People

University of Washington

"Delayed Diagnosis of Pediatric CNS Infections: Insights from the PECARN Registry"

Kaileen Jafari, MD, is an assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine and a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Seattle Children’s Hospital. She is a health services researcher focused on improving the quality of pediatric emergency care.

Dr. Jafari’s work examines structural and systems-level factors that drive variation in care, with a particular emphasis on reducing diagnostic errors and improving the timely, accurate identification of serious infections in children. She serves as a site co-investigator for the Seattle–Texas–Los Angeles node of the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network.

She earned her medical degree from the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, completed residency at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital at Columbia University, and completed fellowship training at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital. She is a former Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Fellow.

Stanford University

"Emergency Department Based Wastewater Surveillance of Transmissible Infectious Diseases"

Christopher Bennett, MD, MSc, MA, is a board-certified emergency physician and researcher at Stanford University. He is faculty in the Department of Emergency Medicine and is affiliated with the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging, and the Center for Digital Health.

Dr. Bennett’s work focuses on data-informed precision medicine to improve health care delivery, particularly for transmissible infectious diseases. As a National Institutes of Health-funded investigator, he leads a research group developing solutions to improve patient outcomes and inform health policy.

He completed training at Duke University, Harvard University, and Stanford University. Dr. Bennett has served in national leadership roles with the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, including the Board of Directors and the SAEM Foundation Board of Trustees.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

"Motivation-Based Assessment and Curriculum Design for Low Utilizers of Ultrasound"

Elizabeth Yetter, MD, MHPE, is Ultrasound Division Director at Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West. She specializes in emergency ultrasound and medical education, with a focus on advancing training and performance in clinical practice.

Dr. Yetter earned her medical degree from The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and completed her emergency medicine residency at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She pursued additional training through an Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship and a Master of Health Professions Education from New York University and Maastricht University in the Netherlands, where she is currently completing a PhD in medical education.

Her research centers on ultrasound education, including skill retention and the factors influencing performance among residents and attending physicians. She has received multiple national awards, including the Academy of Emergency Ultrasound Rising Star Education Award, the ARMED Med Ed Pilot Grant, the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Education Research Training Grant, and the American College of Emergency Physicians Junior Faculty Education Award.

University of Washington

"Targeting VWF Hyperadhesiveness to Improve Organ Perfusion After Trauma"

Alexander St. John, MD, MS, is a physician-scientist in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Dr. St. John’s research focuses on improving outcomes for trauma patients by advancing understanding of maladaptive processes following severe injury. His work examines trauma-induced coagulopathy and systemic microvascular obstruction as key drivers of organ dysfunction.

His research aims to generate foundational insights that inform the development of new therapeutic strategies to expand clinical approaches for treating these conditions.

Mass General Brigham

"Pulmonary Embolism Pre-Test Probability and Severity Estimation Using AI"

Drew Birrenkott, MD, DPhil, is an attending emergency physician and fellow in clinical innovation and research translation in vascular emergencies in the Mass General Brigham Department of Emergency Medicine and Harvard Medical School. Upon completion of his fellowship, he will join the department as faculty in the Center for Vascular Emergencies.

Dr. Birrenkott earned his Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering, biochemistry, and political science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He completed a Doctor of Philosophy in engineering science at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and received his medical degree from Stanford University. He completed residency training at the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

His research interests focus on machine learning and predictive modeling in acute care, with a particular emphasis on pulmonary embolism. Dr. Birrenkott serves as principal investigator on a project developing artificial intelligence and proteomics-based models to predict the probability and severity of pulmonary embolism in emergency department patients.

Maimonides Medical Center

"Artificial Intelligence in the ED: How Resident Physicians are Supplementing Their Clinical Knowledge"

McKenzie Andrews, MD, is a PGY-1 emergency medicine resident at Maimonides Medical Center. Her work reflects a commitment to medical education, health equity, and systems improvement.

Dr. Andrews earned her undergraduate degree from Stanford University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Relay Graduate School for Education. She completed her MD and Master of Public Health in health policy and management at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. She also served in elected roles on the Medical Council and the Brooklyn Free Clinic.

Before medical school, Dr. Andrews was a Teach For America corps member in New York City, an experience that shaped her interest in emergency care and public service. Her research background includes pediatric emergency medicine studies at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Also, a community-based research through a student-run free clinic, supported by the New York Academy of Medicine.

