People

People List

Tushara Surapaneni, MD
Yale University

Tushara Surapaneni, MD, is a clinical instructor and Global Health and International Emergency Medicine fellow at Yale University.
She earned her medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed residency at Highland Hospital in Oakland, California. Dr. Surapaneni’s current responsibilities span clinical care, teaching, research, and international collaboration.
Dr. Surapaneni's scholarly work applies spatial epidemiology methods to analyze access to care and climate-related health risk, and her broader research focus include health systems access and accessibility modeling, violence against health care in conflict-affected settings, and predictive outbreak modeling.
Her honors include the Yale University Public Voices Fellowship with The OpEd Project, the Chadwick Trust Postgraduate Travelling Fellowship, the Jeroen Ensink Fellowship, and a SAEM Global Emergency Medicine Academy scholarship for ARMED.
Philip Mudd, MD, PhD
Washington University in St. Louis

Philip Mudd, MD, PhD, is an assistant professor at Washington University in Saint Louis.
He earned his medical degree and doctorate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed residency at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Mudd's work combines patient care with translational research. His laboratory studies human circulating and tissue-resident T cell responses to vaccines and viral infections with the goal of developing improved treatments and vaccines.
In addition to his research, he has served as study section chair for the SAEM Grants Committee across multiple years. His current grant support includes an investigator-initiated award from AstraZeneca, an NIH R01, and participation as co-investigator on additional federally funded projects.
His recent recognitions include Washington University School of Medicine's Dean's Impact Award and designation as a Bursky Scholar through the university's Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy.
Amal Mattu, MD
University of Maryland School of Medicine

Amal Mattu, MD, is professor and vice chair of academic affairs in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
He earned his medical degree at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, completed residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and pursued additional training in medical education at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Dr. Mattu's work centers on teaching, education leadership, faculty development, and patient care. In addition to serving as vice chair, he directs faculty development for his department and chairs the LLSA Subcommittee of the Academic Affairs Committee for the American College of Emergency Physicians. He also serves as consulting editor for Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. His clinical interests include emergency cardiology, geriatric emergency medicine, and risk management.
Recent honors include the 2021 Corey Slovis Award for Excellence in Education, designation as a distinguished educator by the University of Maryland School of Medicine Medical Education Leadership Academy, the department's 2024 Chair's Distinguished Service Award for contributions to education and faculty development, and selection as a distinguished professor of the University of Maryland-Baltimore in 2025.
Kevin Walsh, MD
University of Michigan

Kevin Walsh, MD, is chief resident in emergency medicine at the University of Michigan.
He earned his medical degree at the University of Michigan and continued there for residency, building a training path centered on medical education, leadership, and academic mentorship. His current responsibilities include chief resident leadership, bedside teaching, research.
Dr. Walsh's scholarly interests focus on undergraduate medical education, graduate medical education, medical student professional development, and near-peer support and mentorship. In addition to his chief resident role, he serves with the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Education Committee, the Emergency Residents' Association of Michigan leadership committee, and the Michigan Council of Emergency Physicians.
Recent recognitions include the Bronze Beeper Award, the Most Valuable Teacher Award for the Emergency Medicine Residency Preparation Course, a Medical Student Teaching Award from the University of Michigan Department of Emergency Medicine, and the Best Undergraduate Medical Education Abstract Award from the Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine.
Janice Shin-Kim, MD
Columbia University Medical Center

