People

People List

  • IMG_8493 - Shacelles Bonner Large
    Shacelles Bonner, MD

    Fellow

    Yale New Haven Hospital

    I am currently a Chief resident and a rising Yale Simulation Fellow for the 2023-24 academic year. I hope to hold the position of executive fellow because I am passionate about the utilization and expansion of simulation as it relates to medical education, research and patient care.

    The true potential of simulation remains untapped because many of the programs are comparatively new and continue to function largely in silos. As executive fellow, I will help foster a collegial environment on a national level. I hope to facilitate a channel in which simulation enthusiasts nationwide can come together to use simulation as a medical education tool.

    Although this will be my first active role in SAEM, I have been a member of a few SAEM communities including simulation, diversity and inclusion in addition to global emergency medicine. On a local level, I have functioned on various boards including as co-president of the Yale Women’s Housestaff Organization and co-chair of the Yale Emergency Medicine Diversity Committee.

  • Rentz_UW_Profile Picture - Michael Rentz
    Michael Rentz, MD, MPH

    Fellow

    University of Wisconsin

    I am the current simulation fellow at University of Wisconsin in Madison. I completed residency at Rush University in Chicago this year in 2022, where I participated in many simulation-based activities. These included writing/debriefing sim cases and building lower fidelity models as Resident Director of Simulation, serving as resident liaison for Mock Code Blue simulations with a multidisciplinary team, and helping to establish a new medical student Simulation Interest Group. In fellowship, I have continued to create and debrief simulations regularly for residents and medical students, and am currently exploring aspects of simulation-based debriefing styles, quality improvement, and research for a future career in sim.

    I participated in SAEM 2022’s conference simulation meeting as a recipient of the Sim Academy’s resident scholarship, as well as partaking in the offered seminars on low-fidelity simulation trainers and medical debriefing. I am running for the Fellow position on the Executive Committee to broaden my experience in participating in national simulation organizations, expand my involvement in teaching simulation to resident and fellow learners beyond my home program, and learn as much as possible from other Academy members who have created meaningful and successful careers in sim. I would hope to create a more robust mentorship and career guide for young residents and faculty in RAMS and SAEM, share my interest and experience in debriefing with resident seminars, and organize/host panels to help those interested in creating research and careers from their developing interest in sim.

  • JHeiferman Photo - Jeffrey Heiferman
    Jeffrey R. Heiferman, MD

    Fellow

    Loyola University Medical Center

    I am the current simulation fellow at Loyola University Medical Center, which is part of the Chicago Simulation Fellowship Collaborative. I am a clinical instructor within the Departments of Emergency Medicine and the Department of Medical Education. I completed my undergraduate studies at Northwestern University, medical school training at Rush Medical College, and went on to complete my residency in Emergency Medicine at Loyola University Medical Center, where I served as Chief Resident of education during my third year. Being part of the Chicago Simulation Fellowship Collaborative, I have had the opportunity to connect with the other simulation fellows in Chicago, and I hope to expand similar types of networking opportunities to fellows on a national level.

  • Mugfor_Jared - Jared Mugfor (1)
    Jared Mugfor, DO

    Fellow

    Allegheny General Hospital

    I am currently a PGY-3 at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. I am also an incoming Simulation Fellow at Brown EM for the 2023-2024 Academic Year. I currently serve on the EMRA Simulation Committee. I want to be a member of the SAEM Simulation Exec Committee in the fellow role for the following reasons. To bridge the gap between residents interested in simulation and fellowships so that we can continue to find the future leaders of our field. And to partner with other organizations, such as CORD and EMRA, to create a united team of simulation enthusiasts to advance our field further.