Her current scholarly work focuses on the use of artificial intelligence in emergency medicine residency education and its impact on trainee development and patient care.

Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

Les Roberts, PhD, is a Professor Emeritus at Columbia University and has taken part in the field measurement of mortality in crises, including: Rwanda 1994, more than 30 health zones in the Democratic Republic of Congo 1999-2002, Iraq 2004, Zimbabwe 2007, the Central African Republic 2009, 2018, and 2022, and Sierra Leone 2000 and 2014. He was an EIS Officer in the CDC's Refugee Health Activity and was later the Director of Health Policy at the International Rescue Committee.

SAEM Program Committee Liaison

Brown University

I received my medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical College and completed my pediatrics residency at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, followed by fellowship training in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Texas Children’s Hospital. I am currently faculty at Brown University in the Division of Global Emergency Medicine, where I am deeply engaged in global health education, research, and clinical capacity building. My prior global health work includes serving as a Baylor Global Health Corps physician in Ethiopia and Saipan, and I have extensive clinical, educational, and research experience in Belize, Ethiopia, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Jamaica.Within SAEM, I have served as the Inaugural Chair of the GEMA Pediatrics Group and as a Basic Emergency Care (BEC) Co-Chair and faculty trainer for multiple SAEM-sponsored BEC “Train the Trainers” courses. Through these roles, I have honed skills in organizing and leading large conference sessions, collaborating across diverse teams, and aligning members toward shared goals.I am running for the position of Program Committee Liaison because I am confident that my leadership experience, organizational skills, and collaborative spirit will allow me to contribute meaningfully to GEMA’s mission. GEMA is a respected and influential community within the global health education, mentorship, and research space. Having personally benefited from the mentorship, professional opportunities, and sense of community that GEMA provides, I am deeply committed to supporting its continued growth and impact.If elected, I aim continue to advance GEMA’s reputation as a leader in global health education and collaboration.

Member-at-Large

University of Michigan

Dr. Mahajan is the William G. Barsan Collegiate Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. He is a tenured professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, as well as the founding chair of the Emergency Medicine Research and Education Network for Global Experts (E.M.E.R.G.E.), a global network comprising 20 academic emergency departments across more than 15 countries (www.emergenetwork.org). Additionally, he has served as the past chair of the Section of Emergency Medicine for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

As a pediatric health services and outcomes researcher, Dr. Mahajan has received continuous federal funding (from NIH, AHRQ, and NSF) for the past 25 years, totaling over $25 million. He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles. His research interests encompass infectious diseases (specifically the evaluation and management of febrile infants), inflammation (including asthma and sepsis), and the development of clinically meaningful decision rules for assessing febrile infants. His patient safety research emphasizes diagnostic excellence by evaluating how clinicians make diagnostic decisions in challenging emergency department settings. He leads the Research and Education in Acute Care using Advanced Technology (REACT) program and has created the first web-based augmented reality platform for training emergency providers and facilitating real-time telemedicine. Furthermore, he serves as the co-director of the Fellowship of the Academic College of Emergency Experts in India in Pediatric Emergency Medicine, working for the past 25 years to advance the practice of pediatric emergency medicine in India.

Dr. Mahajan is the father of two daughters, Arushi (26 years) and Aditi (24 years). His wife, Jayashree, is a pediatrician working in the emergency department at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit. His extracurricular interests include tennis, long-distance road cycling, and hiking.

Member-at-Large

University of Cincinnati

Gregory J. Fermann, MD is the Richard C. Levy Endowed Chair and Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Cincinnati. He completed his undergraduate degree at St. Louis University, medical degree at University of Cincinnati and Emergency Medicine at Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ.
Dr. Fermann's expertise is in risk stratification in Afib, ACS and VTE. He served as PI of the University of Cincinnati SIREN Hub and serves on the AHA sponsored CHANGE AFIB program and the QUANTUM AF study. He has been recognized for his contributions to research and clinical practice, including the ACEP Best of Research Forum Award, the Ohio ACEP Emergency Physician Leadership Award and received the Timothy Freeman Award for Sustained Excellence from UC Health.

He serves on the SAEM Finance, Workforce, and Operations and Administration Committees and AACEM where he serves on the Innovations Committee.