Janice Shin-Kim, MD, is an assistant professor and director of emergency medicine simulation at Columbia University Medical Center. She earned her medical degree from Stony Brook University School of Medicine, completed residency at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, and pursued a simulation fellowship at NYU/Bellevue Hospital.
Dr. Shin-Kim is the inaugural simulation director for her department and oversees simulation-based education across four hospital sites, with work focused on interprofessional clinical training, patient safety, and faculty growth. She also co-chairs her faculty development committee and developed a longitudinal professional development curriculum for emergency medicine faculty, in addition to leading semiannual faculty development sessions on communication and procedural skills. Her scholarly interests include virtual simulation, empathy in the clinical setting, and simulation-based faculty development.
Dr. Shin-Kim serves as newly elected vice president of education for the Simulation Academy and leads the academy's SIMposium. Her funded work includes a $400,000 Berrie Foundation grant supporting simulation-based education on diabetic emergencies. Her recent honors include the 2025 SAEM Simulation Academy Member Engagement Award and the 2024 New York ACEP Unsung Hero award.
Nicklaus P. Ashburn, MD, MS
Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Nicklaus P. Ashburn, MD, MS, is an assistant professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
He earned his medical degree and completed his emergency medicine residency at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Dr. Ashburn also completed a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) T32 research fellowship in cardiovascular disease epidemiology and prevention at the same institution.
His academic focus includes prevention of cardiovascular disease, chest pain risk stratification, and troponin. His work spans research, adult and pediatric emergency care, and education. He also serves as a grant reviewer for Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) and as Wake Forest University's emergency medical services medical director.
His current research portfolio includes support from the NHLBI, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and the Emergency Medicine Foundation, including K23 support for his work. His recent honors include Wake Forest's Dean's Excellence in Education Award, an Outstanding Emergency Clinician Award, and recognition as chief resident in emergency medicine.
Susan B. Promes, MD, MBA
Member-at-Large

Penn State Hershey Emergency Medicine

Susan B. Promes, MD, MBA, is a tenured professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine.
Dr. Promes earned her undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis and her medical degree from Penn State College of Medicine. She completed her emergency medicine residency at Alameda County Medical Center- Highland Hospital, where she served as chief resident. Dr. Promes later earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of California, Davis.
Her work focuses on medical education and clinical guidelines in emergency medicine. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, edited board review texts, and served as the inaugural editor of Academic Emergency Medicine Education and Training.
Dr. Promes has held national leadership roles in academic emergency medicine and received recognition for excellence in education. She has received the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Hal Jayne Excellence in Education Award and the Judith E. Tintinalli Award.
Basmah Safdar, MD
Yale University

Basmah Safdar, MD, is professor of emergency medicine at Yale School of Medicine, where she also holds the Norma Weinberg Spungen and Joan Lebson Bildner Professorship in Women's Health Research and directs Women's Health Research at Yale.
She earned her medical degree from Aga Khan University in Pakistan and completed residency at Yale New Haven Hospital. Dr. Safdar's work focuses on research and leadership in women's health, including microvascular dysfunction and sex-specific medicine. She also serves as a scientific advisor to organizations including Women's Health Access Matters, the Women's Health Fund, the Milken Institute, and the American Heart Association.
Dr. Safdar’s recent recognitions include the Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine (AWAEM) Mid-Career Award, participation in the Women in Executive Leadership Program, and completion of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM).
Michael Gottlieb, MD, MBA
Rush University Medical Center

Michael Gottlieb, MD, MBA, is professor and vice chair of research at Rush University Medical Center, where he also directs the Emergency Ultrasound Division.
He earned his medical degree at Rush Medical College, completed residency at Cook County Hospital, and completed an ultrasound fellowship through Rush/Cook County. His current work spans medical education, ultrasound, infectious diseases, health equity, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
His primary research focus is health equity, using the emergency department to improve care for people with limited access, including work on hypertension, pre-symptomatic heart failure, patient empowerment, and artificial intelligence tools that support patient engagement. Dr. Gottlieb also serves as director of research for the American Board of Emergency Medicine.
He has held national leadership roles across Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), the Society of Clinical Ultrasound Fellowships, Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine (CORD), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), and American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM), and he co-created the Academic Life in Emergency Medicine Faculty Incubator. His honors include SAEM's Academy of Emergency Ultrasound (AEUS) Powerhouse in Research Award, the SAEM Early Investigator Award, and the SAEM Early Educator Award.
Oluwafemi P. Owodunni, MD, MPH
University of New Mexico Hospital

