ACEP Recognizes 11 for Excellence in Emergency Medicine

CHICAGO  — The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is recognizing 11 people for outstanding contributions to emergency medicine during the organization’s annual meeting in Chicago — ACEP14 Scientific Assembly — the largest gathering of emergency physicians in the country. The awards honor excellence across a wide range of activities, including leadership, policy, education and research. 
 
The following are the awards:
 
John G. Wiegenstein Leadership Award
 
J. Brian Hancock, MD, FACEP, of Brighton, Mich., received ACEP’s highest honor — the John G. Wiegenstein Leadership Award, named for a founding member and first president of ACEP. Dr. Hancock was recognized for his extraordinary leadership in emergency medicine.
 
Appointed to chief medical officer by the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2013, Dr. Hancock provides clinical oversight for the VA Healthcare Systems in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Saginaw and Battle Creek, MI;  Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Danville, Illinois. He brings years of health care leadership to his role and a strong passion for providing the best quality of health care to the nation’s veterans.
 
Dr. Hancock became active in ACEP early in his career and served the Michigan Chapter and national ACEP in countless roles. In 2003, he was elected president of ACEP, a year in which he challenged emergency physicians to protect everyone’s access to high-quality emergency care.
 
In addition, Dr. Hancock has represented the specialty of emergency medicine at home and in other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Chile, China, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom. To improve ACEP’s global role, Dr. Hancock instituted the first international emergency medicine strategic plan and appointed ambassadors to help advance the specialty in more than 30 countries.  
 
Dr. Hancock completed medical school at Rush University in Chicago and residency training in general surgery and internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic. 
 
James D. Mills Outstanding Contribution to Emergency Medicine Award
 
David P. Sklar, MD, FACEP, of Albuquerque, NM, received the James D. Mills Outstanding Contribution to Emergency Medicine Award, named for the second president of ACEP and organizer of the Alexandria Plan for full-time emergency department staffing and management.  
 
Dr. Sklar is distinguished professor emeritus of emergency medicine at the University of New Mexico. During his career with UNM, he has served as program director for the emergency medicine residency, chair of the emergency department, senior associate dean for clinical affairs, and most recently, associate dean for graduate medical education.  
 
He has written or co-written more than 150 articles on a range of topics, including medical errors, quality improvement, medical education, and international health. His 2008 memoire, “La Clinica,” explores the nexus of emergency medicine and personal growth at a small clinic in Mexico.
 
Dr. Sklar has served as ACEP’s chair of the Board of Directors, president of the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors, and president of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. As a Robert Wood Johnson health policy fellow in 2011-2012, he served on the staff of the Senate Finance Committee, where he worked on a variety of critical issues, including physician payment reform. Dr. Sklar earned his medical degree at Stanford University. He trained in internal and emergency medicine at UNM and the University of California-San Francisco.
 
Outstanding Contribution in Education Award
 
William K. Mallon, MD, DTMH, FACEP, of Los Angeles, Calif., received the Outstanding Contribution in Education Award for his teaching excellence on educational issues in emergency medicine. Dr. Mallon is professor of clinical emergency medicine in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. He is also the previous director of the Fellowship of International Emergency Medicine at Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center.  
 
Dr. Mallon is one of the most respected and sought-after speakers in emergency medicine. He teaches on a wide range of topics, from orthopedics and infectious disease to drugs and dealing with the agitated patient.  
 
Dr. Mallon has delivered more than 1,000 hours of ACEP continuing medical education and taught in 18 countries on six continents. He has educated a generation of residents at Los Angeles County and played an instrumental role in the growth and development of emergency medicine in Chile. 
 
In 2003, he received the Residency Program Director of the Year Award from the American Academy of Emergency Medicine. He is also the recipient of California ACEP’s Education Award. Dr. Mallon received his medical degree at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worchester and completed a residency at Los Angeles County USC Medical Center.
 
Outstanding Contribution in Research Award 
 
Lance B. Becker, MD, of Philadelphia, Pa., received ACEP’s Outstanding Contribution in Research Award for his leading research in the field of resuscitation for more than a quarter of a century.  Dr. Becker is professor of emergency medicine and founder and director of the Center for Resuscitation Science in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. 
 