As a board candidate for AACEM, I will do the heavy lifting required to support this organization. From committee work to strategic planning, advancing the mission of AACEM requires the time, effort and commitment to advancing the academic mission of our great specialty. I will bring a balanced approach to leadership. The missions of service, education and discovery require constant attention. Similarly, AACEM must to balance its attention to these missions. While training modifications may be front of mind, extramural funding and boarding pressures are ever present for our medical centers and our faculty. As a junior chair at AACEM, I am committed to listening how it can foster fellowship and mentorship among its members. As my friend and mentor Richard C. Levy said to me when I secured this position, the first thing that suffers when we become Chair is that the list of mentees grows while the list of mentors shrinks. AACEM changes that.

Member-at-Large

University of Colorado

I’m running for the AACEM Executive Committee because our specialty is standing at a defining crossroads. The next decade of academic emergency medicine will be shaped by how effectively we lead in innovation, data, and collaboration for all of healthcare.

As a Professor and Endowed Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Colorado and Founding Director of the CU Center for COMBAT Research, I’ve had the privilege to help build teams that drive discovery, translate science into care, and grow leaders across the nation. Through these roles and others, I’ve seen what’s possible when research, education, and clinical operations move in unison—when we align urgency with vision.

My experience as a clinician, investigator, and senior military officer has taught me that leadership is about service and execution. I’ve helped expand programs that integrate AI, informatics, and data science to improve efficiency, research performance, and patient outcomes. I’ve led initiatives that strengthen operational readiness, train the next generation of innovators, and connect academic and military medicine to accelerate progress. I have served on the RRC and ACGME, helping shape national standards for academic training. I’ve authored 260+ manuscripts, led 30+ federally funded grants, worked with NASEM, and mentored 100+ faculty and trainees who now lead across the country.

On the AACEM Executive Committee, I aim to help connect departments, modernize infrastructure, guide federal policy, recruit innovators to our field, and build leaders prepared for the challenges ahead. Together, we can position AACEM as the national engine for collaboration and excellence and a model for other healthcare specialties.

My vision is for AACEM to lead with urgency, unity, and measurable impact on communities and families - to turn innovation into action, translate research into care, and build a future defined by purpose, progress, and partnership.

Medical Student Representative

Saint James School of Medicine

As a Doctor of Medicine candidate with a Master of Public Administration and over a decade of healthcare experience, I bring a unique perspective that bridges clinical medicine, leadership, and policy. My professional journey, rooted in resilience, service, and advocacy, has strengthened my dedication to improving emergency care through education, research, innovation, and mentorship. Grounded in my background in health administration and policy, I am committed to advancing equitable, evidence-based, and sustainable systems that enhance patient outcomes and strengthen the future of academic emergency medicine.

Within the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), I have been honored to serve as a Medical Student Ambassador for the 2025 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA, where I supported educational programming, facilitated mentorship connections, and networked with leaders advancing the specialty. I am an active member of the Academy for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Medicine (ADIEM), the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Interest Group (PEMIG), where I serve as Social Media Liaison, and a former member of the Equity and Inclusion Committee. Through these roles, I have contributed to webinars, national presentations, and initiatives centered on pediatric migrant health, health equity, and advocacy in emergency medicine, reflecting active engagement in SAEM’s mission of improving care through research and education.

I am running for the RAMS Board because I believe deeply in SAEM’s mission and RAMS’s vision to advance academic emergency medicine through education, research, and professional development. If elected, my focus will be on strengthening mentorship programs, expanding access to research and leadership opportunities, and promoting equity, engagement, and well-being among all trainees, especially those who are underrepresented or international medical graduates pursuing academic careers in emergency medicine.

As a U.S. International and underrepresented medical student, I am passionate about fostering innovation, mentorship, and inclusion that empower all trainees and physicians to thrive. I look forward to collaborating with fellow board members to create meaningful opportunities for professional growth and community building, while supporting RAMS as the premier organization advancing the science, education, and practice of emergency and acute care medicine.

Medical Student Representative

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

My name is Reed Stevens and I am a second-year medical student at Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine. Prior to medical school, I received my bachelors degree at the University of Notre Dame where I double majored in Biological Sciences and Theology. Throughout college and my early clinical training, I have maintained a singular interest in the field of emergency medicine, particularly because of its demonstrated ability to evolve alongside the ever-changing demands of modern medicine. While working for nearly two years as an ED technician, I experienced firsthand how EM physicians are routinely expected to perform beyond the scope of their formal training, caring for critically ill patients while also navigating the complex social, economic, and mental health challenges that many individuals often present with. It was during this time that I first gained an appreciation for EM and its foundational role both within our hospital systems and our communities at large.

