People

Elizabeth VanWert

Secretary

Michigan Medicine Health

I am excited to express my interest in serving as the treasurer/secretary for AEMP’s Executive Committee. I am passionate about advancing EM pharmacy practice, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration, and supporting the continued growth of both AEMP and SAEM. I believe my organizational skills and financial stewardship can effectively support the committee’s goals.

I bring over 10 years of ED pharmacy clinical and operational experience at Michigan Medicine Health. My work includes establishing an ED pharmacy residency, serving as residency program director for six years, and leading initiatives to improve patient care and pharmacy services. My involvement with AEMP and SAEM experience includes serving on the AEMP Executive Committee, SAEM ED Administrative and Operations Committee, the Career Development Committee, and recently as charge lead for the 2026 SAEM Innovations Session.

As Treasurer, I aim to ensure timely, accurate management of financial transactions, particularly as our organization’s structure and revenue streams evolve with growing membership. I will work collaboratively to align financial practices with the missions of SAEM and AEMP, and support activities that elevate EM pharmacy practice. As secretary, I will leverage this experience to maintain detailed, transparent records of meetings, membership, and key decisions, ensuring continuity and communication across committees. Overall, I hope to help strengthen AEMP and SAEM’s infrastructure, enhance transparency, and promote sustainable growth in support of our members and the organization’s shared mission.

Meagan R. Hunt, MD

Development Officer

Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Dr. Meagan Hunt is an assistant professor in the Wake Forest University School of Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine where she has served as the adult ED medical director, assistant medical director, and physician director of APP services. She completed her undergraduate and medical training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC School of Medicine, respectively. Following residency training at the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Hunt practiced in both academic and community settings in six different sites associated with Wake Forest Emergency Physicians and continues this work at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston Salem, NC. Her passions include providing equitable care for all patients, compassionate and consistent high-quality care for mental health and substance use disorders in the ED, and experiences and programs promoting connection, support, and authenticity among medical providers. As an operational leader, Dr. Hunt navigated challenges including the COVID pandemic, phased opening of a new academic ED, integration of a labor and delivery department, and integration of a new EMR and a new health system. She has served on several SAEM committees and, after joining ADIEM, founded and chaired the ADIEM operations committee since 2022. As development officer for ADIEM, she aims to increase membership and grow community for members to support their commitment to providing equitable care for all patients in one of the most challenging environments in medicine. She will continue developing ADIEM as a safe space providing connection to EM academicians at all levels to support new and existing collaborations aimed to celebrate and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in our field in addition to equitable care for all. She hopes to implement regular offerings for members to share their experiences in this work, build partnerships, and care for themselves and each other.

Henry Young, MD

Member-at-Large

The Ohio State University

I am honored to submit my candidacy for Member-at-Large for the Academy for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Medicine. After completing medical school at the Medical College of Georgia, I completed emergency medicine residency at the University of Florida where I served as chief resident. Following residency, I completed a research fellowship focusing on substance use disorders. Currently, I serve as assistant dean for learner success for the Ohio State College of Medicine and the vice chair of community health access and engagement for the Department of Emergency Medicine at Ohio State University.

I have witnessed firsthand the persistent disparities in health care access, treatment, and outcomes. I am running for office because I believe that meaningful change begins with intentional leadership and collaborative action.
My commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is rooted in both personal experience and professional responsibility. I have mentored underrepresented medical students and residents, advocated for inclusive recruitment practices, and worked to foster environments where all voices are valued. I have also championed initiatives to retain diverse learners in academic medicine and improve the clinical learning environment for learners GME-wide. I believe ADIEM’s mission—to eliminate disparities and promote culturally competent care—is not only aspirational but achievable through sustained effort.

If elected, I will focus on three key priorities:

1. Strengthening mentorship and sponsorship for underrepresented groups in EM to support retention and academic advancement.
   
2. Expanding educational initiatives that promote cultural humility and equip providers to deliver equitable care.
   
3. Building bridges across institutions to share best practices and amplify the impact of diversity and inclusion efforts.

I am committed to advancing ADIEM’s objectives and ensuring that emergency medicine reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can create a more inclusive, equitable future for our specialty.

