25 years and was an honorary member of ACEP.

Stephanie Butler is the executive director and sole staff for the Arizona College of Emergency Physicians (AzCEP), a position which she has held since 1999. She has a large role in implementing advocacy programs such as the annual ED Doc Day at the Capitol, a grant program for emergency medicine residents and students, and events such as the EM Opioid Summit. In addition to her duties with AzCEP, she is the executive director for the state International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) chapter. She has served on national committees with ACEP including chapter relations, state legislative, public relations, and wellness and is currently the chair of the chapter executives committee.  

Policy Pioneer Award
This award recognizes early and mid-career members who have made outstanding contributions to ACEP health policy and advocacy initiatives.

Jordan Celeste, MD, FACEP, is a medical director for Emergency Physicians of Central Florida. She is a past president of the Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association (EMRA), previously served as EMRA representative to the ACEP Board of Directors, and she is a past chair of the ACEP Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF). She currently serves on the Florida College of Emergency Physicians Board of Directors and Executive Committee. She is actively involved on the ACEP Council, committees, and task forces, and serves as the advisor for ACEP to the American Medical Association (AMA) Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC), which makes recommendations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) about resources required to provide medical services. Dr. Celeste has a medical degree from the University of Maryland in Baltimore and completed an emergency medicine residency at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital in Providence

Innovative Change in Practice Management Award
This award is given to an emergency physician who has developed an innovative process, solution, technology, or product to solve a significant problem in the practice of emergency medicine.

Matthew Rill, MD, FACEP, is the chief executive officer of Emergency Resources Group (ERG) and Telescope Health. He is an attending physician with Baptist Health and Flagler Health plus in northeast Florida. Dr. Rill has a medical degree from the University of Florida and completed an emergency medicine residency with the University of Florida – Jacksonville. 

Pamela P. Bensen Trailblazer Award
This award is presented to a current ACEP member for groundbreaking contributions to the growth of ACEP and emergency medicine. The award is named after Pamela P. Bensen, MD, a charter member of ACEP and the first woman resident in emergency medicine.

Rita A. Manfredi, MD, FACEP, is a professor of clinical emergency medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She started her career as a US Navy flight surgeon and flew with a US Marine Corps EA-6B tactical jammer jet squadron. She was co-chair of the 2019 Society for Academic Emergency Medicine’s (SAEM) consensus conference on the future research agenda for physician wellbeing. She is a past chair of the ACEP Wellbeing Committee, a former member of the Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee, and an initial board member of the American Association of Women Emergency Physicians. Dr. Manfredi is board-certified in hospice and palliative medicine and is working to integrate palliative medicine concepts into the care of patients in the emergency department. She has a medical degree from Brown University and completed a residency at the University of Massachusetts.

Communications Lifetime Achievement Award
This award honors an emergency physician who has given years of outstanding service to ACEP’s strategic communications efforts over an exemplary career.

Stephen H. Anderson, MD, FACEP, is an emergency physician at MultiCare Auburn Medical Center in Auburn, Wash. Over a 35-year career, he held positions there including chairman of emergency services, stroke care, trauma care, education, and chief-of-staff. Dr. Anderson was elected to the ACEP Board of Directors in 2014 and served as chair of the board in 2019. Dr. Anderson is also a past president of the Washington Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Dr. Anderson has won numerous awards from state and national trade associations, including ACEP Spokesperson of the Year in 2013 and honors from the American Heart Association and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He currently serves as chair of the City of Auburn Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Health. Dr. Anderson received his medical degree from the University of Michigan, began residency there and finished training at the University of Washington.

Spokesperson of the Year
This award honors excellence in communication by emergency physicians who go above and beyond to promote ACEP’s key messages, advocate for the specialty and educate the public.

Robert J. Hancock, Jr., DO, FACEP, is the immediate past president of the Texas College of Emergency Physicians. He is highly involved in emergency medical services (EMS) throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area and serves as medical director to fire departments in Roanoke, Westlake, Keller, Euless, and Travis County Emergency Services District No. 1. Dr. Hancock is an assistant clinical professor of emergency medicine for Oklahoma State University, and core teaching faculty in an emergency medicine residency program in Lawton, Oklahoma. He works clinically in the Baylor Scott & White health system in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Dr. Hancock attended medical school at the University of North Texas Health Science Center and completed residency with Parkland Memorial Hospital at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.