David W. Wright, MD

As Chair of Emergency Medicine at Emory University, I have dedicated my career to strengthening the foundation of our specialty through scholarship, innovation, and the creation of systems that connect academic vision to real-world impact. My focus has been on developing sustainable, patient-centered models of care that improve access, quality, and equity, while empowering faculty and trainees to thrive as scholars and leaders.

Emergency Medicine now stands at an inflection point. We face existential threats—from workforce instability and financial pressure to the erosion of our research pipeline and academic foundation. Without a strong, coordinated commitment to research and innovation, we risk losing the very identity that distinguishes us as an academic discipline. Yet, these challenges also create extraordinary opportunities to reimagine how we deliver and study emergency care.

We must invest in building the next generation of physician-scientists, expand collaboration across departments, and leverage data, digital health, and AI to transform both patient outcomes and our scientific reach. Our departments must not simply adapt to disruption—they must define it through scholarship, discovery, and leadership.

Within AACEM, I have contributed to the Leadership Development and Research Workgroups, helping to advance cross-institutional collaboration and faculty development. If elected, I will work to strengthen our collective academic voice, accelerate innovation, and secure a sustainable research infrastructure that ensures Emergency Medicine’s relevance and influence for decades to come.

Our future depends on vision, unity, and courage—the willingness to confront challenges directly and to lead with purpose, scholarship, and conviction.