Valerie A. Pierre, MD

Member-at-Large

University of Maryland

Dr. Valerie A. Pierre, MD, FAAEM, FACEP, is an assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

She completed an emergency medicine residency at the One Brooklyn Health - Brookdale Hospital and Medical Center. She subsequently completed a clinical ultrasound fellowship at New York University.

She is the current Membership Chair for the Academy for Diversity & Inclusion of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM ADIEM) 2024-2026. In this role, she serves to recruit members to join ADIEM and increase engagement across all platforms.

Dr. Pierre is also the current Chair for the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion section of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine. She serves on the Access, Belonging, and Community section of the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging workgroup of the Education Committee for the Society for Clinical Ultrasound Fellowships and the POCUS subcommittee of the Global Emergency Medicine Academy of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Pierre is running for the position of Member-at-Large to continue to set priorities for the academy, support the academy’s initiatives and objectives, and provide representation on the board.

Italo Milton Brown, MD, MPH

Member-at-Large

Stanford University

I am honored to seek the position of Member-At-Large for the Academy for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Medicine (ADIEM). Throughout my career in emergency medicine, I have built meaningful connections across the full spectrum of our specialty—from medical students and residents to established academic leaders and visionaries. These relationships, combined with my previous leadership experience and deep understanding of ADIEM's organizational structure and strategic priorities, position me to contribute effectively to the executive committee.

I am keenly aware that we are navigating a challenging political landscape around diversity, equity, and inclusion work. Yet it is in moments like these that our commitment must remain steadfast. The work of fostering a diverse and inclusive emergency medicine workforce, ensuring culturally-humble care delivery, and addressing healthcare disparities through research, education, and mentorship is not political—it is foundational to excellent patient care and the strength of our specialty.

My dedication to service and to ADIEM's core mission runs deep. I am prepared to leverage my networks, experience, and institutional knowledge to advance our strategic goals and support our members. Through sustained commitment and collaborative leadership, we can continue to build a specialty that reflects and serves the diverse communities we care for.

I would be grateful for your support and the opportunity to serve.

Wendy Macias-Konstantopoulos, MD, MPH, MBA

Member-at-Large

Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School

Times of change call for visionary and resilient leaders. The success of our collective mission to grow our specialty and support the inclusion of individuals from all walks of life will depend on individuals willing to work with the changes to evolve the vision, push the boundaries, and create opportunities for advancement. As the first-generation American daughter of Latinx immigrants with little more than a dream, I am intimately familiar with the overwhelming challenges of a first-generation college student and the immense privileges of a first-generation physician.

Throughout my career, I have endeavored to serve those who are walking up behind me in honor of those who helped pave the way. I have been blessed through a myriad of opportunities I never expected and as I continue to grow into a more seasoned emergency physician, it would be a privilege to serve our specialty through the ADIEM leadership. I believe that preserving the essence of our mission around diversity, inclusivity, belonging, and representation through the many changes that still lie ahead will require great courage, vision, and innovative collaboration with the forces of change.

Ronald Hall, MD

Member-at-Large

Sidney Kimmel Medical College

I am honored to submit my candidacy for leadership within ADIEM. I am a proud graduate of Rutgers–New Jersey Medical School (MD, 2000) and completed my emergency medicine residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in 2003. I have continued to expand my professional and leadership development through the ACEP teaching fellowship (2010) and, most recently, the AAMC Health Executive Diversity and Inclusion Certificate (HEDIC, 2025).

Over the past two decades, I have built my academic and clinical career at Jefferson, where I currently serve as an emergency medicine physician and assistant dean for diversity and student diversity programs at Sidney Kimmel Medical College. My commitment to mentorship, equity, and inclusive excellence has been the foundation of my work with learners, faculty, and institutional partners alike.

Within organized medicine, I have had the privilege of serving as president of the Pennsylvania Chapter of ACEP (2020–2021), leading statewide initiatives to strengthen physician engagement, expand leadership opportunities, and promote health equity within our specialty. Within SAEM and ADIEM, I have served as development chair (2017-2018), where I have worked to build collaborative relationships and expand support for our mission to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across academic emergency medicine.

