Making the Most of Your SAEM Membership (RAMS and Membership Committee Sponsored)

Venkata Ramana Feeser, MD

Member-at-Large

Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center

My education includes BS in Health Policy and Administration from Pennsylvania State University (State College, PA), MD from George Washington University School of Medicine (Washington, DC) and emergency medicine residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore, MD). In addition to being a board certified emergency medicine physician and serving in leadership roles including most recently as interim chief quality and safety officer for VCU Health System from September 2020 through February 2022, I also have been taking on roles of increased responsibility within our national emergency medicine organizations. Specific to SAEM, my initial service began as a member of Research Committee, Ethics Committee and Grant Writing Workshop and more recently has included membership in AWAEM, ADIEM (Secretary-Treasurer 5/2020-4/2021), Equity and Inclusion Committee, and Membership Committee (Chair since 5/2021). I am running for SAEM Member-at-Large because I want to be a part of sustaining the great work that SAEM already does, and if elected, be part of a leadership team that is devoted to that never-ending quest for better.

Ava E. Pierce, MD

Secretary-Treasurer

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Being a member of the SAEM Board of Directors has provided me the opportunity to contribute to strategic planning that will optimize the professional development of the academic emergency medicine community. It has truly been a privilege to be a member of this team that is working to ensure that SAEM provides opportunities that will be most impactful for its members. I would be honored to have the opportunity to continue to serve SAEM as Secretary-Treasurer.

I obtained my medical degree at Louisiana State University School of Medicine at Shreveport and completed an emergency medicine residency at Emory University School of Medicine. I am currently a Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and work clinically at Parkland Health and Hospital Systems. I am the Associate Vice Chair of Outreach and Engagement for the Department of Emergency Medicine, the Director of the Emergency Medicine Research Associate Program, the Co-Director of the Joint Admission Medical Program at UT Southwestern, and previously served in medical student training as associate clerkship director. I completed the Medical Education Research Certificate Program, the AAMC s Healthcare Executive Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program, and AACEM’s Chair Development Program. My research interests include medical education, diversity and inclusion, health equity, and cardiac resuscitation.

I have two decades of work in EM enhancing the careers of colleagues at UTSW EM. Serving as a board member has given me the opportunity to serve members of SAEM across multiple platforms. I have been actively involved in multiple academies, committees, and interest groups at SAEM. I have been involved in the Academy for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Medicine (ADIEM) since it was founded. As an executive committee member and President of ADIEM, I collaborated with multiple academies, committees and interest groups including AWAEM, CDEM, AGEM, the Simulation Academy, RAMS, and the Social Emergency Medicine and Population Health Interest Group. I have been a member of SAEM’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, Membership Committee, Ethics Committee, Equity & Inclusion Committee, Wellness Committee, Faculty Development Committee, and Workforce Committee.

SAEM has contributed tremendously to my professional development and being on the SAEM board has afforded me the opportunity to help promote the development of other academic emergency medicine faculty, residents, and medical students through SAEM. My goal as Secretary-Treasurer would be to continue to work with SAEM to make innovative changes and creative solutions that advance the mission and vision of the society. If elected to serve as the SAEM Secretary-Treasurer, I will continue to work with SAEM as it contributes to the evolution of emergency medicine’s expanding scope and supports the optimal, future workforce within academic emergency and acute care medicine. I will be instrumental in helping SAEM implement programs that increase resources for emergency medicine educators, increase resources to support emergency care research, increase the pathway for academic EM physicians, and build a culture of inclusion which will ultimately improve the delivery of emergency care for all patients. I will work to increase the number of SAEM grants to help support the development and retention of junior faculty, help to design programs to increase opportunities for medical students, residents, fellows, and junior faculty, and assist in the implementation of programs that promote personal and professional development and professional wellbeing. I am excited about the vision that SAEM has for academic medicine, and I would be honored to have the opportunity to continue to serve the organization that has been so influential in my professional growth.

Dustin Blake Williams, MD

UT Southwestern Medical Center

I received my undergraduate degree in biomedical science from Texas A&M University. I then obtained my medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio before continuing on to complete my emergency medicine residency at Indiana University. I continued into a career in academics as faculty at UT-Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) where I currently serve as residency program director. My primary clinical site is Parkland Memorial Hospital, the sole county hospital for the entirety of Dallas county as well as one of the largest and busiest county hospitals in the country.

I bring a strong work ethic and proven leadership with many years of experience working in a large GME setting. During my time at UTSW I have served in various leadership roles including assistant program director and more recently PD, chair and co-chair of departmental and interdisciplinary committees. I have also had long-standing membership and involvement in both SAEM and CORD, having served on multiple committees including: CORD AA21 DEI mini-track co-chair, SAEM Education Committee and most recently the SAEM Faculty Development Committee. I also currently serve as co-chair of our ADIEM LGBTQIA+ Subcommittee.

I strongly value the fantastic mentorship and leadership development that I have gained through my involvement in SAEM and ADIEM over the past 7 years. I wish to continue my service to this organization by appointment as Member-at-large to the ADIEM Board. I look forward to positively impacting our organization through continued advocacy for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. I intend to serve as a dedicated member of the team, to be present and engaged, working to seek out diverse opportunities for collaboration, and brainstorming innovative strategies for lasting change in our organization.

Hamza Ijaz, MD

Immediate Past President

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

I did my residency at the University of Cincinnati and received my medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. My interest in organized emergency medicine initially started as a Medical Student Ambassador during SAEM18 where I was given the opportunity to gain mentorship from our leaders within emergency medicine. Since then, I have volunteered my time serving on the RAMS Board as a member-at-large and most recently as the current secretary-treasurer. These opportunities have led me to partnering with the SAEM Program Committee, Faculty Development Committee, and Virtual Presence Committee to create resident and medical student focused content.

As we transition into the next phase of the pandemic, with growing concerns surrounding the future of the EM workforce, I will ensure that our members have a voice at the table so that our concerns are heard. It is crucial that the solutions being considered incorporate the views of the residents and students they will ultimately affect. In addition, with virtual interviews currently ongoing and uncertainty surrounding the next application cycle, I will make it a priority for RAMS to provide our members with high-yield resources to navigate the next cycle.

Holly M. Byrd-Duncan, MBA

Krystle Ansay