People

Shering Torres, MD

Medical Student/Resident Representative

The Ohio State University

My name is Shering Torres. I am a first-generation Guatemala-American and current PGY2 in emergency medicine (EM) at The Ohio State University. Throughout my childhood, I spent frequent workdays alongside my parents and members of their Spanish-speaking humanitarian ministry traveling between Southern California and both Mexico and Guatemala. The primary objective of our group was to provide emotional, spiritual and monetary support to underserved communities where even basic living amenities were a privilege. These trips were impactful and demonstrated the vital role that socio-economic factors play in determining equitable health outcomes. Collectively, these experiences left a lasting impression and encouraged me to continue to seek opportunities to engage in international service. While in college, I had the opportunity to participate in multiple humanitarian mission trips to Guatemala that involved helping organize health clinics within local, rural pueblos. During medical school, I continued to serve the small, rural community of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. Our efforts involved helping to raise funds for the preservation of local, natural resources accessed by nearly two-million Guatemalans. My goal, as a resident representative, is to ensure Global Emergency Medicine Academy (GEMA) continues to be a source of support and collaboration for emergency medicine residents aspiring to be global health leaders within all communities, both domestic and international. It is my commitment to work on behalf of emergency medicine resident colleagues to ensure that GEMA continues to facilitate connections for advancing professional excellence in the global health community.

Adebisi Adeyeye, MD

Medical Student/Resident Representative

University of Lagos

Being nominated for the medical student/resident representative of the SAEM Global Emergency Medicine Academy(GEMA) community is an honor for which I am most grateful.

My story begins from my home country of Nigeria where I attended the University of Lagos. During my time in medical school, I encountered the ‘Accident and Emergency’ (A&E) department and fell in love at first sight. The externally cluttered and chaotic atmosphere was calming for me and felt like home and this experience changed the trajectory of my career in medicine. Choosing to pursue emergency medicine at that time was one of the hardest decisions I ever made because the specialty did not exist in Nigeria and there were no formal educational or training opportunities yet.

I took the initiative of founding the first student-led emergency medicine (EM) interest group in West Africa, EMIG Nigeria, which catered to both students and early career doctors, offering structure, resources, mentorship and a community. Through our provision of supplementary educational resources leveraging international collaborations, FOAMed, and simulation resources, we have contributed to significant increase in the awareness and interest of emergency medicine as a career choice among students and doctors in Nigeria and witnessed several of our members commence training globally. Fortunately, EM residency training has also commenced in Nigeria a few years ago. Similarly, by serving as co-vice president of the African Federation of Emergency Medicine student group, I have actively engaged in global EM education efforts for undergraduate students in Africa and have supported the establishment of EMIGs in other countries.

Within SAEM and GEMA, I have actively engaged as a member over 3 years, supporting planning efforts, and contributing to the development of GEMA sessions at the SAEM annual conference on two occasions. My work with GEMA also includes being a recipient of the SAEM GEMA scholarship, contributing to a video on decolonizing emergency medicine from a student perspective, and publishing two articles in SAEM Pulse sharing insights from my experiences in Nigeria. I have also co-authored two global EM papers within the group.

The mission of SAEM GEMA to lead the advancement of academic emergency medicine by improving the global delivery of emergency care through research, education, and mentorship resonates deeply with me and captures the essence of my professional journey to date. My experiences so far have lent me a unique understanding of privilege and the lack of it, how diversity shapes the world, and the need to create structures that work for everyone. I earnestly look forward to bringing these experiences into this role.

As I transition into residency, I am excited about furthering my contribution to the work of global EM education and research particularly within SAEM GEMA to create equitable, impactful change in emergency medicine worldwide.

Taylor Burkholder, MD, MPH

Development and Grants Officer

University of Southern California

Developing partnerships and procuring additional fundings is a critical need for Global Emergency Medicine Academy's (GEMA) growing reach and impact. Opportunities like the SAEMF/GEMA Research Pilot Grant, ARMED scholarship, and GEMA/AWAEM Travel Scholarship, are some of the most tangible ways that GEMA can fulfill its mission to advance academic emergency medicine by improving the global delivery of emergency care through research, education, and mentorship. I hope to work with GEMA and SAEM leadership to develop partnerships that will allow us to fund more opportunities like these, through creative approaches to fundraising. I have previously served GEMA in various roles--treasurer, IT chair, resident/fellow representative, and DEI committee co-chair--and plan to bring my experiences from these roles into the development and grants officer position. I have also represented GEMA on the SAEMF grants committee for three years, lending me a unique perspective on the types of work GEMA already funds. Thank you for your consideration.