I am running for office because I deeply believe in the values and mission of ADIEM. Emergency medicine thrives when we recruit the best talent, nurture professional growth at every stage, and ensure that all individuals can achieve their fullest potential. My goal is to continue fostering spaces where mentorship, scholarship, and leadership development are accessible and inclusive for everyone. I would be honored to continue serving our community and advancing the principles that make ADIEM a vital and transformative voice within academic emergency medicine.

Jossie Antoinette Carreras Tartak, MD, MBA

Member-at-Large

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, I pursued my medical education at the University of Pennsylvania and my residency training at the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. I'm currently a faculty member at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Throughout my medical and residency training, I've advocated for the Latino/a/x community in the United States and pursued research projects aimed at both showcasing how marginalized communities experience worse health outcomes in the emergency department and addressing those disparities through education and novel technologies. I had the honor of receiving the "Outstanding Future Academician" award from this academy in 2021. I'm currently co-chair of the ADIEM Ops committee, where we are collaborating with national experts to develop an actionable tool that emergency departments can utilize to evaluate internal disparities in care. This work has made me realize how local regulations have made it incredibly to pursue health equity and DEI work in parts of this country.

If elected member-at-large, I would aim to leverage the voice and the financial resources of this academy to advocate for and support the members of our community--including students, trainees, and faculty--that are facing barriers to promote their work and access funding through traditional means amidst the current political climate. I also think it's important to foster discussions between members of all SAEM regions to develop strategies that enable all of us to continue the DEI and health equity work built over the past several decades during a time of regulatory uncertainty. Lastly, I think our academy could leverage its large membership to have subject experts featured on traditional media outlets speaking up on behalf of the communities being targeted in our country.

Thank you for your consideration!

Lynea Bull, MD

Member-at-Large

Vanderbilt University

As a member of the executive committee I hope to serve as a bridge between the concerns and needs of our emergency medicine community and our professional organization. I hope to do this with special regard given to the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion as a driving force for the SAEM mission of improving the care of the acutely ill and injured patient by improving research and education. Additionally, I hope to support the educational, professional, and individual growth of the physician and student members of our organization. I have been a member of SAEM since 2020, and an active participant in ADIEM initiatives since joining.

Adedoyin Adesina, MD, MEd

Member-at-Large

Baylor College of Medicine

I am an assistant professor and associate clerkship director in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. I earned my medical degree from SUNY Downstate and completed my emergency medicine residency at Kings County Hospital Center/SUNY Downstate. After residency, I began my academic career at Baylor while pursuing a Master of Education in curriculum and innovation from the University of Houston, which strengthened my ability to design and implement learner-centered, inclusive educational programs.

My academic work focuses on promoting inclusive learning environments and bridging the gap between classroom and bedside teaching to create meaningful, well-rounded educational experiences. I developed an innovative online module to train students on the effective use of medical interpreters, enhancing communication and care for patients with limited English proficiency. Additionally, I am deeply committed to mentoring and recruiting from the lens of building a workforce that reflects the diverse patient populations we serve. My efforts have been recognized with the Visionary Educator Award and the Norton Fulbright Excellence in Teaching Award.

As an active member of SAEM and ADIEM, I have served as co-chair of education for ADIEM, organizing national webinars, contributing to programming in the equity space, and supporting initiatives that advance diversity and inclusion in academic medicine. I also serve as a faculty senate representative, DEI ambassador, and admissions committee member at Baylor, roles that reflect my dedication to advocacy, mentorship, and equitable representation.
As Member-at-Large, I seek to continue advancing ADIEM’s mission by amplifying diverse voices, fostering mentorship across career stages, and developing educational resources that embed diversity, equity, and inclusion as foundations of excellence in emergency medicine.

Andreia B. Alexander, MD, PHD, MPH

Secretary-Treasurer

Indiana University School of Medicine

I am running for ADIEM Secretary-Treasurer because now, more than ever, we must remain steadfast in advancing equity and inclusion within emergency medicine (EM). As disparities widen and academic voices face growing threats, I believe ADIEM’s mission to uplift, empower, and protect those historically marginalized is critical. I am deeply committed to and embedded in this work within my institution and state and am ready to expand my commitment on a national level. I would be honored to contribute to and learn from the visionary leadership of ADIEM that continues to move our field forward.

