AACEM Executive Committee

President

Medical College of Wisconsin

President-Elect

Oregon Health & Science University

Dr. Tanski is associate professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU).

She earned an undergraduate degree in business management and health and humanities from Michigan State University and received her medical degree from Wayne State University. Dr. Tanski completed her residency in emergency medicine at George Washington University, where she also served as chief resident. She then completed an emergency medicine administration fellowship and earned an MBA at OHSU.

Dr. Tanski has been a faculty member in the Department of Emergency Medicine at OHSU, where she teaches the health care operations and quality course. She previously served as medical director of operations before being appointed department chair.

Her expertise includes emergency department operations and quality improvement, with a focus on improving patient flow, implementing a no-divert trial, and addressing departmental boarding.

Secretary-Treasurer

Penn State Hershey Emergency Medicine

Dr. Promes is a tenured professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine, positions she has held since 2014. 

Dr. Promes earned an undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis and received a medical degree from Penn State College of Medicine. She completed her residency training at Alameda County Medical Center, Highland General Hospital, where she served as chief resident. In 2012, she obtained an MBA from the University of California – Davis Graduate School of Management. 

Prior to her current role, Dr. Promes spent seven years at the University of California, San Francisco, serving as vice chair for education, emergency medicine residency program director, and director of curricular affairs in the GME office. Before that, she was at Duke University as the inaugural emergency medicine residency program director and director of the medical school capstone course. 

Dr. Promes’s scholarly work has focused on emergency medicine medical education and clinical guidelines for practicing emergency physicians. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and edited multiple McGraw-Hill board review books to prepare physicians for the emergency medicine board exam. An internationally recognized leader in academic emergency medicine, Dr. Promes was chosen by SAEM to be the inaugural editor of their journal, Academic Emergency Medicine Education and Training, which debuted in January 2017. 

In 2020, she received the SAEM Hal Jayne Excellence in Education Award from the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine. More recently, in 2024, she was honored with the Judith E. Tintinalli Award for Outstanding Contribution in Education.

Immediate Past President

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine

Dr. Brice is a professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine. She holds adjunct appointments in the Department of Epidemiology and the Department of Social Medicine. Dr. Brice earned her medical degree from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and her Master of Public Health degree in epidemiology from the UNC School of Public Health.

Dr. Brice’s clinical and research interests focus on prehospital care, particularly the care provided by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel. Her work aims to improve the quality and efficiency of trauma care, pediatric care, and stroke care in the prehospital environment. Dr. Brice is also passionate about health equity, with a focus on health literacy and addressing disparities in emergency care. She has led multiple federally funded research projects in these areas.

Dr. Brice is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine (AACEM), the National Association of EMS Physicians, the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), and the American College of Emergency Physicians. She has served SAEM in multiple capacities, including as a member of AACEM, where she has contributed significantly to advancing academic emergency medicine. Additionally, she is a fellow of the American Heart Association and a member of the American Public Health Association. 

In addition to her academic and clinical responsibilities, Dr. Brice serves as an EMS medical director in North Carolina. Her leadership extends to national programs, including participation in the AACEM Chair Development Program and the Emerging Leader Development Program (eLEAD). Dr. Brice is a former paramedic and remains actively engaged in EMS-related initiatives.

Member-at-Large

Stanford University School of Medicine

Dr. Blomkalns is the Redlich Family Professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, a position she has held since 2018.

Dr. Blomkalns earned an undergraduate degree from Rice University and received her medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. She completed her emergency medicine residency at the University of Cincinnati, where she later served as residency program director and vice chair of education. She earned an MBA with a specialization in innovation and entrepreneurship from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2018.

Before joining Stanford, Dr. Blomkalns was division chief of general emergency medicine and vice chair for academic affairs and business development at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. 

Her research focuses on clinical cardiovascular medicine and basic science investigations into obesity and the gut microbiome. She has authored or contributed to more than 40 peer-reviewed journal articles and more than 14 book chapters on topics such as cardiovascular emergencies, point-of-care testing, innate immunity, and obesity.

A leader in academic emergency medicine, Dr. Blomkalns served as SAEM president from 2016 to 2017 and continues to contribute as chair of the SAEM Wellness Committee.

Member-at-Large

Columbia University

Dr. Mills is the J.E. Beaumont Professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, as well as chief of emergency services for NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia. 

Dr. Mills earned a medical degree, with Alpha Omega Alpha distinction, from Temple University School of Medicine and completed her emergency medicine residency at the University of Pennsylvania, where she served as chief resident. During her tenure at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Mills advanced to professor of emergency medicine and held key roles, including medical director and vice chair of clinical operations. 

In January 2018, Dr. Mills joined Columbia as the inaugural chair of the newly formed Department of Emergency Medicine, overseeing academic and operational activities across four emergency department sites that collectively manage over 240,000 patient visits annually. Under her leadership, the department has achieved national recognition for advancements in education, research, clinical care, and diversity and inclusion initiatives. 

Her research interests include the treatment and evaluation of acute abdominal pain, disparities in emergency care, radiation risk, and emergency radiologic imaging. She has also focused on electronic clinical decision support systems. Dr. Mills is committed to mentoring and has significantly influenced the careers of numerous faculty members and trainees.

Dr. Mills has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award from the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine in 2017, the Mid-Career Award from the SAEM Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine (AWAEM), and the 2020 Chair of the Year Award from the Emergency Medicine Residents' Association. 

Dr. Mills has authored over 100 scientific publications and has received both federal and industry research funding. An active member of SAEM, she has served on the board of directors, holding positions such as secretary-treasurer, president-elect, and president.