Dr. Becker has been a powerful advocate for funding and international collaboration.  His personal research has integrated basic science, translational studies, engineering studies, and epidemiological studies in powerful conjunction with public policy and advocacy work. 
 
Dr. Becker and his team’s studies of automated external defibrillators in public settings led to placement of the devices in airports nationwide. Today, their investigations include the role of mitochondria after cardiac arrest and the effects of reperfusion on cell death. Combining science and engineering, the team is developing better ways to protect cells with rapid patient cooling during and after cardiac arrest. Dr. Becker earned his medical degree at the University of Illinois in Champagne and Chicago.
 
Outstanding Contribution in EMS Award
 
Marianne Gausche-Hill, MD, FACEP, of Hermosa Beach, Calif., received ACEP’s Outstanding Contribution in EMS Award for her work as an EMS researcher, educator and leadership in the field of pediatric emergency medicine. Dr. Gausche-Hill is professor of clinical medicine and pediatrics in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; vice chair and chief of the division of pediatric emergency medicine; and director of pediatric emergency medicine and EMS fellowships in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
 
Dr. Gausche-Hill is best known for her study of pre-hospital airway management for children published in 2002 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. 
 
Dr. Gausche-Hill is recipient of ACEP’s Outstanding Contribution in Education and Heroes of Emergency Medicine awards, EMSC Heroes Award for Lifetime Achievement, Steve Miller Education and Mentorship Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Woman of the Year award from the National Association of Professional Women, and the Distinguished Service in EMS medal by the State of California. 
 
Dr. Gausche-Hill received her medical degree from David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and completed her residency training at Harbor-UCLA Medical School.
 
Colin C. Rorrie, Jr., PhD Award for Excellence in Health Policy 
 
Lynne D. Richardson, MD, FACEP, of Harlem, N.Y., received the Colin C. Rorrie, Jr., PhD Award for her career dedicated to ending health disparities and improving emergency care for all Americans. The award is named for ACEP’s Executive Director who served from 1982 to 2003. 
 
Dr. Richardson is professor and vice chair of emergency medicine, and professor of health evidence and policy in the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. As a clinician, educator and researcher, she has been an impassioned advocate for improved health and health care for the underserved. Her areas of interest include barriers to care, emergency department crowding and health care disparities.
 
Dr. Richardson has excelled as a leader and advocate in every capacity—from clinical care, education and research to municipal, state and federal policy.  She is past chair of ACEP’s Public Health and Injury Prevention Committee, ACEP’s current liaison to the Commission to End Health Care Disparities and serves on the Advisory Committee to the director of the CDC. Dr. Richardson received her medical degree at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed a residency at Jacobi Hospital and a fellowship in health services research.
 
John A. Rupke Legacy Award 
 
Arlo F. Weltge, MD, MPH, FACEP, of Houston, Texas, has received the John A. Rupke Legacy Award for his lifelong commitment to ACEP and the Texas Chapter. Dr. Weltge is clinical professor of emergency medicine at UTHealth, the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.  He joined the residency faculty after 10 years of private practice in Houston. He also serves as medical director for AMR’s Houston EMS operations and the EMS program at Houston Community College.
 
A life member of ACEP and the Texas Chapter, Dr. Weltge has demonstrated his commitment to ACEP in countless ways. He has held every position of chapter leadership, including president, chaired dozens of committees, and served as Councillor. For national ACEP, he has led the Council as speaker and vice-speaker, chaired the Continuing Education, Finance and Public Health committees, and supported countless other efforts with distinction.
 
Dr. Weltge has served on the board of the National Emergency Medicine Political Action Committee and on committees for the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. He continues to represent emergency medicine within the Harris County Medical Society, the Texas Medical Association and as a delegate to the American Medical Association. 
 
Dr. Weltge earned his medical degree at the University of Texas. After a rotating internship at Baylor College of Medicine, he began his career with Houston Emergency Physicians.  He later went on to co-found Southeast Texas Emergency Physicians.
 