  • Emily Pauw Picture - Emily Pauw
    Emily Pauw, MD

    Fellow

    Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    I am writing to apply for the Simulation Academy Executive Committee fellowship position. I am currently a chief resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and have accepted the Simulation fellowship position here for the 2023-2024 academic year. My interest in this committee stems from my experience at SAEM 2022 in New Orleans, where I participated in Sim Wars as a part of the Vanderbilt team and did an oral poster presentation. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience as a resident participant and want to continue to encourage resident participation as I become a fellow next year. I decided on simulation as a career path during my second year of residency but had difficulty finding centralized resources for fellowship information and how to get involved in simulation leadership as a resident. If elected, I would design an organized, easily accessible database of information about simulation fellowship positions, career resources for residents interested in simulation, and connections with nationwide simulation faculty to foster mentorship. The earlier in their training residents have access to this, the more prepared they will be able to make the decision to pursue simulation as a career. I would additionally advocate and fundraise for resident scholarships to participate in simulation opportunities (national/regional conferences, SimWars, educational courses). As a current resident, I have an intimate understanding of the resident experience trying to pursue a career in simulation and have many ideas for opportunities to improve this experience.

  • Elyse Fults Headshot - Elyse Fults
    Elyse Fults, MD

    Fellow

    Yale New Haven Health

    I am currently a fourth-year EM resident at Yale New Haven Health, and I am very excited to start as the simulation fellow at Rush University after graduation in 2023. Although education has always been a passion of mine, simulation has emerged as a clear career focus over the course of my residency. My particular interests include medical student foundational education and the interface between educational environment, emotional state, and learning. I believe simulation can play a valuable role in teaching fundamental concepts, as well as in easing transitions between levels of medical training. I have been a member of SAEM since medical school; it would be a privilege to serve in a leadership role in the Simulation Academy, and if elected I would strive to further its mission by promoting the use of simulation in various levels of medical education and encouraging collaborations between simulation teams.

  • Alaa Aldalati, MD

    Secretary

    Kansas University - CarePoint Health

    With a strong foundation in simulation-based education and a deep commitment to advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within medical training, I have dedicated my career to fostering inclusive and innovative learning environments. After completing my residency at the Mayo Clinic, where I served as chief resident, I pursued a Simulation Fellowship at Brown University. Currently, I am an assistant professor at Kansas University and play a key role in launching a new Emergency Medicine residency program at KU-Wesley Medical Center. My involvement with SAEM’s Simulation Academy has been an incredible journey, during which I’ve had the honor of receiving awards like the Trainee of the Year and the ARMED Scholarship, underscoring my dedication to educational excellence and simulation innovation.

    For the past two years, I’ve led the Early Career Subcommittee, mentoring numerous residents, fellows, and medical students. Supporting early-career physicians is a true passion of mine, and I am dedicated to expanding outreach initiatives and building strong mentorship pathways that contribute to their professional growth. I am fully committed to supporting the Simulation Academy’s current projects and facilitating broader engagement with early-career physicians, empowering them with the skills and resources they need to succeed in simulation-based education and DEI.

    As I run for the role of secretary within the SAEM Simulation Academy, I am motivated to strengthen our Academy’s organizational effectiveness and communication. I am eager to bring my experience, mentorship background, and commitment to a more inclusive and empathetic Emergency Medicine community to the role, contributing meaningfully to the Academy’s mission and growth.

  • Stephanie Stapleton, MD

    President-Elect

    Boston Medical Center/Boston University

    I am the Director of Emergency Medicine Simulation at Boston Medical Center and Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. I have served on the Simulation Academy in multiple capacities over the last 7 years. I began as Vice Chair of the Research & Scholarship Subcommittee since its inception, then elected to the Executive Committee position of Vice President of Research & Scholarship. I serve as Treasurer this year. This has allowed me to see how the Simulation Academy and SAEM works from the ground up. The mentorship, collaboration, and the building of a scholarly community is what keeps me excited and is why I am running for President.

