AWAEM Leadership

Laura Walker, MD, MBA

President

Mayo Clinic

Laura Walker, MD, MBA, is an assistant professor of emergency medicine and Southeast Minnesota hospital practice chair at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.

Her work focuses on advancing women in academic emergency medicine through mentorship, collaboration, and leadership development. She is committed to fostering engagement across academies and promoting opportunities that support the growth and advancement of women in the field.

Dr. Walker is an active leader in the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), where she has served as secretary of the Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine (AWAEM) for two terms. In this role, she has led efforts to improve organizational processes, enhance accessibility of member resources, and support continuity across leadership transitions.

Jennifer Love, MD

President-Elect

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Jennifer S. Love, MD, MSCR, is an assistant professor of emergency medicine and medical toxicology.

Dr. Love earned her Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College and her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her emergency medicine residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a medical toxicology fellowship at Oregon Health & Science University and a T32 research training fellowship at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Her work focuses on opioid use disorder, novel opioid adulterants, addiction medicine, and opioid overdose, with additional interest in advancing women in medicine.

Rebecca Barron, MD, MPH

Treasurer

UMass Chan Medical School - Baystate

Rebecca Barron, MD, MPH, is an attending emergency physician at Baystate Medical Center and an assistant professor of emergency medicine at UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate.

Dr. Barron earned her medical degree and Master of Public Health from Tufts University School of Medicine. She completed her emergency medicine residency and a fellowship in sex and gender in emergency medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

Her work focuses on women’s health, with an emphasis on improving sexual assault care, reproductive health, and infectious disease testing, treatment, and follow-up in the emergency department. She serves as physician lead for her department’s infectious disease follow-up program and is an Access Bridge implementation leader.

Dr. Barron is active in the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), where she serves as treasurer of the Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine and co-chair of the Sex and Gender in Emergency Medicine Interest Group. She is also chair-elect of Baystate Women in Medicine and Science.

Kellie LeVine McKenzie, MD

Secretary

Emory University School of Medicine

Kellie LeVine McKenzie, MD, is a medical toxicology fellow with Emory Emergency Medicine and serves as secretary of the Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine (AWAEM) Executive Committee within the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM).

Dr. McKenzie earned her undergraduate degree in biology from Duke University and her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, where she graduated with honors with distinction in research and received the SAEM student award. She completed her emergency medicine residency at Emory University.

Her work focuses on medical toxicology and academic emergency medicine, with a strong commitment to education and professional development. She has held national leadership roles with Foundations of Emergency Medicine, including co-director of social media and member of the Foundations 1 Development Team.

Dr. McKenzie has been actively involved in SAEM and the American College of Emergency Physicians throughout her training, including serving as a SAEM medical student ambassador and resident member of AWAEM.

Margaret Samuels-Kalow, MD, MPhil, MSHP

Immediate Past President

Massachusetts General Hospital

Margaret Samuels-Kalow, MD, MPhil, MSHP, is an emergency medicine and pediatric emergency medicine physician and health services researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she serves as vice chair for research.

Dr. Samuels-Kalow’s work focuses on reducing disparities in emergency care and leveraging the emergency department visit to advance health equity. Her research has been supported by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) and the National Institutes of Health.

She is an active leader in the Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine (AWAEM) within SAEM, where she previously served as co-chair of the Research Committee and helped develop the AWAEM research consultation program. She currently serves as vice president for communications, supporting collaboration, engagement, and dissemination of the academy’s work.

Dr. Samuels-Kalow is also involved in institutional initiatives to advance women in emergency medicine, contributing to programs focused on mentorship, collaboration, and professional development.

Samita M. Heslin, MD, MPH, MBA

Vice-President of Membership

Stony Brook Medicine

Samita Heslin, MD, MBA, MPH, MA, is a dual board-certified emergency medicine and clinical informatics physician at Stony Brook Medicine, where she serves as deputy chief medical information officer.

Dr. Heslin earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from Harvard University and her medical degree, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Public Health from Stony Brook University. She also earned a Master of Arts in clinical informatics from Oregon Health & Science University.

Her work focuses on improving quality, safety, and innovation in emergency care through informatics and operational leadership. Her academic interests include digital health, clinical operations, medical education, and leadership development.

Dr. Heslin is active in the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) and is committed to advancing mentorship, connection, and professional development in academic emergency medicine.

Joe-Ann Moser, MD, MS

Vice-President of Education

University of Wisconsin- Madison

Joe-Ann Moser, MD, MS, is an assistant professor of emergency medicine and assistant residency program director at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dr. Moser earned her Bachelor of Arts in biochemistry and Master of Science in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania. She received her medical degree with distinction in medical education and global health from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she also completed her emergency medicine residency. She completed an education scholarship fellowship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is pursuing a Master of Health Professions Education at the University of Illinois Chicago.

Her work focuses on medical education, with research interests in individualized resident assessment and feedback and strategies to reduce trainee and faculty burden to improve wellness. Her research has been supported by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Foundation and the Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Moser has held national leadership roles, including director of education for the Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association, and has contributed to the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) through committee and academy leadership.

Lauren Walter, MD, MSPH

Vice-President of Communications

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Lauren Walter, MD, MSPH, is an associate professor and associate vice chair of emergency medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she also serves as director of the Social Emergency Medicine and Population Health Fellowship.

Dr. Walter’s work spans medical education and clinical research, with a focus on public health in the emergency department. Her research includes externally funded projects on universal HIV and hepatitis C virus screening and emergency department–initiated medication for opioid use disorder.

She is active in the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), where she serves as vice president of communications for the Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine, supporting initiatives that enhance engagement, communication, and professional development across the academy.

Angela Jarman, MD, MPH

Vice-President of Career Development

University of California, Davis

Alexa Curt, MD

Resident Member

Mass General Brigham

Alexa Curt, MD, is a second-year resident in the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency Program at Mass General Brigham.

Dr. Curt earned her Bachelor of Arts in history from Williams College and her medical degree from Harvard Medical School. Throughout her training, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to mentorship, equity, and community engagement through scholarship, leadership, and volunteer work.

Her academic work includes multiple publications and presentations focused on health equity, with particular emphasis on language-concordant care, gender equity, dental care access, and pediatrics. She has also contributed to medical education through development of a pediatric emergency bootcamp supported by a Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Emergency Medicine Interest Group grant.

Dr. Curt is actively involved in mentorship and leadership, serving as a co-leader of her residency wellness group and participating in community outreach initiatives at Massachusetts General Hospital.