People

Olivia Pearson, MD

University of Utah

"Targeted Risk Reduction in the Winter Backcountry: An EM-Led Behavioral Intervention for Avalanche Injury Prevention"

Olivia Pearson, MD, is an emergency medicine resident at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Her clinical and research work focuses on improving safety and outcomes for individuals engaging in high-risk outdoor activities.

Dr. Pearson’s academic interests include rural emergency medicine, wilderness medicine, and community-based health initiatives. Her research examines risk-taking behaviors in backcountry settings, with the goal of reducing avalanche-related injuries and fatalities. She studies the relationship between decision-making, risk perception, and recreation patterns to inform more effective education and prevention strategies.

William Miller, MD

Hennepin County Medical Center

"Rates of Cardiorespiratory Depression in Emergency Department Sedative Strategies"

William Miller, MD, is a first-year emergency medicine–internal medicine resident at Hennepin Healthcare/Hennepin County Medical Center.

Dr. Miller earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. His academic interests focus on translational and clinical research involving critically and emergently ill individuals.

His research includes the intersection of clinical and molecular frailty, sedation and airway management, and prehospital trauma systems.

Brigid Garrity, DO, MS, MPH

Boston Medical Center

"Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Administration in the Emergency Department"

Brigid Garrity, DO, MS, MSH, is an emergency medicine resident at Boston Medical Center.

Dr. Garrity’s academic interests include health services research, health policy, and substance use. Her current work focuses on health equity. Also, addressing structural drivers of health in the emergency department, with an emphasis on improving access to reproductive health care. 

Eugene J. Dolphin, MD

Montefiore Medical Center

"Comparing Pelvic Pain Improvement Using IV vs PO Acetaminophen"

Eugene Dolphin, MD, is an emergency medicine resident at Jacobi Medical Center in New York. His academic interests include medical toxicology and pain management.

Dr. Dolphin earned his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and his medical degree from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. His early research experience included immunologic bench research. He later developed an interest in clinical research during medical school, with a focus on orthopedics.

He is currently leading his first randomized clinical trial examining intravenous acetaminophen for pain management. Additionally, with attention to opioid-sparing strategies and cost-effectiveness in emergency care populations. His broader interests include clinical operations and health care systems improvement.

Alexa (Lexi) Curt, MD

MassGeneral Brigham

"A Qualitative Study of Barriers to Including Non-English Speakers in Research"

Alexa (Lexi) Curt, MD, is a resident physician in the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Dr. Curt’s academic and research interests focus on advancing health equity in the emergency department. Additionally, with an emphasis on language access, gender-based needs, and inclusion of historically marginalized populations in clinical research. Her work includes qualitative and quantitative studies examining barriers to equitable care and research participation, including limited English proficiency and gender discrimination.

As a medical student at Harvard Medical School, she led initiatives to increase diversity in medicine and expand language-concordant care. She received the American College of Emergency Physicians and Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association National Outstanding Medical Student Award in 2024 for these efforts.

Dr. Curt aims to improve emergency department systems through research-driven interventions that reduce disparities in communication, access, and outcomes. Also, she has a commitment of integrating patient and community perspectives into care delivery.

Eli Rogers, MD

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

"Assessment of Ambulatory Cardiac Monitoring in Syncope and Presyncope"

Eli Rogers, MD, is an emergency medicine resident at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, with a research focus on improving the evaluation and management of cardiovascular emergencies in the emergency department.

Dr. Rogers is the recipient of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Foundation Resident Research Grant and the David E. Wilcox, MD, FACEP Scholarship for his project on ambulatory cardiac monitoring in syncope and presyncope. It was conducted using the National Institutes of Health-funded PACES dataset.

His research interests include ambulatory cardiac monitoring, syncope, and trauma. His work leverages large national and prospective datasets. He has presented his findings at national meetings, including the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine and the American College of Emergency Physicians. He plans to pursue a career in academic emergency medicine research.

Angel Li, MD, MBA

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

"Digital Phenotyping to Detect Behavioral Changes in Older Adults"

Angel Li, MD, MBA, is an assistant professor and attending physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine at The Ohio State University.

Dr. Li earned her medical degree, Master of Business Administration, and completed emergency medicine training before joining the Ohio State faculty in 2023. She serves as medical director of the emergency department observation unit and leads initiatives in care innovation and quality improvement, including geriatric emergency department accreditation and curriculum development.

Her academic focus is geriatric emergency medicine, with work addressing older adult falls, care transitions, resource utilization, and innovative care models such as virtual observation and hospital-at-home pathways. Dr. Li has held national leadership roles within the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Academy of Geriatric Emergency Medicine and serves as an alternate councilor for the American College of Emergency Physicians Geriatric Emergency Medicine Section.

Jacob Lebin, MD

University of Colorado

"Designing Decision Support to Enhance Emergency Care for Alcohol Use Disorder"

Jacob Lebin, MD, is faculty in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Dr. Lebin completed his emergency medicine residency at the University of Washington and a medical toxicology fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. His clinical practice includes care in the University of Colorado Hospital emergency department and consultation with the Rocky Mountain Poison Center.