I am an assistant professor of EM at Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) and a medical director of Health Impact for IU Health. I served as the associate program director for the IUEM Residency. I graduated from the University of Florida, received an MPH from IU, and completed a combined MD/PHD at IUSM. I completed my EM residency at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in 2018. My research focuses on health equity and ED reproductive health. I serve on the Board of Trustees for the Indiana State Medical Association where I advocate for health policy that will improve care for our most vulnerable patients. Recent awards include: EMRA’s Top 25 Under 45 Influencers in EM (2021), IUEM DEI Award (2024), the IU Indianapolis Women’s History Month Award (2024), the IUSM MPA Faculty Diversity Champion award (2025) and the IUSM MSTP Distinguished Alumni Award (2025). I have been a member of SAEM since 2014. I have served on various SAEM committees. I am currently a co-chair for the ADIEM Clinical Operations Committee where we are developing the ED Variability In Treatment Assessment List (ED-VITAL), a tool which will provide a foundation for operational leaders to identify variabilities in care that can be targeted for continuous quality improvement.

Danielle Sultan, DO

Physician

UMass Chan Medical School

Danielle Sultan, DO, is an emergency medicine (EM) physician and medical education fellow at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, MA. She has led and developed high-impact educational initiatives, including the creation of a comprehensive oral boards preparation course focused on high-fidelity, skills-based assessment for EM residents including the creation of over 30 novel case series and rubrics. Dr. Sultan serves on the Council of Residency Directors Certifying Exam Committee, which aims to generate a peer reviewed case bank to prepare trainees for the certifying exam. She is currently pursuing a Master's in Education in the Health Professions to deepen her expertise in curriculum design, assessment, and educational leadership.

Jon Smart, MD, MSEd

Assistant Clinical Professor

University of California-Irvine

Jon Smart, MD, MSEd, is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine (EM) at the University of California, Irvine, where he currently serves as Assistant Program Director (aPD) for the residency program, Chair of the residency's Clinical Competency Committee (CCC), as well as a Dean's Scholar at the UCI School of Medicine.

Dr. Smart earned his medical degree from LSU-New Orleans and completed his EM residency at UT Health San Antonio. He went on to complete a medical education fellowship with a focus on Multimedia Design and Education Technology at UCI, and earned a Master's in Education from Johns Hopkins University, specializing in Digital Age Learning and Technology.

Mark Silverberg, MD

Clinical Professor, Emergency Medicine

SUNY Downstate School of Medicine

Mark Silverberg, MD, is an attending physician at SUNY Downstate/Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. He has spent more than two decades in that prestigious institution starting with medical school in 1993. After completing his emergency medicine (EM) residency at Kings County Hospital, he stayed on to join the faculty as well. He then began his academic career at SUNY Downstate as the Director of Student Education, but soon became the Assistant Residency Director and then the Associate Residency Director. With COVID-19 looming in the background, he held the title of Director of Disaster Preparedness for the Emergency Department. Dr. Silverberg has also joined the EM lecture circuit and combines his love of scuba diving and underwater photography with EM. Dr. Silverberg also heads the wilderness medicine division of the Emergency Medicine Department at Kings County Hospital.

James Thomas, MD

President, Board of Directors

American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM)

James Thomas, MD, is the current President of the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) Board of Directors. Dr. Thomas is an ABEM-certified physician and practices emergency medicine (EM) at St. Anne's Hospital in Fall River, MA. He received his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, completed residency training at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo OH, and has been an ABEM oral examiner for over 20 years.

Kim M. Feldhaus, MD

Chair, Certifying Exam Committee

American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM)

Kim M. Feldhaus, MD, was elected to the Board of Directors for the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) in July 2021. She is a community emergency physician practicing in Boulder, CO. Dr. Feldhaus is originally from South Dakota and graduated from Baylor College of Medicine prior to completing an emergency medicine (EM) residency at Denver Health Medical Center. She then remained in academic medicine at Denver Health for 10 years following graduation. In 2003, she transitioned to community medicine, joining the independent EM group at Boulder Community Health.

Dr. Feldhaus has been actively involved with ABEM for over 25 years. She is currently the Chair of the Certifying Exam Committee and an At-large Member of the Executive Committee. Despite many years in EM, and many changes in the practice of medicine, she is still passionate about providing exceptional care to her patients.