Corlin Jewell, MD

Member-at-Large

University of Wisconsin

My name is Corlin Jewell and I think that I would be an exceptional addition to the Clerkship Directors in Emergency Medicine (CDEM) executive committee. I have been a passionate educator since medical school and have served on a number of national and local educational organizations. Currently, I am the director of medical student education for the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Wisconsin and prior to this, I served as the assistant clerkship director for 3 years. During this time, I have guided multiple cohorts of EM-bound students through the match process. I have also served on the school's educational policy and curriculum committee and have substantial practical experience with educational administration that will make me a valuable addition to the CDEM executive committee. I am in the process of completing a Master's of Health Professions Education (MHPE) at UIC and feel that this would add a substantial amount of educational theory background that will help me to contribute to the committee's mission. Furthermore, I am a great team player and have successfully collaborated on many national group efforts in scholarship as well as multiple committees (ASC-EM, SAEM Education Committee, SAEM Fellowship Approval Committee, CORD Track Chair). Overall, I think my experience will prove extremely helpful to CDEM and I would be thrilled to serve on the executive committee.

Mark Olaf, DO

Member-at-Large

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

My goal in joining the Clerkship Directors in Emergency Medicine (CDEM) executive committee is to serve the members of CDEM, the SAEM organization as a whole, and the specialty of emergency medicine as it relates to the education of medical students who will become the future of emergency medicine and all clinical medicine. Experience with CDEM has been focused on work within the curriculum committee, including a current project to modernize, renew, and revise the CDEM medical student clerkship curriculum. I have found the CDEM academy to be welcoming environment, and seek to welcome and include many others in the important work of the academy. Emergency medicine finds itself in a unique, challenging, and opportune time as our specialty faces a crossroads. My experiences in both the SAEM workforce committee as well as in the CDEM curriculum committee provide me with a unique perspective to help advance the education of our medical students and provide important contributions to our organization. My background as an educator and leader has prepared me to take this next important step.

Kellie McKenzie, MD

Secretary

Emory University

I am a PGY-3 with Emory Emergency Medicine, and an incoming medical toxicology fellow with Emory/CDC. I am also the current resident member of Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine (AWAEM) Executive Committee. My undergraduate education was at Duke University, where I graduated in 2017 with a major in biology and research honors, as well as minors in chemistry and french. After a year in genomics research, I attended Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. I graduated in 2022 with honors with distinction in research and as the school’s 2022 SAEM award recipient. My experience with SAEM, and more broadly, academic emergency medicine, includes involvement with SAEM and ACEP throughout medical school and residency. I was an ACEP Medical Student Scholar in 2021, and an SAEM Medical Student Ambassador in both 2020 and 2021. I was selected as a lead ambassador for the conference both years. I have gained additional meaningful leadership experience from my positions working with the national educational organization, foundations of emergency medicine. I served as co-director of social media 2022-2024, and have recently transitioned to the foundations 1 development team.

I am running to be secretary for AWAEM because I want to continue to serve academic emergency medicine on a national level, and in particular, be a representative and voice for women in the field. I have unique experience in communications and committee work from my two years of involvement with FoEM, and have gained valuable experience through my role on this year’s AWAEM executive committee. The role of secretary would be a natural transition as I continue to grow my role within AWAEM, and develop my career as a leader in emergency medicine and experience with AWAEM leadership.

Trupti Dinesh Patel, DO

Resident Member

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

I am excited to submit my candidacy for a committee position with the Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine (AWAEM). I was first introduced to AWAEM as a medical student at SAEM, and since then have looked forward to becoming more involved. I believe that this role will allow me to act on my passion for advocating for women in our field and addressing the systemic barriers we encounter.

Throughout my training, I have encountered the challenges women experience, including bias in clinical training and underrepresentation in leadership. My involvement in Academy for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Medicine (ADIEM), the EMPower DEI interest group at Sinai, and the women’s studies scholarly track at Sinai emergency medicine has deepened my commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment.

If elected, I will focus on initiatives such as establishing mentorship programs that connect residents with experienced faculty, advocating for policies that promote gender equity, and advocating for patients’ and physicians’ right to reproductive healthcare. These efforts aim to create a supportive community that empowers women in emergency medicine. Women now represent half of the medical student body and almost half of physicians, and I am dedicated to ensuring that our voices are heard and valued. Together, we can break barriers and create a more equitable future for women in academic emergency medicine.

Taylor Giller, MD

Resident Member

Emory University

I am a second year resident at Emory University School of Medicine. I am applying for the position of Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine (AWAEM) Resident Member because I believe in the core mission of AWAEM - that is, empowering and encouraging women within the exciting field of emergency medicine. Long before I entered medical school, it became obvious to me that having strong female mentors was going to be critical to my professional development. Now as a current resident, I have faced innumerable trials, as we all do. I truly could not have made it to this point in my career without the guidance of other women in emergency medicine and for that I am eternally grateful. Therefore, I would like to pay it forward to other women entering, or currently in, emergency medicine by contributing what I can to this incredible organization.

Lucia Lin, MD

Resident Member

Denver Health

My name is Lucia Lin, and I am a third-year emergency medicine (EM) resident at Denver Health. I currently serve as the lead for the Women in EM group, where I have organized multiple events over the years that bring together our community—including medical students, residents, and attendings—to discuss the challenges and triumphs of being a woman in this demanding field. Some of our previous themes have included "Saying Sorry," "Empowering Other Women," and "Women in the Resus Room." I believe that building a supportive community is essential, especially given the unique challenges women face in our field on a daily basis.

Caitlin Craft-Hacherl, MD

Resident Member

Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency - Mass General Brigham

I am a PGY-3 resident in the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency (HAEMR) with Mass General Brigham. I am passionate about providing appropriate support for junior residents during training, especially females and gender minorities, and promoting a culture of wellness. I currently serve as a co-lead for the Harvard Women's Initiative at my institution, a co-chair for our residency recruitment team, a member of the SAEM Wellness Committee, and my class liaison on our residency Wellness Committee, all of which I believe has given me experiences in multiple areas that would be beneficial in the role of Resident Member of the Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine (AWAEM) Executive Committee.

Alexa Van Besien, MD

Resident Member

Boston Medical Center

As a PGY-3 emergency medicine resident at Boston Medical Center (4-year program), I am passionate about advancing gender equity and fostering leadership development within emergency medicine. I bring a background deeply rooted in both advocacy and educational leadership, highlighted by my experience as President of the Women in Medicine Interest Group at the University of Maryland, where I worked to amplify women's voices in medicine and initiated discussions on gender equity. Through my roles on committees such as the House Staff Quality Improvement Council and as Resident Curriculum Lead for the Unshame Curriculum, I have honed my skills in fostering collaborative, inclusive environments that support the well-being and professional growth of women in emergency medicine.

My commitment to compassionate and human-centered care is evident in my work leading a course on humanism and developing a simulation curriculum aimed at improving care for patients experiencing first-trimester loss. Additionally, I have designed harm reduction and leadership curricula, emphasizing empathy, resilience, and strategic leadership—core values I would bring to Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine (AWAEM).

As a member of AWAEM, I would advocate for initiatives supporting mentorship, gender equity in medical leadership, and academic research that addresses issues pertinent to women’s health and well-being. I am eager to contribute my experiences and energy toward AWAEM’s mission and to help foster a community where women physicians thrive as leaders and innovators.

Sara Hurley, MD

Resident Representative

The Ohio State University

I am a second-year emergency medicine resident at The Ohio State University. I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from medical school at Johns Hopkins University in 2023. My interest in geriatrics was sparked in medical school during the Covid-19 pandemic. I have always been close with both my grandmothers. Witnessing how the pandemic impacted my grandmothers’ lives and the barriers they faced to get medical care in an increasingly virtual world opened my eyes to healthcare disparities in the geriatric population.

As a resident, I have further developed my passion for geriatric emergency medicine while deepening my appreciation for the unique needs of older adults, especially in a busy and chaotic emergency department. While in residency, I have carried out research on the acceptability of a partnership between a community emergency department and geriatric case managers. In the future, I hope to continue to hone my research focus into ways to best screen for elder abuse in the emergency department.

I am running for AGEM Resident Representative to work with and learn from physicians who share my passion for geriatric emergency medicine. I hope to build my career in geriatric emergency medicine, and I feel that this position will allow me to meet incredible mentors and gain a new appreciation for this wonderful specialty. As a member of the Executive Committee, my goal is to engage members at all levels and continue to learn better ways to care for our geriatric patients.

Natalie Liogas-Deneau, MD

Resident Representative

Corewell Health East, William Beaumont University Hospital

As a resident with a deep commitment to geriatric care, I am excited to apply for the role of resident representative for AGEM executive council. My passion for this field began through my personal experience as the primary caregiver for my grandmother, which ignited my drive to improve care for older adults. I was fortunate to discover this field within Emergency Medicine early in my medical training through valuable mentorship.

Currently I am involved in the Geriatric Speciality Track within my residency program, and have also participated in research projects that aimed to optimize care for older adults in the emergency department. I am eager to take on leadership opportunities that allow me to further contribute to this vital and often overlooked niche within emergency medicine. Serving as a resident representative would provide me with a platform to collaborate with leaders in the field, expand my network, and continue developing the skills needed to best serve the population I am passionate about.

I am eager to bring my enthusiasm and dedication to this role, and I look forward to contributing to initiatives that improve the quality of care for older adults. It would be a privilege to advocate for my peers and the geriatric population as a member of the committee.

Martin Casey, MD, MPH

Member-at-Large

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dr. Martin F. Casey is seeking a Member-at-Large position on the Academy of Geriatric Emergency Medicine (AGEM) Executive Committee to actively contribute to the advancement of geriatric-focused emergency care. With a foundation in emergency medicine research, clinical expertise, and an ongoing commitment to deprescribing inappropriate medications for older adults, Dr. Casey believes this role aligns well with both professional goals and personal dedication to enhancing emergency care for aging populations.

Dr. Casey's current research, supported by the National Institute on Aging, the US Deprescribing Research Network, and others, addresses the unique medication safety challenges faced by older adults in emergency settings. This background has equipped Dr. Casey with a clear understanding of the unmet needs in geriatric emergency medicine and the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration, advocacy, and education in building a safer, more inclusive healthcare environment for older adults.

Serving as Member-at-Large would allow Dr. Casey to bring a fresh perspective to the Executive Committee, focusing on advancing AGEM’s mission of improving geriatric care through initiatives that prioritize safe prescribing, evidence-based interventions, and best practices for emergency clinicians. Dr. Casey is especially committed to amplifying AGEM’s impact through education, such as expanding didactic offerings, fostering mentorship for early-career professionals, and engaging in policy advocacy to promote geriatric-focused initiatives. This role represents a meaningful opportunity for Dr. Casey to help shape the future of geriatric emergency medicine and drive impactful change for a vulnerable patient population.

Jessica Houck, DO

Member-at-Large

University of Kentucky

I currently serve as the Geriatric Medical Director at UK, a position I have held for about a year now. In this role, I have gained valuable insights into geriatric emergency medicine, which has ignited my passion for improving care for our elderly patients. I feel a strong responsibility to my community and colleagues to deepen my expertise in this field and to share that knowledge within my team and department.

At the university, I am actively engaged in several initiatives aimed at enhancing geriatric care, including a community paramedicine referral program, the establishment of a falls clinic in collaboration with PM&R, leading a volunteer program focused on delirium and agitation prevention in older adults, and creating a multidisciplinary team to address the unique needs and circumstances of our geriatric patients.

By serving as a Member-at-Large, I hope to become more involved in the advancement of geriatric emergency medicine, which aligns closely with my personal and professional goals. In this role, I promise to be present and active within the community and help fulfill the groups mission to improve quality of care of our older patients through education, research and faculty development. I hope you would consider me for one of AGEM's Member-at-Large.

David Hancock, PhD

Member-at-Large

Weill Cornell Medicine

I am honored to be considered for the position of Member-at-Large within the Academy of Geriatric Emergency Medicine (AGEM) of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). As a faculty member at Weill Cornell Medicine, my work is deeply focused on the intersection of emergency medicine and geriatric care. My primary research interests lie in older adult injury prevention, with a particular focus on elder mistreatment and older adult gun violence—two critical and under-explored areas in the field.

Additionally, I have a strong interest in geriatric EMS research and am currently leading a collaborative effort within SAEM to develop geriatric readiness guidelines for EMS providers. This initiative aims to improve prehospital care for older adults, ensuring that EMS providers are well-equipped to address the unique needs of this growing population.

As Member-at-Large, I will work to advocate for research and clinical initiatives that prioritize the safety and well-being of older adults. I am committed to fostering collaboration across disciplines and enhancing the resources available to our members, ensuring that we continue to lead in the development of best practices for geriatric emergency medicine. Thank you for your consideration.

Ari Friedman, MD, PhD

Member-at-Large

University of Pennsylvania

As an MD/PhD health economist and emergency physician, I conduct research as well care for patients in a metropolitan Level I Trauma Center. My NIA K23 project uses a novel cohort as well as electronic health record data to study the management, diagnoses, and outcomes of abdominal pain in older patients in EDs. In turn, through these research and clinical experiences, I observed how the ED is a deliriogenic environment for patients with baseline vulnerabilities such as cognitive impairment and dementia, and our team is now building tools to better identify patients at risk of delirium and pathways to improve and prioritize their care.

AGEM has played an instrumental role in my growth as a geriatric emergency medical clinician and researcher. I would love to be able to give back to the field and community by serving on the board. If elected as a Member-At-Large on the AGEM Executive Committee, I hope to help AGEM advance research and education to strengthen AGEM and geriatric EM. In addition, I will work with researchers, quality improvement teams, and learning health systems practitioners who do not currently think of themselves as geriatricians to increase their understanding of the importance of geriatric emergency medicine. I will also encourage geriatricians and geri researchers who do not incorporate the emergency department into their work to do so.

Adrian Haimovich, MD, PhD

Member-at-Large

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

As Director for Geriatric Emergency Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, I am dedicated to improving the care of older adults in the emergency department. My research and operational work have focused on integrating geriatric principles into emergency care, particularly through the promotion of patient-centered care for seriously ill older adults.

I believe that EDs are uniquely positioned to serve as a critical intervention point for older patients, but that these interventions need to be grounded in pragmatism and resource efficiency. As a Member-at-Large, I want to use my experience advancing the science of practical ED-based goals of care discussions to support AGEM’s mission of advancing research, education, and clinical practice in geriatric emergency medicine.

If elected, I will work to create meaningful opportunities for professional development, mentorship, and collaboration within AGEM, particularly at the intersection of research and operations. I am passionate about fostering a vibrant and inclusive community where members can connect, share knowledge, and drive innovations that enhance the quality of care for our older patients.

I am grateful for the opportunity to run and would be honored to serve in this role, helping AGEM continue to lead the way in improving geriatric care in the emergency department.

Grace Wang, MS, MPH

Medical Student Representative

Penn State College of Medicine

Everywhere I have lived, from growing up in Taiwan to moving to California for college, Massachusetts for graduate school, and Pennsylvania for medical school, I find myself repeatedly drawn to working in the ED and giving back to vulnerable populations, especially older adults.

As the first in my family to pursue medicine and move to the States, I obtained three bachelor's degrees at UC Berkeley in MCB: Immunology/Infectious Diseases, Psychology, and Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology. My studies combined my interests in modifiable health factors and behaviors, and I supported older adults in my community both independently and at Oakland’s Sutter Health ED and the Alzheimer’s Services of East Bay.

In Massachusetts, I pursued an MS in Biomedical Sciences and an MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. I worked with Tufts’ Palliative Care Department, training MS4s in end-of-life and goals-of-care conversations. As a civilian volunteer for the City of Boston, I planned inclusive events for older community members. During the COVID pandemic, I took care of isolated older adults and worked on ED research at Massachusetts General Hospital on DVTs, PEs, geriatric falls, and the ED Virtual Observation Unit.

Now in medical school, I continue my ED research on sepsis, geriatric falls, EMS decision-making, and hypertension while organizing volunteer opportunities for medical students to help older adults in local nursing homes. My experiences in diverse healthcare settings have strengthened my commitment to emergency medicine and advocating for vulnerable populations, particularly older adults with a focus on social determinants of health.

Audrey Lam

Medical Student Representative

Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

I am a second-year medical student at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and a graduate of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. During my four years as an EMT with USC Emergency Medical Services (EMSC), I served as the Associate Director, implemented a geriatric curriculum, and led EMTs in teaching first aid at a retirement community—a first in EMSC’s history. My passions in gerontology and EMS led me to join Cedars-Sinai’s Geriatric ED Quality Improvement Committee towards GED accreditation. Reflecting upon my ED volunteer experience, I identified ways to optimize our volunteer structure to better fulfill older patients’ needs. I collaborated with interdisciplinary healthcare leaders to innovate Cedars-Sinai’s first age-friendly volunteer program and presented at ACEP and to the Institute of Healthcare Improvement on how our 3,600 hours of supportive interventions decreased restraint usage and calmed agitated patients. I learned that collaborative committees, like these, are capable of shifting entire cultures and mobilizing resources to structurally improve care for marginalized communities. I have additionally presented at the National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation Conference for three years about age-friendly, culturally-sensitive EMS care. As the recipient of the NIA-funded Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) grant at UCLA, I researched ethnogeriatrics with Dr. David Reuben and was selected to be their 2024 Murray H. Neidorf MSTAR Scholar. I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to collaborate and advance age-friendly care for underrepresented communities in emergency medicine across medical schools.