People

Petra Duran-Gehring, MD

Immediate Past President

University of Florida-Jacksonville

​Dr. Duran-Gehring is an associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine–Jacksonville. She earned her medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans and completed her emergency medicine residency at the University of Florida College of Medicine–Jacksonville. ​Dr. Duran-Gehring is certified by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. ​

In 2008, Dr. Duran-Gehring founded the department's Emergency Ultrasound Program as its sole faculty member. Under her leadership, the program has expanded to include an accredited Advanced Emergency Medicine Ultrasonography fellowship and has received management awards from the Clinical Ultrasound Accreditation Program. ​

Dr. Duran-Gehring is a nationally recognized leader in emergency ultrasound education and research. She co-directs the American College of Emergency Physicians' Ultrasound Management Course and directs the Society of Emergency Medicine Physician Assistants' Ultrasound Course. Her dedication to medical education is evident through numerous teaching awards and course directorships. 

​Dr. Duran-Gehring previously served as president for the Academy of Emergency Ultrasound (AEUS) and as a SonoGames Round 2 station design lead. Currently, she serves on the executive committee of AEUS and the board of directors for the Society of Clinical Ultrasound Fellowships (SCUF), where she has also been a speaking coach for the national conference.

Zachary Boivin, MD

Secretary

Yale School of Medicine

Dr. Boivin is an instructor of emergency medicine at Yale University School of Medicine and a resident physician at Yale New Haven Hospital. He earned his medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and completed his residency in emergency medicine at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in 2023. 

Dr. Boivin's professional interests include point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), ultrasound simulation, and medical education. He has co-authored several peer-reviewed articles on ultrasound applications in emergency medicine. 

Andrew Goldsmith, MD, MBA

Treasurer

Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School

​Dr. Goldsmith is an instructor at Harvard Medical School and serves as the director of emergency ultrasound at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He earned both his medical degree and Master of Business Administration from the University of Connecticut. He completed his residency at the Harvard-Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency (HAEMR) program and pursued an ultrasound fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. ​

In his current role, Dr. Goldsmith oversees the emergency ultrasound division, focusing on enhancing point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) applications in emergency settings. He is also the medical director at UltraSight, where he contributes to advancing ultrasound technology integration. ​

Dr. Goldsmith's research interests include the integration of artificial intelligence with POCUS, particularly in clinical pathways for heart failure. He has received funding from the National Institutes of Health and the state of Massachusetts to support this work. Additionally, he is involved in developing national guidelines for ultrasound-guided nerve blocks aimed at reducing opioid use in acute pain management within emergency departments.​

An active member of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), Dr. Goldsmith has presented multiple abstracts and didactic sessions. He serves on the executive committee of the Academy of Emergency Ultrasound (AEUS), has volunteered for SonoGames, and is a recipient of the AEUS SAEMMIE award.

Liang Liu, MD

President-Elect

Emory University

Liang Liu, MD, is an associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine (EM) and the Ultrasound Fellowship Director at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. She earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and completed both her EM residency and fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern/Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas. She is fellowship trained in Emergency Disaster and Global Health (EDGH) and Emergency Ultrasound. Dr. Liu is actively involved in teaching, supervision, and mentorship of medical students, residents, and fellows. Her interests in graduate medical education are particularly focused on ultrasound education, educational innovations, and the development of EM worldwide.

Dr. Liu previously served as treasurer for the Academy of Emergency Ultrasound (AEUS) and has been a member of the SonoGames executive committee since 2020. She previously served as the co-chair for the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Emergency Ultrasound Section (EUS) Residency Education Sub-Committee and a past section editor for the ACEP EUS newsletter. She currently sits on the executive committee for AEUS and the Society of Clinical Ultrasound Fellowships (SCUF) where she serves as the Director-at-Large and the didactic lead for the SCUF conference planning committee. She has been an active member of the ultrasound community since fellowship and looks forward to continuing to serve the community from which she has gained so much.