    During my time on the Executive Committee, I have focused on building and supporting an accessible simulation research community, creating scholarship and funding opportunities, and connecting with other research groups. This work has resulted in a new ABEM certifying exam curriculum, multiple publications, a new Just-In-Time Award for promising simulation research projects, a new grant application guide, and collaborations with the SAEM Research Committee and INSPIRE. These projects required goal-oriented and communicative leadership while maintaining a collaborative approach.

    I am running for President to further support and grow our community and elevate our professional standings. I will continue to work within our academy to create a collaborative and inquisitive culture that explores and advances the simulation world. I will continue to work with other committees and groups to strengthen our organizational opportunities and create mutually beneficial products. Let’s advance our CVs but have fun doing it!

  • Stephanie Cohen, DO

    Vice President of Membership

    University of Central Florida

    My name is Stephanie Cohen and I completed my residency training at the University at Buffalo and served as chief resident in 2021. I went on to complete simulation fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville Florida in 2022. I am currently a core faculty member, simulation director, and simulation fellowship director and the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. I have been a member of SAEM since I began fellowship and have become very involved over the past few years. Before serving on the executive committee in 2022, I helped on numerous subcommittees and helped to write and judge SimWars cases. I quickly realized how beneficial the Simulation Academy can be to its members and really strived to get involved as much as possible. I have been the VP of membership the past two years; in this time I have begun to accomplish many endeavors such as increasing membership and funding, starting a mentorship program, creating a quarterly engagement award and beginning a gamification initiative in order to help recruit members and recognize members for all of the amazing things they are doing. If elected to continue for a second term, I would like to continue these endeavors and add even more in order to make our members feel like this academy is beneficial to them and their careers, no matter what level of training they are in from medical student to senior faculty.

  • Michael Secko MD, FACEP, AEMUS-FPD

    Secretary

    Stony Brook University Hospital

    I completed my medical school (2004) and residency training at SUNY Downstate/Kings County Hospital (2008). I finished my ultrasound fellowship under leadership of Dr. Michael Stone in 2009. I was the ultrasound division and fellowship director at Kings County/SUNY Downstate from 2012-2016. Since 2016, I am the Ultrasound Division, and Advanced EM Ultrasound Fellowship Director at Stony Brook University Hospital, where I was instrumental in developing and maintaining a successful ultrasound division and EUFAC accredited Advanced EM fellowship. I have lectured and taught multiple POCUS courses and workshops at the Institutional, local, regional, national, and international level. I have multiple publications in prestigious Emergency medicine journals.

    I am looking to bring my vast years of experience to SAEM AEUS and serve our POCUS community. I am running for the secretary position where I can leverage my strong organizational aptitude to implement projects, and use my effective communication skills to liaise between different executive committee positions/ responsibilities and our members. If elected as secretary, my top priorities would be to work with webmaster to update SAEM/AUES website so that it becomes the go-to place for our members to find information and resources, as well as helping to recruit more engaged members to our group.

  • Julie Rice, MD, MSMS
    Julie Rice, MD

    Treasurer

    Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

    Hello EM Sim warriors! I am running for Sim Academy Treasurer this term and would love your support. For the last two years while running the Education Subcommittee I successfully developed and implemented the Sim Academy workshop on Active Learning that included 20 simulation academy members in the workshop development, implementation, and publication. Although our Advanced Debriefing Workshop was not accepted, my involvement this year on the SAEM Program Committee shed light on how to successfully propose workshops for future SAEM meetings.

    I would like to continue the work of developing new and exciting ways for Sim Academy members to get involved in teaching and presenting work at the national level. Why Sim Academy treasurer? Learning the resources available to support Sim Academy members will help me continue to work with subcommittee members to develop inclusive, high impact opportunities for academic work at the national level!

    A bit about me, I am the Director of Emergency Medicine Simulation in the Johns Hopkins Emergency department. I have completed a Masters in Medical and Healthcare Simulation Education and have experience developing simulation programs in national and international settings. I believe that simulation educators have a unique skillset that is highly transferrable to our colleagues in medical education and love to develop programs and workshops to teach these skills.
    I appreciate all the support members have given me in the past and hope to continue my work bringing you workshop and presentation opportunities at SAEM in the future.