Honorary Membership Award 
 
Phyllis L. Edans, CPA, CAE, of Granbury, Texas, received an Honorary Membership Award for keeping ACEP’s fiscal house in order for more than 27 years, and for her dedication and commitment to the mission of emergency medicine.  
 
Mrs. Edans was ACEP’s chief financial officer for just over 27 years. She joined ACEP in January 1987 and retired in March 2014. During her tenure, ACEP experienced extraordinary growth — all aided by her finance and management acumen. Membership grew from 12,000 to almost 33,000; the annual budget grew from $6 million to $30 million.
 
Mrs. Edans created ACEP’s first financial compendium and mentored dozens of Finance Committee chairs and secretary-treasurers in the complexities of financial management. She also worked closely with ACEP chapter executives, helping them boost performance at the state level.
 
In addition to her accomplishments with ACEP, Mrs. Edans was an active member of the American Society of Association Executives and the Texas Society of CPAs leading committees, writing articles and books, and presenting at educational conferences. She received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Houston and certifications as a CPA.  
 
Council Meritorious Service Award 
 
Catherine Anna Marco, MD, FACEP, of Dayton, Ohio, received the Council Meritorious Service Award for her dynamic commitment to the ACEP Council since 2004. Dr. Marco is a professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and active in clinical practice at Miami Valley Hospital.
 
Dr. Marco has been active in Ohio ACEP throughout her career.  She served on the chapter’s Board of Directors from 2001 to 2012 and has held important leadership positions, including president and chair of the Government Affairs Committee. In addition, she has represented her colleagues as a Councillor since 2004, where she has held multiple committee posts and twice served as Reference Committee chair. 
 
A member of the ACEP Ethics Committee since 1997, she was chair from 2011 to 2013, bringing insights to vital issues, including best practices for care at the end of life. She earned her medical degree at Johns Hopkins University.
 
Disaster Medical Sciences Award 
 
Frederick (Skip) M. Burkle, Jr., MD, MPH, DTM, PhD (Hon.), FAAP, FACEP, of Massachusetts, has received a Disaster Medical Sciences Award for his tireless work in disaster medicine and humanitarian assistance.  
 
Dr. Burkle is senior fellow and scientist, the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Harvard University, and senior international public policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. From 2002-2003, he served as deputy assistant administrator for the Bureau of Global Health at the U.S. Agency for International Development, Department of State, the Interim Minister of Health in Iraq, and as senior medical officer for the Disaster Assistance Response Team, the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.  
 
He is an ACEP fellow and has supported and represented ACEP for years at federal meetings and in the Disaster Medicine Section. Dr. Burkle has published over 200 scientific articles, 53 book chapters, four books and three on disaster management, including the sentinel text Disaster Medicine in 1984.
 
Disaster Medical Sciences Award 
 
Joseph F. Waeckerle, MD, FACEP, of Kansas City, Miss., has received a Disaster Medical Sciences Award for his extensive work in disaster medicine and domestic preparedness. 
 
Dr. Waeckerle is clinical professor of emergency medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and editor emeritus of Annals of Emergency Medicine. He has served emergency medicine organizations since the mid-1970s in many capacities. His background involving disaster medicine and domestic preparedness is extensive. His involvement began with his EMS involvement in multi-casualty incidents and then the Hyatt skywalk collapse in 1981 for which he received multiple honors.
 
At ACEP’s invitation, he chaired the Task Force on “Domestic Preparedness against Weapons of Mass Destruction” for the Office of Emergency Preparedness, Department of Health and Human Services.  Dr. Waeckerle was invited by the Department of Defense to participate in the Defense Science Board’s Task Force on “Defense against Biological Weapons” and by the Veterans Hospital Administration to serve on the “Technical Advisory Committee on Domestic Preparedness.”  He also served as a member of the “Roundtable on Emergency Preparedness,” Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.  He was chief medical officer, Office of Homeland Security, State of Missouri from 2008-2011. Dr. Waeckerle currently serves as consultant to the Kansas City Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and medical officer, Joint Terrorism Task Force, Kansas City Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
 
ACEP is the national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.