Meera Muruganandan, MD

President

Boston Medical Center

​Dr. Muruganandan is an assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. She serves as the director of ultrasound at BMC, where she has been a faculty member for over a decade. ​

Dr. Muruganandan earned her medical degree from Saba University School of Medicine in 2006. She completed her residency in emergency medicine and a dual fellowship in emergency ultrasound and global health at Brown University. ​

At BMC, Dr. Muruganandan has held several key roles within the ultrasound section, including overseeing residency education, serving as the medical student ultrasound clerkship director, and acting as the Advanced Emergency Medicine Ultrasonography (AEMUS) fellowship director. In her current role as director of ultrasound, she is passionate about expanding the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) among providers.​

Dr. Muruganandan's interest in utilizing POCUS in resource-limited settings has led her to collaborate with various non-governmental organizations internationally. She has developed ultrasound curricula and training programs for physicians, residents, and midwives in countries such as Sierra Leone, Uganda, Haiti, and Rwanda. ​

In addition to her clinical and educational roles, Dr. Muruganandan is actively involved in professional organizations, including the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) where she serves on the executive committee of the Academy of Emergency Ultrasound (AEUS).

Tiffany Mitchell, MD

Member-at-Large

Mount Sinai School of Medicine

​Dr. Mitchell is an emergency medicine physician practicing in New York City. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Columbia University and her medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. She completed her residency at the Jacobi-Montefiore Emergency Medicine Program before joining the faculty at The Mount Sinai Hospital. ​

In addition to her clinical role, Dr. Mitchell actively contributes to the field through her involvement with the Academy for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Medicine and the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. She serves on several committees within these organizations, including chair of the ADIEM Social Media Committee. Dr. Mitchell has also moderated panels addressing racial bias, demonstrating her commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within the medical community. 

Moises Gallegos, MD, MPH

Member-at-Large

Stanford University

​Dr. Gallegos is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he serves as the clerkship director for EMED301A, the required emergency medicine rotation. ​

Dr. Gallegos earned his medical degree from Stanford School of Medicine and concurrently obtained a Master of Public Health from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, serving as chief resident at Ben Taub General Hospital. 

Dr. Gallegos began his academic career as an assistant professor in the Henry J.N. Taub Department of Emergency Medicine at Ben Taub before rejoining Stanford's Department of Emergency Medicine in 2019. ​

Demonstrating a commitment to medical education, Dr. Gallegos completed a Master of Education in the Health Professions and a Post-Master's Certificate in Evidence-Based Teaching in the Health Professions from Johns Hopkins University School of Education. ​

Dr. Gallegos’s dedication to teaching has been recognized with several awards, including the Excellence in Teaching award from Stanford Health Care Medical Staff Awards in 2024, the National Emergency Medicine Junior Faculty Teaching Award from the American College of Emergency Physicians in 2023, the Arthur L. Bloomfield Award for Excellence in Teaching from Stanford School of Medicine in 2023, and the Bedside Educator of the Year award from Stanford Department of Emergency Medicine in 2022. ​

Eliot H. Blum, MD

Member-at-Large

Emory University School of Medicine

​Dr. Eliot H. Blum is an assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. He earned his medical degree from the Sackler School of Medicine and completed his residency in emergency medicine at the University of Massachusetts. ​

Dr. Blum serves as the LGBTQIA+ Subcommittee Chair within his department's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee and is the faculty advisor for the Emory Graduate Medical Education Pride Committee. He is actively involved in community outreach, serving as the medical director for Atlanta Pride and the AIDS Vaccine 200 bicycle race. Additionally, he contributes to healthcare reform initiatives as a member of the Transgender Task Force through the Medical Association of Georgia. ​

At Grady Memorial Hospital, Dr. Blum practices emergency medicine and lectures nationally and within the Emory School of Medicine on LGBTQIA+ health, mentoring, and allyship. In 2023, he co-initiated a GME-wide mentoring program for LGBTQIA+ medical students and residents and was honored with his department's "Faculty Mentor of the Year" award.

Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH

Immediate Past President

Emory University School of Medicine

Dr. Gipson received a BS in biomedical engineering with a concentration in biotechnology from Yale University and an MD from Case Western Reserve University with Honors with Distinction in Research. During medical school, she received an MPH in Health Management and Policy from the University of Michigan. She completed postgraduate training in emergency medicine (EM) at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and a Health Policy Fellowship at George Washington University. Dr. Gipson views her path through EM through the lens of diversity, inclusion, and health equity as forms of justice. She is committed to educational and workforce diversity and inclusivity and works to ensure that learners deliver care with cultural humility in an inclusive environment.

Jason M. Rotoli, MD

Secretary-Treasurer

University of Rochester

Dr. Rotoli is an associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center and serves as the associate residency program director for the Emergency Medicine Residency Program. He earned his medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and completed his emergency medicine residency at the same institution, serving as chief resident from 2011 to 2012. ​

Dr. Rotoli is dedicated to addressing health disparities among marginalized populations, particularly Deaf American Sign Language users. He directs the Deaf Health Pathways humanities elective at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, focusing on health disparities in the Deaf community and teaching American Sign Language. Fluent in ASL, he actively engages with the Rochester Deaf community and collaborates with Partners in Deaf Health, a nonprofit organization promoting awareness of healthcare needs for culturally Deaf individuals. ​

In 2016, Dr. Rotoli joined the Academy for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Medicine (ADIEM) and has since delivered annual didactic sessions on cultural awareness of underrepresented populations. In 2017, he founded the Accommodations Committee, advocating for individuals requiring accommodations related to physical, spatial, temporal, or language needs.​

Dr. Rotoli's research interests include Deaf health and education, health disparities, and health literacy. He has published on topics such as deaf culture awareness among emergency department providers and the implications of inadequate communication in emergency care for deaf and hard-of-hearing patients. ​

His contributions have been recognized with awards including the Kluge Trauma and Emergency Medical Service Award in 2021 and being named a Top Cited Author in 2023.

Ryan Tsuchida, MD

President-Elect

University of Wisconsin

​Dr. Tsuchida is the assistant dean for multicultural affairs for health professions learners, a board-certified emergency medicine physician, and an assistant professor in the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. 

Dr. Tsuchida earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and completed his residency at the University of Michigan Medical Center, where he served as chief resident. 

Dr. Tsuchida has extensive experience in equitable and inclusive organizational leadership, including pathway program development, support for medical and health professions students, and quality improvement initiatives in both clinical and educational settings. In recognition of his impact, Madison365 named him one of Wisconsin's 38 Most Influential Asian American Leaders for 2024. 

Sreeja Natesan, MD

President

Duke University

​Dr. Natesan is an associate professor and associate program director in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Duke University. She earned her medical degree from St. George's University School of Medicine in 2009. ​

Dr. Natesan has completed extensive training in medical education, including the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Teaching Fellowship, the Academic Life in Emergency Medicine (ALiEM) Faculty Incubator Program, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Medical Education Research Certificate Program, the Duke Educational Skills Longitudinal Mentorship Program, and the Duke Academy for Health Professions Education and Academic Development (AHEAD) Certificate Program. ​

In her current role, Dr. Natesan focuses on advancing education, clinical teaching and feedback, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She serves as the co-founder and director of the Duke Graduate Medical Education Medical Education Leadership Track (MELT), a longitudinal program for residents and fellows that has graduated over 150 trainees since 2018. Additionally, she co-chairs the Duke GME Professional Development Committee, providing resources to all training programs at Duke. ​

Dr. Natesan has received several prestigious awards, including the Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine Junior Faculty Teacher Award, the ACEP Junior Faculty Teacher Award, and the CORD Academy Scholar Award for Teaching and Evaluation. She has also been recognized with the Duke Emergency Medicine Faculty Teacher of the Year award, the Duke School of Medicine Professionalism Award, and the Distinguished Faculty Award. ​

Dr. Natesan has held leadership positions in various national committees, serving as co-chair of the CORD Best Practices Subcommittee, chair of the CORD Academy for Scholarship Research Pillar, and vice chair of the CORD DEI Committee. She has also served as the chief academic officer for the ALiEM Faculty Incubator Program and on the executive committee for SAEM’s Academy for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Medicine. ​

Actively involved in community outreach, mentorship, and pipeline programs, Dr. Natesan has led institutional and national conferences on holistic review for resident recruitment, implicit bias, and upstander training against microaggressions. Her primary research interests include clinical teaching and feedback, incorporating innovative strategies in the emergency department, and advancing DEI initiatives. 