  • Vinay Kampalath, MD, DTMH

    SAEM Program Committee Liaison

    University of Pennsylvania / Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

    I am interested in the role of Program Committee Liaison for the Global Emergency Medicine Academy Executive Committee because I would like to see GEMA’s presence increase even further at the SAEM Annual Meeting. GEMA itself is growing in scope and membership, and this growth reflects the increasing interest in global emergency medicine among emergency medicine faculty and trainees across the world. I currently serve as co-chair of the GEMA Program Committee, where we are currently working on planning GEMA-related events at SAEM23. As Program Committee Liaison, I would work to plan the annual GEMA business meeting in 2024, and I would advocate for and encourage GEMA-related submissions to the overall meeting. My goals would be to support a breadth of global emergency medicine-related submissions that reflect our diverse subcommittees (e.g., decolonizing global health, BEC, Indian Health Services, EMS, pediatric emergency medicine, and humanitarian health) and our membership, especially our GEMA members from LMICs. At the Annual Meeting, I also hope to support events that provide an outlet for socializing and opportunities for collaboration.

  • Jane Kim Headshot - Jane Kim
    Jane Kim, MD, EdD

    Vice President of Membership

    Kings County Hospital Center/SUNY Downstate

    I had the honor of serving on the SAEM Simulation Academy Executive Committee for the past 2 years as a member-at-large. In this role, I was part of a group that observed, studied, led, and supported simulation activities during the time of COVID. I enjoyed the thought partnership and support provided by the other members of the executive committee when we were all isolated. When we got together over Zoom, we talked about our struggles and successes in both the clinical and simulation education domain. These discussions gave me the strength to continue with my simulation activities and even publish; they made me realize I was part of a greater Emergency Medicine simulation education community.

    As the VP of Membership, I would like to promote and leverage our network of Emergency Medicine simulation educators. I hope that we can all experience the strength from the membership of the Simulation Academy. In order to accomplish this goal, I would like to continue working with the VP of Social Media & Communication on a couple of projects. The first project would be to improve the user experience and content of the Simulation Academy webpage. The second project would be to create a searchable membership map to facilitate networking for mentorship and research. Through these two projects, Simulation Academy members will easily be able to take advantage of our membership’s diverse interests and experiences. I truly believe if we want to go far, we must go together.

  • Meagan Barry, MD, PhD, CTropMed

    SAEM Program Committee Liaison

    The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

    I graduated from the Medical Scientist Training Program at Baylor College of Medicine with a PhD in Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine. My thesis project was to develop a vaccine for Chagas disease using a mouse model of disease.  During my training, I completed a Diploma in Tropical Medicine from Baylor College of Medicine and received the Certificate of Knowledge in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Travelers' Health (CTropMed) from the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. I completed my residency in Emergency Medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University as a Brown Residency International/Global Health Training (BRIGHT) scholar and with a Distinction in Research. During residency I served on the SAEM Residents and Medical Students (RAMS) board as a Member-at-Large. As a Global Emergency Medicine Fellow, my work investigates the impact of maternal schistosomiasis and hookworm infection on the maternal and infant microbiomes and on resulting infant health outcomes. 
     
    During my tenure as the SAEM Program Committee Liaison I will be an advocate for academic Global Emergency Medicine within SAEM. In particular, I will strive to represent and promote the incredible diversity of research that our members accomplish. Additionally, I want to help strengthen the GEMA community now that we are fortunate to be able to meet again in person. Specifically, by being able to meet in a social setting during the SAEM Annual Meeting, the GEMA community can form new collaborations and spark innovative science. 