Oluwafemi P. Owodunni, MD, MPH, is a resident physician at the University of New Mexico Hospital and will begin a critical care fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in July 2026.
He earned his medical degree from Zaporozhye State Medical University in Ukraine and has developed academic interests in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), administration, and global health. His current responsibilities include patient care and resident leadership, including service as councilor for the Critical Care Medicine Section of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine and as resident lead for scholarly activities at the University of New Mexico.
Dr. Owodunni's research uses electronic health record data to improve care quality, patient safety, and value. His work spans implementation science aimed at venous thromboembolism prevention, perioperative frailty optimization, and care coordination for geriatric and traumatic brain injury populations.
He also leads educational and diversity-focused initiatives within graduate medical education. His honors include patient safety and teamwork awards connected to The Johns Hopkins Venous Thromboembolism Collaborative and selection as a Neuro-EM Scholar Pipeline recipient through the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Mitchell Blenden, MD, MBA
Yale University

Mitchell Blenden, MD, MBA, is a second-year administration fellow at Yale University.
He earned his medical degree from the University of Central Florida and completed residency at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University before continuing his administration fellowship training at Yale through 2026.
His professional interests include operations, administration, and observation medicine. In his current fellowship role, Dr. Blenden focuses on patient experience and observation medicine, pairing operational leadership work with ongoing interest in academic emergency medicine.
His emergency medicine service has also included national and organizational leadership. He is a former secretary-treasurer of SAEM's Residents and Medical Students program and has served on SAEM boards and committees, including the Operations Committee, where he chaired the didactics work, as well as the awards and program committees. He also previously chaired the Emergency Medicine Residents' Association Technology, Telehealth, and Informatics Committee.
Manish N. Shah, MD, MPH
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Manish N. Shah, MD, MPH, is professor and chair of the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, completed residency at The Ohio State University, and later trained in the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program. Dr. Shah's work focuses on geriatric emergency medicine, dementia, prehospital medicine, and community paramedicine.
In addition to leading his department, he serves as president and board of trustees member of the SAEM Foundation and chairs SAEM's Federal Funding Committee. His research portfolio includes major National Institute on Aging funding, including the Emergency Departments LEading the Transformation of Alzheimer's and Dementia Care project and the Geriatric Emergency Care Applied Research network. He also contributes to broader institutional and community leadership through the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and UW Health.
His honors include the SAEM Organizational Achievement Award for SAEMF, the AGEM-SAEM Pioneer Award, and a service award from the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Anne Zepeski, PharmD
Member-at-Large

University of Iowa

Anne Zepeski, PharmD, is an emergency medicine pharmacist and clinical assistant professor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and Carver College of Medicine.
Dr. Zepeski earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Iowa, She then completed postgraduate year one and postgraduate year two emergency medicine pharmacy residencies at University of Iowa Health Care. Additionally, she completed a National Institutes of Health StrokeNet Research Fellowship.
Her work focuses on emergency medicine pharmacotherapy, with research supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Her interests include optimizing pharmacotherapy in medical emergencies, including stroke, anticoagulation reversal, and sepsis.
Dr. Zepeski is active in the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). She serves on the Academy of Emergency Medicine Pharmacists Program Committee. Also, she has received the the Academic Emergency Medicine Interest Group New Clinical Practitioner of the Year Award and the Iowa Pharmacy Association Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award.
Allison L. Cowett, PharmD, BCEMP
Member-at-Large

Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Allison Cowett, PharmD, BCEMP, is an emergency medicine clinical pharmacist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Additionally, she serves as postgraduate year two emergency medicine pharmacy residency coordinator and oversees emergency medicine student rotations.
Dr. Cowett earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Maryland. She then completed both her postgraduate year one and postgraduate year two emergency medicine pharmacy residencies at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Her work focuses on clinical care, education, and program development in emergency medicine pharmacy. Her clinical interests include substance use disorder management, harm reduction, and antimicrobial stewardship.
Dr. Cowett is active in the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). She serves as chair of the Academy of Emergency Medicine Pharmacists Education Committee and contributes to the SAEM Membership Committee. She established the academy’s Continuing Pharmacist Education initiative, including the “Crash Cart Conversations” series. Also, she has led educational programming, webinars, and scholarly activities for trainees and members.
Megan A. Rech, PharmD, MS, BCCCP
Immediate Past President