Kashwayne Williams, MBA, MHA

Member-at-Large

Washington University

​Kashwayne Williams serves as the executive director for business affairs and strategic planning in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He earned his Master of Business Administration from Troy University and his Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Williams is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. ​

With nearly two decades in academic medicine, Williams began his career at Morehouse School of Medicine, where he held various roles across clinical operations, education, and research. In 2014, he joined Washington University School of Medicine as an executive management fellow in the Dean’s Office, subsequently advancing to positions that led to his current role in emergency medicine. ​

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Williams contributes to community health initiatives as a board member of the National Association of Healthcare Services Executives' St. Louis Chapter and as a fund allocations committee member for the United Way of St. Louis. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Saint Louis University, teaching courses in healthcare economics and analytical methods. ​

Since joining AAAEM, Williams has been an active contributor across multiple committees. He served as chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, where he played a key role in shaping both short-term and long-term strategies to advance the academy's operations. In addition, Williams has made valuable contributions to the Education and Professional Development Committee, helping to enhance the academy's educational initiatives within the field.

Cali Myers, MHA

Member-at-Large

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Cali Myers is the executive administrator for the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She earned a Master of Health Administration from the University of Florida and a graduate certificate in clinical informatics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 2024, Myers graduated from the university’s Healthcare Leadership Academy, further strengthening her leadership skills.

Before joining the university, Myers was a medical group manager for a large hospice organization in north central Florida. She is actively involved in professional organizations and currently serves as a member-at-large on the executive committee of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine’s Academy of Administrators in Academic Emergency Medicine for the 2025-26 term. Myers also leads the academy’s communications committee.

Becky McGowan, MBA

Immediate Past President

University of Colorado School of Medicine

​Becky McGowan serves as the vice chair of finance and administration for the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She earned a bachelor's degree in biology and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado Denver. With over 25 years in higher education, Becky has held various administrative roles, including administrator for several basic science departments and division administrator in the Department of Medicine. She has been in her current role for the past 10 years.​

An active member of the Academy of Administrators in Academic Emergency Medicine (AAAEM) since 2012, McGowan has contributed to multiple committees, such as benchmark, strategic, education, and nominating. She held the position of AAAEM president for the 2024-2025 term, having previously served as treasurer for two years, during which she streamlined the budgeting process and strengthened relationships with SAEM staff. McGowan also serves as a presenter for the SAEM Certified Administrator in Emergency Medicine Administration (CAEMA) program. 

Frank Jurkiewicz, MBA

Secretary

University of Florida, College of Medicine - Gainesville

​Frank Jurkiewicz serves as the vice chair of administrative affairs for the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville. In this role, he functions as the chief non-faculty executive, ensuring faculty have the resources and infrastructure necessary to optimize productivity across clinical, educational, and research missions while maintaining a sustainable financial model. ​

Jurkiewicz earned a Master of Business Administration from Purdue University's Krannert School of Management in 2012. Over his career, he has held leadership positions in both academic health centers and private practice groups, including roles at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Indiana University Health–Indiana University School of Medicine. ​

Actively involved in professional organizations, Jurkiewicz serves as chair of the Education and Professional Development Committee for the Academy of Administrators in Academic Emergency Medicine (AAAEM). In this capacity, he focuses on promoting knowledge-sharing through sessions that address current challenges and opportunities in emergency medicine administration. Additionally, he has served on the Benchmark Committee and previously chaired the Communication Committee within AAAEM. ​

Beyond his professional commitments, Jurkiewicz is dedicated to mentoring future healthcare leaders. He played a key role in creating a two-year Healthcare Administrative Fellowship at the University of Florida, designed to cultivate the next generation of healthcare administrators.

Stephen Maxwell, MSM

President-Elect

University of Michigan

Stephen Maxwell serves as the chief department administrator for the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Michigan. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University and a Master of Science in Management from Troy University.