  • Torben "Tom" Becker, MD, PhD

    Development and Grants Officer

    University of Florida

    I am an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, and Emergency Medical Services at the University of Florida (UF). I hold affiliate faculty appointments in the Department of Environmental & Global Health in the College of Public Health & Health Professions and in the Center for African Studies.

    In the UF Department of Emergency Medicine, I serve as the Director of the Section of Global Health and the Chief of the Division of Critical Care Medicine. I am the Program Director of our Global Emergency Medicine Fellowship. As an EMS medical director, I regularly respond to emergency calls in the field, in addition to working clinically in the ED and in the cardiac surgery & liver transplant ICUs. 

    I am the former Editor-in-Chief of the Global Emergency Medicine Literature Review (GEMLR) group and I am currently a federally- & GEMA-funded principal investigator doing research in Ghana. I serve as Treasurer on the Global EM Fellowship Council’s Executive Committee and I co-chair GEMA's EMS Committee.
    I would be honored to serve GEMA due to its wide reach within the world of academic global health. I hope to contribute in a way that will allow GEMA to support researchers beyond the SAEM GEMA grant, with a focus on helping interested members in developing research skills in global health. Specifically, I would work towards expanding GEMA's reach in providing resources to young investigators who are looking for help in getting their research projects of the ground, but lack mentorship or institutional support.

  • Stephen T. Hobson, MD, MS, FAWM

    Medical Student/Resident Representative

    University of Vermont

    Stephen grew up in Michigan and attended Hope College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communications with minors in History and Philosophy. Following graduation, Stephen served five years on active duty in the United States Army. He completed Infantry training as the platoon honor graduate, Airborne School, and the Special Operations Combat Medic course before becoming a Green Beret. He deployed as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant to Afghanistan and Yemen and was awarded the Bronze Star. He treated hundreds of local Afghans in their remote aid station with everything from pediatric burns to surgical debridement of gunshot wounds. This is what inspired him to become a doctor.
     
    After leaving active duty, Stephen continued his path into medicine by completing the post-bacc program and medical school at University of Michigan. He was a member of the medical student council and leadership team of both the Emergency and Wilderness Medicine Interest Groups. Stephen was selected for AOA, obtained the Fellowship of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine, the Diploma in Mountain Medicine, and completed a Master of Science degree with honors from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University during his fourth year of medical school.
     
    Stephen is now a second-year resident in Emergency Medicine at University of Vermont. He is currently teaching point-of-care ultrasound to doctors in St. Lucia, will be taking elective rotations to remote northwest Alaska and to Cape Town, South Africa with a focus on trauma resuscitation. He is passionate about emergency care in remote and low-resource settings, and hopes to work together with providers in these settings to improve their mutual knowledge and skills when caring for patients.

  • Rmaah Memon, MD

    Secretary

    University of Pennsylvania

    As secretary, I will aim to promote effective communication, organization, and global mentorship of GEMA’s members. I have been involved with GEMA for several years and have previously served on the Executive Committee as Resident Representative (2022-2023) and IT chair (2024-2025), during which time I piloted initiatives to improve member engagement, including launching GEMA’s official instagram presence. I have also co-chaired the BEC, Digital Health, and AWAEM/GEMA Travel Grant committees for the past two years, through which I have strong ties with GEMA members both in the US and globally.

    I’m a second-year Global Emergency Medicine Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, where I have been involved with multiple cross-institutional projects during my fellowship. I completed the six-year B.A./M.D. program at the University of Missouri–Kansas City and completed my residency at the the Harvard Affiliated EM Residency Program at MGH/BWH. My global work centers on training community health workers and physicians in low- and middle-income countries, with a focus on Pakistan, and creating digital tools to advance global emergency medicine education. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to GEMA’s mission and its collaborative spirit. It would be a privilege to continue serving the GEMA community as secretary and supporting its mission to advance emergency care worldwide.