Having now been a member of SAEM for the past year, I feel compelled to take on a larger role by promoting the core vision and organizational values of its RAMS division. If I were to be elected to the RAMS Board, I would strive to ensure that all students have equal access to mentorship, educational resources, and networking opportunities to foster personalized growth and career discernment. Potential ideas include the development of a longitudinal mentorship program that covers all levels of clinical training and early-career attendings, as well as a formalized RAMS ambassador program that would gather real-time feedback from EM residency programs across the nation. However, as with any leadership position, my first priority would be to listen and learn from those who have served in this role before me in order to assess what progress has already been made, as well as any gaps that still remain. Not only would I faithfully serve our mission of cultivating the next generation of leaders in research and direct patient care, but I would remain a conduit for the voices that matter most--students and the exceptional residents they are bound to become.

Medical Student Representative

Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

Hi guys! My name is Kaelan Patel, and I am a 4th year medical student at Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth, TX! I am deeply committed to supporting residents and medical students as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of training in emergency medicine. Throughout my education, I have actively sought leadership and advocacy roles, including SAEM's Wellness and ED Clinical Operations and Admin Committees as well as local TCOM clubs.

I am running for the RAMS Board because I want to ensure that residents and medical students have a strong, active voice within SAEM. I am particularly passionate about mentorship, career development, and fostering a supportive community where trainees feel heard, connected, and empowered. I believe that investing in the development of our junior members strengthens not only individual careers but also the field of emergency medicine as a whole. I feel that my perspective as a current 4th year EM-bound student, who has already navigated majority of the medical school hurdles, as well as an incoming intern, I will bring a fresh perspective to the board!

If elected, I hope to create structured mentorship opportunities linking students with residents and faculty, develop targeted educational programming addressing both clinical (procedures, wellness strategies, leadership tips) and non-clinical skills (contract negotiation, job search, research navigation), and enhance member engagement by actively gathering feedback and promoting inclusivity. I also aim to raise awareness of RAMS initiatives, ensuring that trainees from all programs, regardless of size or location, have access to resources and opportunities for leadership, research, and professional growth.

Serving on the RAMS Board would allow me to contribute my energy, ideas, and dedication to initiatives that directly impact residents and medical students. I am excited about the opportunity to help RAMS continue to empower trainees, foster mentorship, and build a vibrant, inclusive community of future leaders in emergency medicine.

Medical Student Representative

Indiana University School of Medicine

Medical Student Representative

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

My journey into emergency medicine began as a search and rescue volunteer in high school. At eighteen, I earned my EMT license and started working 24-hour ambulance shifts. Those nights taught me to stay steady in the middle of chaos and to find meaning in moments that didn’t always have clear answers. I started to see what we all see in emergency medicine: the incredible privilege and responsibility of being there when people are at their most vulnerable. It was also where I began learning the skills that would define my path: advocating for patients, thinking fast but acting with empathy, and balancing urgency with compassion. That’s what drew me in, a mix of medicine, humanity, and the chance to make a difference in the most impactful moments of patients' lives.

But those early experiences also showed me how uneven our emergency care system can be. I treated patients who had nowhere else to turn, saw the cracks in behavioral health response, and realized how profoundly systems and policy shape outcomes long before anyone calls 911. That perspective pushed me toward research, health policy, and education, toward building the evidence and infrastructure that make better care possible.

Now, as an M.D./M.P.H. candidate at the University of Miami, I’m working to connect those lessons from the field to the future of academic emergency medicine. I’ve seen how powerful mentorship and collaboration can be for students, and I want to help extend those opportunities to others.

If elected to the RAMS Board, I hope to help more medical students find their place in academic emergency medicine: in research, education, and leadership. Through my experiences on national committees with SAEM, ACEP, and NAEMSP, I’ve seen the value of engaging early and being heard. I want every student who’s passionate about this field to have the same chance to grow, contribute, and shape the systems we’ll one day inherit.

Member-at-Large

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

My name is McRae Wood, and I am a first-year Emergency Medicine resident at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock, AR. My path to residency was shaped by years of clinical experience—working as a Critical Care Technician before medical school—and by a deep belief that emergency medicine is built on teamwork, adaptability, and lifelong learning.