Edward Hines Jr VA

Megan A. Rech, PharmD, MS, BCCCP, completed residency training at Henry Ford Hospital and a critical care residency at Rush University Medical Center/Midwestern University. She also earned a Master of Science in Clinical Research Methods and Epidemiology from Loyola University Chicago.
Previously, Dr. Rech served as an emergency medicine clinical pharmacist and research director for the Department of Emergency Medicine at Loyola University Medical Center. She is a fellow of both the American College of Critical Care Medicine and the American College of Clinical Pharmacists.
She is chair-elect of the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s Clinical Pharmacist and Pharmacology Section and a founding planning committee member of the Emergency Medicine Pharmacotherapy with Resuscitation (EMPoweRx) Conference. It was the first conference dedicated to emergency medicine pharmacists—held in conjunction with the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Annual Meeting.
Her research focuses on pharmacotherapy in critically and emergently ill patients, with the goal of improving care for veterans requiring emergency medicine services. She has served as a principal investigator on large, multicenter, prospective observational studies and as a senior investigator on a prospective randomized controlled trial. Additionally, she co-founded the Emergency Medicine PHARMacotherapy Research NETwork (EMPHARM-NET), which aims to advance high-quality, multicenter research in emergency medicine pharmacotherapy nationwide.
Elizabeth VanWert, PharmD
Secretary

Michigan Medicine Health

Elizabeth VanWert, PharmD, is an emergency medicine clinical pharmacist at Michigan Medicine Health, where she serves as pharmacy team lead for adult emergency services. She also serves as coordinator of the postgraduate year two emergency medicine pharmacy residency program. Additionally, she holds an adjunct clinical assistant professor appointment in the College of Pharmacy.
Dr. VanWert earned her Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University and her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy. She completed postgraduate year one pharmacy practice residency training at Saint Louis University Hospital. She then completed postgraduate year two emergency medicine pharmacy residency at University Health System in San Antonio.
Her work focuses on emergency medicine pharmacy practice across adult and pediatric populations. Also, her work also includes clinical care, education, and program leadership. Her interests include neurologic emergencies, sepsis, and obstetric emergencies.
Dr. VanWert has led the development and accreditation of a postgraduate year two emergency medicine pharmacy residency program. She has also contributed to operational and clinical improvements, policy development, cost-saving initiatives, and disaster preparedness within emergency medicine pharmacy services.
Evan Zahn, PharmD, BCCCP, BCEMP
Treasurer

Yale New Haven Hospital

Evan Zahn, PharmD, BCCCP, BCEMP, is an emergency medicine senior clinical pharmacy specialist at Yale New Haven Hospital.
Dr. Zahn earned his Doctor of Pharmacy from Butler University, where he also completed a minor in business administration.
His work focuses on clinical pharmacy practice in the emergency department, supporting patient care and interdisciplinary teams in acute care settings.
Lance Ray, PharmD, BCPS, BCEMP
President-Elect

Denver Health

Lance Ray, PharmD, BCPS, BCEMP, is an emergency medicine clinical pharmacist and postgraduate year two residency program director at Denver Health.
Dr. Ray earned his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Texas College of Pharmacy. He has extensive experience in academic emergency medicine practice, including work in multiple tertiary care and level one trauma centers.
His work focuses on clinical care, education, and residency training in emergency medicine pharmacy. He is actively involved in physician resident education and lectures for paramedic and pharmacy training programs. His clinical and research interests include resuscitation and the acute management of dysrhythmias.
Dr. Ray is engaged in national emergency medicine pharmacy initiative. He is a member of EM-PHARMNET and a founding member in the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Emergency Medicine Pharmacist Interest Group. He is active in the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, serving as a delegate in ASHP House of Delegates. Also, he has received multiple pharmacy preceptor awards.
Kyle Dewitt, PharmD, BCEMP
President

The University of Vermont Medical Center

Kyle Dewitt, PharmD, BCEMP, is a residency program director in emergency medicine pharmacy at the University of Vermont Medical Center.
Dr. Dewitt earned his undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University and his Doctor of Pharmacy from Midwestern University College of Pharmacy. He completed a postgraduate year one pharmacy residency at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center and a postgraduate year two emergency medicine pharmacy residency at the University of New Mexico Hospitals.
His work focuses on emergency medicine pharmacy practice, residency education, and program development. He is committed to providing a comprehensive training experience that emphasizes clinical excellence, education, and professional development.
Christine Nicole McBeth, DO, MSPH