His research focuses on best practices for managing alcohol withdrawal and the use of clinical decision support to improve emergency department treatment of alcohol and opioid use disorder

Kei Wong, MD, EdM

Rutgers New Jersey Medical school

"From Simulation to Confidence: Advanced Neonatal Resuscitation and Skill Mastery for Emergency Medicine Faculty"

Kei Wong, MD, EdM, is an associate professor of emergency medicine in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

Dr. Wong completed her pediatric residency and chief residency at Goryeb Children’s Hospital at Morristown Medical Center. Additionally, she completed a pediatric emergency medicine fellowship at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. Also, she earned a master’s degree in education and a graduate certificate in educational technology from the Rutgers Graduate School of Education.

She serves as clinical director of pediatric emergency medicine education for the emergency medicine residency, director of the pediatric emergency medicine student elective, and a preclerkship course director for medical students.

Dr. Wong’s work focuses on advancing pediatric emergency care through medical education and simulation-based training, including pediatric airway readiness and competency-based curriculum development. She is developing a procedural simulation program using rapid cycle deliberate practice to strengthen faculty skills in neonatal resuscitation

Rebecca G. Theophanous, MD, MHSc

Duke University Health System; Durham VA Healthcare System

"Simulation-Based Ultrasound Workshop Feasibility and Impact Assessment"

Rebecca Theophanous, MD, MHSc, is an associate professor of emergency medicine at Duke University Hospital and emergency ultrasound director at the Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

Dr. Theophanous is actively involved in clinical ultrasound education, teaching residents and students in the clinical setting, leading weekly ultrasound image review, presenting advanced ultrasound lectures, and facilitating resident simulation sessions. Her research focuses on point-of-care ultrasound, including three-dimensional ultrasound as an innovative bedside tool, and uses implementation science to identify facilitators and barriers to training and evaluate program impact.

Her current work includes developing a standardized simulation model for nerve block training, assessing ultrasound competency among resident and attending physicians, and exploring teleultrasound to improve patient care. She received the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Academy of Emergency Ultrasound Rising Star Junior Researcher Award in 2024. Also, she contributes to guideline and policy development through her institution’s ultrasound task force.

Joely Wilder Merriman, MD, MS

University of Rochester Medical Center

"Air Quality and ED Presentations for Exacerbation of Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease"

Joely Wilder Merriman, MD, MS, is an instructor in emergency medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Dr. Merriman earned her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and completed her emergency medicine residency at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She is currently a Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) fellow.

Her academic interests include health services, environmental epidemiology, and health equity. She is actively involved in teaching, patient care, and research.

Her research examines emergency department use and disparate health outcomes through the application of geospatial methods in environmental epidemiology and health services. She serves on the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Grants Committee, as a consultant to the Sickle Cell Hospital Care Quality Improvement Task Force at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and previously served as vice chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force for the emergency medicine residency at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Also. she serves as a committee member for the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Telehealth Section.

Davin Combs, MD

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

"A Novel Simulation Approach to Prehospital Triage for Active Threat MCI"

Davin Combs, MD, is a chief resident in emergency medicine at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.

Dr. Combs earned his medical degree from Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, where he also completed his emergency medicine residency. He is currently pursuing a fellowship in emergency medical services at the same institution.

His academic interests include emergency medical services (EMS) operations, triage, and technology development for the prehospital environment. He is actively involved in patient care, education, and research.

His research focuses on iterative triage in mass casualty events, the role of artificial intelligence in prehospital triage, and systems engineering for high-stakes prehospital skills and resource allocation. He also serves as a resident board member and didactics chair for the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Tactical and Law Enforcement Medicine Interest Group.

Angela Jarman, MD, MPH

University of California, Davis

"Sex Based Disparities in Pulmonary Embolism Advanced Interventions and Outcomes: A Multicenter Study"

Angela Jarman, MD, MPH, is an associate professor of emergency medicine at the University of California, Davis, where she serves as director of Sex and Gender in Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Jarman earned her medical degree from the University of Kentucky and completed her emergency medicine residency at the University of Utah. She completed a fellowship in Sex and Gender in Emergency Medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Also, she earned a Master of Public Health from the Brown University School of Public Health.

Her work focuses on the roles of biological sex and sociocultural gender as determinants of disease, with an emphasis on sex and hormonal-based influences on cardiovascular health and cardiovascular emergencies. Her research focuses on sex differences in venous thromboembolic disease, specifically pulmonary embolism (PE). Also, it includes evaluation of sex differences in the diagnostic process and feasibility studies of differences in presentation and diagnosis.

Dr. Jarman is active in the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). She has served as president of the Sex and Gender Interest Group and on multiple national initiatives. Additionally, she has been involved in steering committees for consensus conferences on precision medicine and anti-racism. 

William Bruno, MD, MPH

University of California, San Diego

"Humanitarian Response, Land Tenure, and Community Resilience After Hurricane Irma on the Island of Barbuda: A Qualitative Foundation for Community-Based Participatory Research"

William Bruno, MD, MPH, is an emergency medicine physician at the University of California, San Diego, with a focus on global emergency medicine and public health.

Dr. Bruno earned his medical degree from the University of California, San Diego. He completed his emergency medicine residency at Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center. Additionally, he completed a fellowship in global emergency medicine at Columbia University, where he also earned a Master of Public Health in epidemiology, and a certificate in public health and humanitarian action from the Mailman School of Public Health.

His work focuses on improving public health and human rights in humanitarian settings. He has worked internationally as both a researcher and clinician in regions including the Gaza Strip, the Thai-Burmese border, Bangladesh, and Moldova. He collaborates with organizations such as Community Partners International, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, Medical Teams International, and Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders.

Allyson Hansen, DO

University of South Florida

"Cardiac Position Using Real-time TTE to Identify Ideal Area of Max Compression"

Allyson Hansen, DO, is an assistant professor and residency ultrasound director in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of South Florida.

Dr. Hansen earned her medical degree from Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her emergency medicine residency at Hackensack University Medical Center. She completed a fellowship in advanced emergency ultrasound at the University of South Florida.

She teaches residents in clinical emergency medicine and emergency ultrasound. Also, she contributes to related research. Her academic interests include point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), resuscitative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), digital scholarship, and medical education. 

Her research focuses on resuscitative echocardiography, including transthoracic and transesophageal approaches, regional anesthesia in the emergency department for pain, and gastric ultrasound for aspiration risk assessment. She also serves on the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Residency Ultrasound Education Subcommittee.

Yash Chavda, DO, MBA, FPD-AEMUS

NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine

"Patient Experience and ED Throughput in Chest Pain With vs Without POCUS"

Yash Chavda, DO, MBA, FPD-AEMUS, is director of emergency ultrasound at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine.

Dr. Chavda earned his medical degree from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his emergency medicine residency at St. Barnabas Hospital. He completed a fellowship in emergency ultrasound at Zucker Northwell at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center.

He manages emergency ultrasound operations, including quality assurance and improvement. Also he teaches attending physicians, residents, students, and advanced practice providers. His academic interests include emergency ultrasound, administration, and critical care.

His research focuses on patient experience in chest pain evaluation and new applications of emergency ultrasound. He also served as an ultrasound section councilor in the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM).

Kathleen Li, MD, MS

University of Washington

"Interfacility Transfer of Older Adults: Outcomes and Opportunities for Improving Patient-Centered Care"

Kathleen Li, MD, MS, is an acting assistant professor at the University of Washington.

Dr. Li earned her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco, and completed her emergency medicine residency at the Mount Sinai and Elmhurst Hospital Emergency Medicine Residency Program.

Her work focuses on research and quality improvement to advance emergency care and patient outcomes.

Katherine Dickerson Mayes, MD, PhD

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

"Blood-based Biomarker Assessment in Geriatric Falls with Head Impact"

Katherine Mayes, MD, PhD, is an emergency medicine physician and researcher at Virginia Tech Carilion, where she contributes to clinical care and translational neurotrauma research. Her work focuses on precision diagnostics for traumatic brain injury, integrating both biomarker science with biomechanical engineering approaches.

Dr. Mayes earned her PhD in neuroscience from the University of St Andrews in Scotland as a Bobby Jones Scholar and her medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine. She completed her emergency medicine residency at the Harvard-affiliated Mass General Brigham program, where she served as chief resident.

Her research is conducted in collaboration with the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, with the goal of advancing diagnostic tools and improving outcomes in traumatic brain injury.

Christopher E. Gaw, MD, MPH, MBE

The Ohio State University College of Medicine

"Indicators and Modeling of Workload Saturation in Pediatric Emergency Departments"

Christopher Gaw, MD, MPH, MBE, is an assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and an attending physician in the Division of Emergency Medicine at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Gaw earned his medical degree from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and completed his pediatrics residency and pediatric emergency medicine fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

He is a health systems researcher whose work examines how injury risk and system stress influence performance in pediatric emergency and prehospital care. His research aims to translate epidemiologic and health services findings into safer clinical practice, policy, and prevention strategies.

Dr. Gaw is the recipient of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Foundation and Emergency Department Benchmarking Alliance Clinical Operations Research Grant, through which he is conducting research to identify workload indicators and models system strain in pediatric emergency departments.

Mariam O. Fofana, MD, PhD

Emory University School of Medicine

"Spatiotemporal Modeling to Estimate the Risk of Exposure to Emerging Pathogens"

Mariam O. Fofana, MD, PhD, is an emergency physician and epidemiologist whose research focuses on infectious diseases of global health significance.

Dr. Fofana’s work emphasizes quantitative epidemiologic methods, including mathematical modeling, to better understand disease dynamics and inform public health responses. Her doctoral research examined the population-level impact of treatment for drug-sensitive and drug-resistant tuberculosis. More recently, she has used cohort data to evaluate immune responses to SARS-CoV-2.

Her current work focuses on improving preparedness and response to travel-related and emerging pathogens in the emergency department setting across multiple scales.