Throughout my training, I’ve sought to lead by serving others. I founded and led the Emergency Medicine Interest Group at my medical school, served as Vice President of the Student Government Association, and later as a Problem-Based Learning Instructor and Peer Tutor Liaison—roles that taught me how mentorship and community directly shape the next generation of physicians.

I’m running for Member-at-Large on the RAMS Board because I want to help every resident and medical student feel seen, supported, and prepared for their future in academic emergency medicine. My goals include:

Expanding structured mentorship across institutions—especially for international medical graduates and those from schools without home EM programs.

Enhancing career readiness through accessible, real-world education on contracts, finances, and the transition from residency to independent practice.

Promoting wellness and belonging by developing initiatives that prioritize peer connection, advocacy, and resilience throughout training.

I believe RAMS has a unique opportunity to shape not only skilled clinicians, but also the advocates, educators, and leaders who will define the future of emergency medicine. I hope to contribute my experience, energy, and perspective to that mission—ensuring that every member, no matter their background or stage of training, has the tools and community to thrive.

Member-at-Large

Central Michigan University

My name is Payton Wolbert, a fourth-year MD/MBA medical student at Central Michigan University College of Medicine. I am applying for the RAMS Board because the people who shaped my EM journey did more than guide me; they made space for me to participate, to try, and to belong. EM gave me mentors who opened doors I didn't know existed, and I want trainees everywhere to have that same access to community, scholarship, and support.

I have served learners as Chair of the MCEP Medical Student Council, Great Lakes Representative for the EMRA Medical Student Council, Lead Medical Student Ambassador for SAEM24 and SAEM25, and as a member of the SAEM Program and Research Committees. In these roles, I broadened procedural workshops, developed program director and resident spotlight interviews, and connected students with limited resources to advising and research. These experiences reinforced that many trainees want a place in academic EM but lack clear pathways to begin.

My academic and community work grow from the same goal: improving access and safety for the people EM serves. At ACEP, I presented research on the MIAHTAPS tool to identify violence risk in the ED and on how admitting specialty affects outcomes in acute cholecystitis. That same commitment guides work beyond the hospital. Through the Health Careers Pipeline Program, I mentor rural and underserved students exploring health careers. Through the Living FREE Fall-Reduction Program, I helped perform home assessments for older adults; one participant told me her house finally felt livable. With the Pulse3 Foundation, I support community CPR training, purchasing of AEDs, and outreach events strengthening survival after sudden cardiac arrest. These experiences taught me that the future of EM depends not only on what we study, but how we partner with communities.

If elected, it would be a privilege to help build clearer on-ramps into academic EM by strengthening mentorship, improving guidance on career decisions, and increasing visibility of opportunities so trainees can confidently step forward. My goal is simple: help more students and residents feel supported and empowered to shape the future of emergency medicine.

Thank you for your consideration.

Member-at-Large

St. James School of Medicine

I am Bernard Wiredu, MD, PhD, a physician-scientist. My academic and professional journey, spanning teaching and research in biochemistry to clinical rotations across diverse settings, has shaped my commitment to service, mentorship, and advancing emergency medicine through science and advocacy. My passion for emergency medicine stems from a deep belief in teamwork and purpose. Growing up, music was my first teacher in collaboration and harmony, lessons that now guide me in the fast-paced, team-driven environment of the emergency department. Each shift reminds me that every team member’s voice matters in delivering care, a philosophy I bring to all my professional and leadership roles.

Within SAEM, I currently serve on both the Research and Education Committees, contributing to national initiatives in academic emergency medicine. I have had the opportunity to represent my home state of Texas at the Advocacy and Education Summit in Washington, DC, engaging policymakers on issues affecting our patients and profession. My background as a former university professor, mentor, and healthcare operations manager has equipped me with strong communication, organizational, and advocacy skills that align well with the mission of the RAMS Board.
If elected as Member-at-Large, I hope to expand RAMS’ outreach through peer mentorship programs, regional engagement initiatives, and career development resources tailored to diverse pathways within EM. I aim to strengthen the bridge between research, education, and real-world clinical impact, helping residents and students see themselves as vital contributors to innovation in our specialty.

I am running for this position because I believe in RAMS’ power to inspire and connect. My goal is simple: to amplify trainee voices, foster inclusion, and ensure that every member, regardless of background or institution, feels seen, supported, and empowered to lead in emergency medicine.