Maxwell has extensive experience in healthcare administration, including roles as administrator for general surgery and director of finance for the Cardiovascular Center at the University of Michigan. Before joining the university, he held finance positions at integrated systems in southeastern Michigan and hospitals in San Antonio, Texas, and Panama City, Florida. His career began in banking in Washington, D.C., in the early 1990s.

An active member of the AAAEM for the past several years, Maxwell has contributed significantly through his participation on the Benchmark Committee, focusing on research initiatives and presenting findings at AAAEM and SAEM conferences. He has also served on the Strategic Planning Committee, assisting in the development and analysis of membership surveys, and has been a member-at-large on the AAAEM executive committee. Additionally, Maxwell has delivered lectures for the SAEM Chair Development Program.

Jennifer Patton Muir, EdD, MBA

President

East Carolina University

​Jennifer Patton Muir is the administrator for the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. She holds a bachelor's degree in hospitality management, a Master of Business Administration, and a Doctor of Education in higher education administration.​

Patton Muir has worked in higher education for more than 15 years in various administrative roles, including director of employment in human resources and executive director of business and administrative affairs in the College of Nursing. In her administrative roles, she has been heavily involved in strategic planning, program development, financial management, human resources management, and policy development.​

Patton Muir has been an active leader in professional organizations, serving on the board of the North Carolina chapter of the College and University Professional Association of Human Resources, where she was co-president. She also served as vice chair of the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium of the Carolinas Regional Advisory Board.

Within AAAEM, Patton Muir has contributed to the executive committee and played a key role on the Benchmarking and Strategic Planning Committees.

Ali S. Raja, MD, DBA, MPH

SAEM Past President

Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School

Dr. Raja is the executive vice chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and a professor at Harvard Medical School. He holds a Master of Public Health from Harvard University, a medical degree and Master of Business Administration from Duke University, and completed emergency medicine training at the University of Cincinnati. He further advanced his expertise with a research fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Dr. Raja is board certified in emergency medicine and clinical informatics and is appointed to both the Department of Emergency Medicine and the Department of Radiology at Harvard Medical School.

An expert in the management of critically ill patients in both the emergency department and prehospital settings, Dr. Raja has served in various high-stakes roles, including as a critical care air transport team commander for the U.S. Air Force, a civilian flight physician, and a tactical physician for several local, state, and federal agencies. He has also served as a physician with MA-1 DMAT.

The author of over 200 publications, Dr. Raja’s current research focuses on improving the appropriateness of resource utilization and operations within the emergency department.

In addition to serving on the SAEM Board, Dr. Raja has been involved with the SAEM Foundation Board and has chaired the SAEM Program Committee and the Trauma Interest Group. He has contributed to several other committees within SAEM. 

Dr. Raja is also on the board of the Massachusetts chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives, where he serves as President-Elect, and he previously served as the editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine’s Journal Watch Emergency Medicine.

Ava E. Pierce, MD

SAEM Secretary-Treasurer

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Dr. Pierce is a professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, where she serves as associate vice chair of outreach and engagement and co-director of the Joint Admission Medical Program.

She earned her medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine at Shreveport and completed her emergency medicine residency at Emory University School of Medicine. She also completed the Medical Education Research Certificate Program and the AAMC Healthcare Executive Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program.

Dr. Pierce’s research focuses on medical education, health equity, and cardiac resuscitation. She is committed to implementing innovative changes that enhance excellence in health care and strengthen a diverse workforce dedicated to providing high-quality medical care.

She has been an active leader within the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), particularly in the Academy for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Medicine (ADIEM), where she has served as development officer and president. In recognition of her impact on student and resident academic success, ADIEM awarded her the 2016 Outstanding Academician Award. She has also served on SAEM’s Membership Committee, Ethics Committee, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and as an elected member-at-large on the SAEM Board of Directors.

Dr. Pierce is also a member of the National Medical Association and the AAMC Group on Diversity and Inclusion, as well as a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. In 2022, she was appointed as holder of the Michael P. Wainscott, MD, Professorship in Emergency Medicine.