Jason Rotoli, MD

President-Elect

University of Rochester

I am thrilled to contribute to an organization whose professional mission and values so closely align with my own. The development of inclusive future EM physicians is crucial to elevating the quality of care we deliver. I also believe in the development of allies and strong mentorship in order to provide guidance and inspiration to junior faculty and learners. I have been fortunate to have other leadership positions in ADIEM which have not only fostered my own professional growth but have allowed me to contribute to the development of junior academic faculty through collaborative scholarly opportunities, inclusive academic work, and mentorship. I would like to continue this trend and pay I forward to young emerging leaders in our field.

At this stage in my career, I recognize that it is time to give back to an organization that continues to advocate for equity in the face of adversity and I want to serve as the members of such an organization.

Sara Engel, MBA

Member-at-Large

Medical College of Wisconsin

I am thrilled and honored to be nominated to the AAAEM leadership. I have been an active member of SAEM/AAAEM since 2022, and I have found the academy and the friends I have made and continue to make, one of the highlights of my career so far. I currently sit on both the Benchmark committee and the Strategic Planning committee, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the mission and vision of the academy and what we are trying to accomplish. I believe I can be a useful member in leadership, helping push forward the academy's goals for the next year.

Benton Baker, MBA

Member-at-Large

Loma Linda University Faculty Medical Group

In the two years I've been in my role as an EM group administrator there has been one constant source of pertinent information, AAAEM. My predecessor recommended it wholeheartedly and pushed me to join as soon as I could. Since then, I've joined many AAAEM committees including the strategic planning committee, the membership committee, the education committee and the benchmark committee. With the committee involvement as well as being a part of MIPS, I have found a network of colleagues to bounce ideas off of, as well as request and provide input as needed.

Being a member at large on the executive committee would allow me to be more involved and further help shape the great resource that is AAAEM. I understand that AAAEM is nothing without it's members and the framework that supports the collaboration between them. I think I bring a newer/greener perspective to the table that might help tailor that framework to be a greater resource to newer administrators like myself.

My background might not be typical for a group administrator. I always knew I wanted to be in healthcare, I just didn't know where. After getting my MBA, I joined the management residency/administrative fellowship program here at Loma Linda, and was ultimately stationed within the physician billing office. There, I spent my time as fellow being an analyst and special project manager until the completion of my fellowship where I fully joined the ranks as an office manager. I managed the self-pay team, the internal float pool that I had developed during my fellowship, and our report writers/analysts.

Lauren Tanzer, MBA

Secretary

Penn Medicine

Thank you for the opportunity to be considered for the Executive Committee position of Secretary. When I joined AAAEM in 2022, I left my first retreat inspired and determined to one day serve in a leadership role. AAAEM is an incredible organization that brings together Emergency Medicine administrators committed to sharing innovative ideas and strengthening our departments nationwide. I am deeply committed to advancing AAAEM’s mission through initiatives that expand educational opportunities, enhance professional development, promote EM research, while ensuring responsible financial stewardship.

I currently serve as Chief Operating Officer for the Department of Emergency Medicine at Penn Medicine, overseeing operations across four EDs and an observation unit. I hold an MBA, a masters in Healthcare Quality and Safety, a PMP certification, and the Academic Emergency Medicine Administration (CAEMA) credential. My work frequently leverages AAAEM benchmark data to advocate for system-level improvements and to strengthen our departmental strategy.

As current Chair of the Membership Committee and an active member of the Education and Professional Development Committee, I have worked to enhance onboarding and elevate the Academy’s focus on professional growth. I value mentorship, collaboration, and helping others succeed, within AAAEM and across my institution.

If elected as Secretary, I will work to ensure that member voices remain front and center, foster meaningful engagement, and help drive innovation within the Academy. I see this role as an opportunity to connect people, ideas, and resources to strengthen our EM community and its broader impact.

Outside of work, I enjoy reading, being outdoors, and am frequently found running to my kids’ activities (usually calling my husband to determine pickup logistics with a minute to spare). I would be honored to serve on the Executive Committee and continue giving back to the community that has impacted my professional journey as an Emergency Medicine Administrator.