Ava E. Pierce, MD

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.