PHILADELPHIA—The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is proud to honor outstanding leaders in emergency medicine during ACEP23, the world’s largest emergency medicine conference. The annual ACEP Leadership and Excellence Awards honor exceptional contributions to emergency medicine in policy, advocacy, research, education, diversity and inclusion, and other categories.

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.

Paul D. Kivela, MD, MBA, FACEP, is clinical professor of emergency medicine and emergency physician at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He practiced clinically as the managing partner of a single hospital democratic group in Napa, California from 1999 -2019. He served as the 2017-2018 president of ACEP. Dr. Kivela also serves as a physician for the National Ski Patrol and provides medical oversight of PGA golf tournaments. He received his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine, completed his emergency medicine residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Los Angeles and completed an Administrative Emergency Medicine fellowship in San Francisco.

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.

Andy Jagoda, MD, FACEP, is professor and chair emeritus of emergency medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Jagoda is co-editor or author of more than 150 books, peer-reviewed publications, and book chapters, and serves as editor-in-chief of Emergency Medicine Practice. He served on the ACEP Clinical Policies Committee from 1994-2007 and chaired the committee from 2003-2007. Dr. Jagoda chaired the credentialing committee for the National Football League (NFL) Airway Management Physician Program and helped establish the NFL Visiting Team Medical Liaison program. Dr. Jagoda spent 13 years in the Navy serving in Desert Shield/Desert Storm for which he received a Navy Commendation Medal for “meritorious service”. He attended medical school at Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed his emergency medicine residency at Georgetown University Hospital.

John A. Rupke Legacy Award

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

Mark Meredith, MD, FACEP, CPE, FACPE, has been semi-retired since 2021. Previously, Dr. Meredith served as chair of emergency medicine, Community Medical Center in Toms River, NJ, and staff physician and assistant chairman at Memorial Hospital of Burlington County in Mount Holly, NJ. An ACEP member since 1979, Dr. Meredith served on multiple committees for ACEP and the New Jersey chapter of ACEP. He was a member of the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) Board of Directors from 2004-2012 and has been an active member and leader in state and county medical societies. He served as ACEP advisor to the American Medical Association Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Advisory Panel since 2012. Dr. Meredith attended medical school at Bowman Grey School of Medicine and completed his residency in emergency medicine at North Carolina Baptist Hospital (now Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist). 

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.

Amish Shah, MD, MPH, FACEP, is a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, serving Central Phoenix and South Scottsdale since 2019, when he became the first Indian-American elected to the Arizona House of Representatives. He is currently board certified in emergency medicine and sports medicine and practices throughout Arizona, treating adults and children. Dr. Shah has served as faculty and academic researcher at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. While there, he led the New York Jets Airway Management Team. He is a published author and researcher. Dr. Shah received his medical degree from Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine and completed his residency at the Lincoln Medical Center.

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.

Stuart P. Swadron, MD, FACEP, is an adjunct clinical professor of emergency medicine and medical education at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. He served as residency program director and vice-chair for education in the Department of Emergency Medicine, and as assistant dean at the Keck School of Medicine. He is editor-in-chief of CorePendium, an on-line reference for emergency and acute care medicine. Dr. Swadron has been involved with research and curriculum development and has lectured and taught across the United States and throughout the world. Dr. Swadron received his medical degree from University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine and completed an emergency medicine residency at the University of Southern California/Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center (now Los Angeles General Medical Center).

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.

Lewis S. Nelson, MD, MBA, FACEP, is professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine and chief of the Division of Medical Toxicology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He is board certified in emergency medicine, medical toxicology, and addiction medicine.  He serves as a longstanding consultant to multiple government agencies and is currently president of the Association of Academic Chairs in Emergency Medicine. He was a director of the American Board of Emergency Medicine, and past president of the American College of Medical Toxicology. Dr. Nelson received his medical degree from State University of New York Health Science Center, Brooklyn, completed his residency in emergency medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and a fellowship in medical toxicology at New York University School of Medicine.

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.

Dr. Brent Myers, MD, MPH, FACEP, FAEMS, is the chief medical officer for ESO, an emergency medical services data and software company, and associate medical director, Wake County EMS in North Carolina. Previously, he served as chief medical officer for Evolution Health and associate chief medical officer for American Medical Response (AMR). He led Wake County EMS in clinical and administrative roles. Dr. Myers is past president of the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) and the North Carolina College of Emergency Physicians. He has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and serves as co-editor of the NAEMSP textbook. Dr. Myers received his medical degree from Wake Forest University, completed his residency at Carolinas Medical Center, and was the first EMS fellow at University of North Carolina.

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.

Jesse Pines, MD, MBA, MSCE, FACEP, is the chief of clinical innovation at US Acute Care Solutions (USCAS). Dr. Pines is a professor of emergency medicine at Drexel University and clinical professor of emergency medicine at George Washington University. Dr. Pines previously served as the director of the Center for Healthcare Innovation & Policy Research (CHIPR) at George Washington University and director of Center for Health Care Quality (CHCQ) at George Washington University, and teaching roles at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Pines received his medical degree and MBA from Georgetown University, a master's degree in clinical epidemiology from the University of Pennsylvania, completed his residency in emergency medicine at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, and a fellowship in research at the University of Pennsylvania.

Council Meritorious Service Award

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

Gary R. Katz, MD, MBA, FACEP, is president and chief medical officer, Community Emergency Medicine Partners, a physician-owned emergency group. He is on the teaching faculty of The Ohio State University. Dr. Katz is commissioned as a lieutenant colonel in the Ohio Air National Guard, where he serves as a flight surgeon and emergency physician on a ground surgical team. Dr. Katz earned a medical degree from Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, and completed residency at Summa Health System.  

Policy Pioneer Award

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

Cameron J. Gettel, MD, MHS, is assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, and a clinical investigator at the Yale Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE). As an early career physician-scientist, Dr. Gettel’s health policy work included leadership of ACEP’s MIPS Value Pathway (MVP) Task Force. Dr. Gettel earned a medical degree from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, completed an emergency medicine residency at Brown University, where he served as chief resident, and completed the National Clinician Scholars Program at Yale University.   

Honorary Membership Award

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

Harry Monroe was director of chapter and state relations at ACEP until his retirement in 2022, after more than 20 years in health care regulatory affairs and government relations. Prior to ACEP, he worked for Concentra Inc. and Healthesystems. Over the course of his ACEP career he contributed significantly to legislative and regulatory initiatives impacting physician billing and reimbursement. He also participated in work groups and task forces addressing the opioid epidemic and delivery of medical care in the workers’ compensation sector. Mr. Monroe holds a B.A. in History and in Speech Communications from Western Kentucky University, an M.Div. from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, and a paralegal certificate from an ABA accredited institution. He is an ordained Presbyterian minister.

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.

Shari Augustine served as executive director of Minnesota ACEP for 42 years. She is currently the administrative officer of the Minnesota 1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team, part of the National Disaster Medical System under the Department of Health and Human Services, a position she has held for 20 years. Previously, she was the emergency medicine residency program manager at Hennepin County Medical Center. She led successful continuing medical education conferences and legislative advocacy efforts for Minnesota ACEP, working with registered lobbyists and overseeing the chapter’s political action committee, and establishing Minnesota ACEP as a flourishing chapter. Ms. Augustine received her degree in Small Business Management from the Minnesota School of Business.