By Nicole Vigh DO, MPH
Although we were hoping for an in-person conference, with such a quick transition to a virtual platform, the Women’s Committee was thrilled to have such a great turnout for the virtual ACOEP Scientific Assembly this year! As always, our women’s track lectures were exceptional! Dr. Erica Howe, a board-certified Hospitalist and a nationally known educator, wife and mother, gave her talk entitled “Gaining Clarity in Your Clinical Career and Beyond”. Dr. Howe is an advocate for wellness in medicine, and she has given many talks on topics like conflict management and boundary setting. In 2018, she founded the Women Physicians Wellness Conference as a way of bringing female physicians together to share their struggles and their strategies for success. She discussed an issue which many of us are guilty of, that is, saying yes to every opportunity that comes our way in order to improve our CV. However, in doing this many of us are left feeling overwhelmed and unsure of the direction we want to take our careers. Dr. Howe’s lecture discussed ways to maintain control in our work and home environment, set boundaries and how to say no to commitments that put a strain on our lives and replacing that with commitments that inspire us both in our work and home lives.
We were also delighted to be joined by Dr. Shana Ross, an Associate Program Director and the Director of Simulation, Curriculum and Conferences for the University of Illinois, Chicago. Dr. Ross has expertise in medical education and is currently completing a Masters in Health Professional Education. She is passionate about improving resident education through innovation and simulation. Her talk entitled “Building a Board of Mentors” discussed changing the way mentorship is traditionally viewed in medicine. She discussed the advantages of having a board of advisors, with each board member serving a different purpose, as well as returning the favor and being on someone else’s board of advisors. Dr. Howe and Dr. Ross left us all feeling inspired and optimistic for our future careers!
In honor of breast cancer awareness month in October, we had a panel of speakers who discussed how breast cancer had affected their lives. Our panelists included Dr. Patricia Robinson, an associate professor at the Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine and a breast oncologist and director of the Loyola University Medical Center cancer survivorship program. Dr. Robinson has had numerous publications and has served as the principal investigator on numerous breast oncology clinical trials. Dr. Jennifer Himmel Salch is a full time nocturnist at Riverside Regional Medical and Trauma Center in Newport News, Virginia. Dr. Himmel Salch is the physician liaison for the emergency management team at her health system and is the Vice Chair of philanthropy for the ACOEP Women’s Committee. Dr. Himmel Salch discussed her experience as a breast cancer survivor! Dr. Kathy Neacy is an emergency physician at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. Dr. Neacy is also a breast cancer survivor who was treated in 2009-2010! Lastly, Dr. Christina Long, who is an emergency medicine physician and clinical assistant professor with Loyola University and Stritch School of Medicine, discussed her experience when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer while she was in medical school. It was very interesting to hear how breast cancer has affected and shaped the lives of these strong, female physicians in so many different ways.
At our luncheon, we also announced our Willoughby Award winner, Dr. Karen Greenberg! The Willoughby award is presented to women physicians by the Women in Emergency Medicine Committee to recognize the role they play in the profession. The award was established in 2016 in honor of the first female President of the College, Dr. Paula Willoughby DeJesus. According to Dr. DeJesus, “To me the award recognizes a woman for her leadership that has sustaining impact… To me it is the person who leaves a lasting footprint and inspires others to pick up the torch and lead as well.” Dr. Karen Greenberg is the director of the first and only dedicated Neurologic Emergency Department in the country, at Crozer Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pennsylvania. The Neuro ED that she directs has received the Gold Plus Target: Stroke Elite Plus/Target Advanced Therapy Award, which is the highest level of recognition by the American Heart Association. In 2015 Dr. Greenberg was awarded the prestigious Practice Innovation Award by the ACOEP to recognize her innovations to improve critical treatment to patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke. Dr. Greenberg has lectured at emergency medicine and neuroscience conferences locally, regionally and nationally. She is also an Assistant Professor at four different medical schools, as well as serves as an American Stroke Life Support Instructor educating EMTs, nurses and physicians. She has published research and has presented multiple abstracts at the International Stroke Conference. Dr. Greenberg embodies what the Willoughby award was designed to recognize, a woman for her leadership that has sustaining impact. Congratulations Dr. Karen Greenberg!
We thank all those who participated in the virtual ACOEP Scientific Assembly; we are so excited to have had such a great turnout! Please remember to check out our Facebook page for future details regarding purchasing ACOEP merchandise as well as to stay informed regarding future events. We look forward to seeing you all (hopefully in person!) at the ACOEP Spring Scientific Assembly, April 10-13 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida!