AAAEM Leadership

Stephen G. Maxwell, MSM

President

University of Michigan

Stephen G. Maxwell, MSM, serves as the chief department administrator for the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Michigan. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University and a Master of Science in Management from Troy University.

Maxwell has extensive experience in healthcare administration. His roles consist of administrator for general surgery and director of finance for the Cardiovascular Center at the University of Michigan. Before joining the university, he held finance positions at integrated systems in southeastern Michigan. Additionally, he held positions in San Antonio, Texas, and Panama City, Florida. His career began in banking in Washington, D.C., in the early 1990s.

An active member of the AAAEM for the past several years, Maxwell has contributed significantly through his participation on the Benchmark Committee. He has focused on research initiatives and presenting findings at AAAEM and SAEM conferences. He has also served on the Strategic Planning Committee, assisting in the development and analysis of membership surveys. Additionally, he has been a member-at-large on the AAAEM executive committee. Also, Maxwell has delivered lectures for the SAEM Chair Development Program.

Frank Jurkiewicz, MBA

President-Elect

University of Florida, College of Medicine - Gainesville

Frank Jurkiewicz, MBA, serves as the vice chair of administrative affairs for the Department of Emergency Medicine (EM) at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville. In this role, he functions as the chief non-faculty executive, ensuring faculty have the resources and infrastructure necessary to optimize productivity across clinical, educational, and research missions while maintaining a sustainable financial model. ​

Jurkiewicz earned a Master of Business Administration from Purdue University's Krannert School of Management. Over his career, he has held leadership positions in both academic health centers and private practice groups. He has served at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Indiana University Health–Indiana University School of Medicine. ​

Jurkiewicz is actively involved as chair of the Education and Professional Development Committee for the Academy of Administrators in Academic Emergency Medicine (AAAEM). In this capacity, he focuses on promoting knowledge-sharing through sessions that address current challenges and opportunities in EM administration. Additionally, he has served on the Benchmark Committee and previously chaired the Communication Committee within AAAEM. ​

Beyond his professional commitments, Jurkiewicz is dedicated to mentoring future health care leaders. He played a key role in creating a two-year Healthcare Administrative Fellowship at the University of Florida. 

Cali Myers, MHA

Treasurer

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Cali Myers, MHA, is executive administrator for the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She earned her Bachelor of Science in public health from the University of South Florida, her Master of Health Administration from the University of Florida, and a graduate certificate in clinical informatics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Myers has participated in multiple leadership development programs, including Leadership Gainesville, the UAB Healthcare Leadership Academy, and the UAB Institute for Leadership. She contributes at the institutional level through service on School of Medicine committees and task forces focused on financial stewardship, clinical optimization, budgeting, and staff recognition.

She is active in the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Academy of Administrators in Academic Emergency Medicine (AAAEM), where she serves as member at large on the executive committee for the 2025–26 term and previously chaired the Communications Committee.

Myers was recognized with the AAAEM Rising Star Administrator Award in 2025.

Lauren Tanzer, MBA

Secretary

Penn Medicine

Lauren Tanzer, MBA, is chief operating officer for the Department of Emergency Medicine at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia. She oversees four emergency departments, an observation unit, and operations across a large academic medical center.

Tanzer earned her Master of Business Administration from Drexel University and a Master of Science in healthcare quality and safety from Thomas Jefferson University. She is a certified Project Management Professional and completed the Academy of Administrators in Academic Emergency Medicine (AAAEM) Certified Administrator of Academic Emergency Medicine (CAEMA) program. Her leadership experience includes roles at Penn Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

She is active in AAAEM, serving as membership chair and a member of the Education and Professional Development Committee. She maintains a focus of advancing professional development in academic emergency medicine administration.

Tanzer is committed to team development, collaboration, and mentorship, supporting growth and innovation within academic emergency medicine.

Jennifer Patton Muir, EdD, MBA

Immediate Past President

East Carolina University

Jennifer Patton Muir is the administrator for the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. She holds a bachelor's degree in hospitality management, a Master of Business Administration, and a Doctor of Education in higher education administration.​

Patton Muir has worked in higher education for more than 15 years in various administrative roles, including director of employment in human resources and executive director of business and administrative affairs in the College of Nursing. In her administrative roles, she has been heavily involved in strategic planning, program development, financial management, human resources management, and policy development.​

Patton Muir has been an active leader in professional organizations. She has served on the board of the North Carolina chapter of the College and University Professional Association of Human Resources, where she was co-president. She also served as vice chair of the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium of the Carolinas Regional Advisory Board.

Within AAAEM, Patton Muir has contributed to the executive committee and played a key role on the Benchmarking and Strategic Planning Committees.

Benton Baker, MBA

Member-at-Large

Loma Linda University Faculty Medical Group

Benton Baker, MBA, is practice administrator for the Department of Emergency Medicine at Loma Linda Faculty Medical Group.

Baker has more than a decade of experience within the Loma Linda health system. Prior to his current role, he served in physician billing operations, overseeing self-pay services, accounts receivable, and analytics and reporting teams. He earned his Master of Business Administration from Loma Linda University School of Public Health, where he completed applied projects in hospital rebranding and development of a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) initiative.

His work focuses on operational management, financial performance, and supporting clinical teams in a dynamic emergency medicine environment.

Baker is committed to fostering effective team collaboration and advancing administrative excellence in emergency medicine.

Sara Engel, MBA

Member-at-Large

Medical College of Wisconsin

Sara Engel, MBA, is department administrator of emergency medicine and unit executive administrator for anesthesiology and emergency medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She has more than eight years of experience at MCW, including leadership roles overseeing departmental and unit operations.

Engel has more than 12 years of experience in health care leadership. Her main focus has been on team development, operational performance, and financial management. Her work emphasizes building engaged teams and advancing innovative approaches to departmental operations.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and her Master of Business Administration from Liberty University. She is also currently pursuing a doctorate in leadership and organizational development.

Engel brings a multicultural perspective to her work and is committed to advancing collaborative, effective leadership in academic medicine.