  • Rebecca Leff, MD
    Rebecca Leff, MD

    Secretary

    Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School

    I am an Emergency Medicine physician and current Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. I completed my Emergency Medicine residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. As a long-standing member of the SAEM Global Emergency Medicine Academy (GEMA), I helped found GEMA’s first Pediatrics Committee, leading initiatives to map the global landscape of pediatric emergency medicine and to develop pediatric-focused emergency care assessment tools for low- and middle-income countries. I currently serve as co-chair of both the GEMA Pediatrics Committee and the Humanitarian Committee and previously served as the Resident Representative to GEMA’s Executive Board. In recognition of these contributions, I was honored with the SAEM GEMA Young Physician Award in 2023.

    I am running for a position on the GEMA Executive Board to continue advancing our collective vision of inclusivity, collaboration, and sustainable impact in global emergency care. My goal is to strengthen engagement with colleagues from LMICs, expand mentorship opportunities, and build meaningful partnerships with global organizations. During this particularly challenging period for global health, I hope to help members view GEMA as a community of support—offering access to mentorship, skill development, and strategies to adapt and sustain projects amid evolving or limited funding environments.

    My global health work focuses on strengthening pediatric emergency medicine capacity through high-impact educational initiatives. I have had the privilege of teaching PEM skills to trainees across Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and am currently collaborating with the American Academy of Pediatrics to develop the Global Pediatric Emergency Care (GPEC) program. Additionally, I contributed to establishing Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Critical Care (PECC) as a recognized specialty in Ghana and helped launch the country’s first PECC fellowship. My ongoing research centers on sustainable, equitable PEM capacity development in LMICs and improving emergency care for vulnerable populations.

  • Brandon S. Friedman, MD

    Medical Student/Resident Representative

    Atrium Health - Carolinas Medical Center

    My name is Brandon Friedman and I am a PGY-1 resident in emergency medicine at the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. I earned my Doctorate of Medicine at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine, with a scholarly concentration in Clinician Leadership in Quality & Safety. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, with a concentration in Health Policy and Management. I am applying for the position of Resident Representative of the Global Emergency Medicine Academy Executive Committee.
     
    I am a citizen of the United States that grew up in Asia – in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Thailand – from birth through my pre-undergraduate education, while my parents pursued careers that focused on mitigating the spread of global infectious diseases and combatting the practice of human trafficking. Enamored by the field of public health, I decided to pursue a career as an emergency physician and hoped to utilize my skills as a medical professional to further the development of sustainable healthcare initiatives abroad. I plan to pursue a fellowship in international emergency medicine post-residency and to dedicate my career to collaborating with international groups to develop sustainable community-driven healthcare programs and institutions in low-resource settings, abroad.
     
    My background includes work with federally qualified health centers the United States and the Population and Community Development Association in Thailand. I have served in leadership roles in philanthropic organizations like Operation Smile, public-health-oriented student organizations in my medical school, and a medical-student-run free clinic at UNC. My research interests began with chromosome modeling and protein transport in the biological sciences, but have more recently focused on the intersection of health and human rights, as well as healthcare quality improvement in the Emergency Department setting. My most recent publication examines international human rights literature on the use of solitary confinement in prisons and the impact of this practice on the health of incarcerated persons. With this information, I compiled a series of recommendations for US legislative reform to better align our laws with those proposed by international governing bodies, to improve the wellbeing of incarcerated individuals. Throughout residency, I hope to pursue additional research with my institution’s faculty to develop and evaluate remote education resources for emergency medicine training programs in Tanzania.
     
    I hope to have the opportunity to serve on the GEMA executive committee and dedicate my time to helping the committee further its goal of improving the provision of emergency care globally through its role in research, academics, and mentorship. I look forward to the opportunity to learn from other GEMA members and content area experts to build my own proficiency throughout the next several years and develop the skills necessary to contribute to the global emergency medicine community, through my participation in GEMA and beyond. I sincerely appreciate your time and consideration.

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