Awards Program Update:
Beginning in 2027, ACOEP awards will be presented at the ACOEP Spring Seminar rather than during the fall meeting. Award recipients for the 2026 cycle will be recognized at the Spring Seminar in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in May 2027. Nomination deadlines have been adjusted accordingly.

ACOEP Awards Program

ACOEP is proud to recognize individuals who have made exceptional contributions to osteopathic emergency medicine, the College, education, research, leadership, and patient care.

Beginning in 2027, ACOEP award recipients will be recognized during the ACOEP Spring Seminar rather than at the fall meeting. This change allows the College to celebrate award recipients during ACOEP’s dedicated spring event and provides additional opportunities for recipients to be highlighted and engaged with members.

Award presentations will take place at the ACOEP Spring Seminar, scheduled for May 2027 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The nomination process remains simple. Submit your nomination through the online application and upload all supporting documentation. Questions may be directed to info@acoep.org.

Key Dates for the 2026-2027 Awards Cycle

  • Nominations Open: June 1, 2026
  • Nominations Close: November 1, 2026
  • Recipient Notification: January 2027
  • Awards Presentation: ACOEP Spring Seminar, May 2027, Myrtle Beach, SC

Previous recipients will not be considered for the same award.

ACOEP Awards

Click the + for award criteria, application, and a list of past recipients.  Previous recipients will not be considered for the same award.

This is awarded to a member of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physician who has made contributions to the College and/or emergency medicine through his or her actions, dedication and deeds over his or her career.

Criteria:  The individual receiving this award has been an ACOEP member for 25+ years and has made a major contribution to the emergency medicine profession through his or her practice; support; activities (either at the specialty college or foundation level); or other special achievements.

Horton Application

Previous Award Recipients

1980 Bruce D. Horton, D.O., FACOEP

2003 Joseph W. Stella, D.O., FACOEP

2004 Robert D. Aranosian, D.O., FACOEP

2005 John W. Becher, Jr., D.O., FACOEP

2006 Theodore Spevack, D.O., FACOEP

2007 Anthony Gerbasi, D.O., FACOEP

2009 Douglas M. Hill, D.O., FACOEP-D

2010 Levente Batizy, D.O., FACOEP

2011 Michael Q. Doyle, D.O., FACOEP

2012 Peter A. Bell, D.O., MBA, FACOEP-D

2013 Dale Carrison, D.O., MS, FACOEP

2014 Joseph J. Heck, D.O., FACOEP

2015 Steven J. Parrillo, D.O., FACOEP-D

2016 Victor J. Scali, DO, FACOEP-D

2017 Joseph J Kuchinski, DO, FACOEP-D

2018 Douglas L. McGee, DO, FACOEP

2019 Joe A. Nelson, DO, FACOEP-D

2020 Anthony DiPasquale, DO, FACOEP

2021 George J. Miller, III, DO, FACOEP

2022 Christine F. Giesa, DO, FACOEP-D

2023 Juan Acosta, DO, FACOEP

2024 John “Chuck” Prestosh, DO, FACOEP

2025 Robert Suter, DO, MHA, FACOEP-D

This is awarded to a member of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physician or emergency medicine community who had made contributions to teaching emergency physicians, residents and students.

Criteria:  The person receiving this award may be an emergency medicine physician, or a member of the emergency medicine community, such as an individual at a COM or residency program who has impacted on the lives of students and residents in emergency medicine.

Field Application 2025

Previous Award Recipients

2003 Michael Q. Doyle, D.O., FACOEP

2004 Joseph J. Kuchinski, D.O., FACOEP
& Theodore Spevack, D.O., FACOEP

2005 Douglas L. McGee, D.O., FACOEP
& Steven J. Parrillo, D.O., FACOEP

2006 Mark A. Mitchell, D.O., FACOEP

2007 Victor J. Scali, D.O., FACOEP

2008 Anthony Jennings, D.O., FACOEP

2009 Alan R. Janssen, D.O., FACOEP

2010 John Prestosh, D.O., FACOEP

2011 John W. Graneto, D.O., FACOEP-D

2012 Mary J. Hughes, D.O., FACOEP-D

2013 David T. Malicke, D.O., FACOEP

2014 Joseph Dougherty, D.O., FACOEP

2015 Anthony DiPasquale, D.O., FACOEP

2016 Judith Knoll, DO, FACOEP

2017 David L. Levy, DO, FACOEP-D

2018 Andrew G. Little, DO, FACOEP

2019 Jamie Adamski, DO, FACOEP

2021 Nikolai Butki, D.O., MPH, FACOEP

2022 Stephen A. Roskam, DO, FACOEP

2023 John Ashurst, DO, FACOEP-D

2025 Melody Milliron, DO, FACOEP, FAAEM

This is awarded to a member of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physician or emergency medicine community who had made contributions to the field of EMS that furthered the operation, teaching or development of the specialty through his or her actions, dedication and deeds.

Criteria: The person receiving this award must be involved in EMS and may be a physician, an EMS professional, e.g., fire official, who has contributed to the creation of or work in the field of Emergency Medicine Services. His or her actions and deeds while serving the public may be on a national, regional or local basis.

Aranosian Application 2025

Previous Award Recipients

2003 Joe A. Nelson, D.O., FACOEP

2004 John W. Becher, Jr., D.O., FACOEP

2005 Joseph Heck, D.O., FACOEP

2006 William Bograkos, D.O., FACOEP

2007 Wayne Jones, D.O., FACOEP

2008 Bernard Heilicser, D.O., FACOEP

2009 Paula DeJesus, D.O., FACOEP

2010 Drew A. Koch, D.O., FACOEP-D

2011 Lisa Hrutkay, D.O., FACOEP

2012 Thomas Brabson, D.O., FACOEP-D

2013 G. Joseph Beirne, D.O., FACOEP

2014 Murry B. Sturkie, D.O., FACOEP

2015 Stephen J. Vetrano, D.O., FACOEP

2016 Duane D. Siberski, D.O., FACOEP

2017 John F. Dery, D.O., FACOEP

2018 Kevin J. Loeb, D.O., FACOEP-D

2019 Gregory R. Frailey, D.O., FACOEP

2021 Matthew J. Letizia, D.O., FACOEP

2022 Stephanie Davis, D.O., FACOEP-D

2023 Rose Anna Roantree, D.O., FACOEP

2025 Jack Chambers, D.O., FACOEP

 

Willoughby Award is selected by the Women in Emergency Medicine Committee and is presented to a women physician to recognize the role they play in the profession. Established in 2016 in honor of the first woman physician of the College, Paula Willoughby DeJesus, DO, FACOEP-D, the award nominee(s) is recommended to the Nominations Committee and then presented to the ACOEP Board for final approval.

Willoughby Award Application 2025

Previous Award Recipients

2016 Beth A. Longenecker, DO, FACOEP

2017 Sandra Schwemmer, DO, FACOEP-D

2018 Eileen Singer, DO, FACOEP-D

2019 Dara Kass, MD

2020 K. Kay Moody, DO

2021 Karen Greenberg, DO, FACOEP

2022 Alexis LaPietra, DO

2023 Alin Gragossian, DO

2024 Sherry Turner, DO, MPH

2025 Christine Giesa, DO, FACOEP-D

Awarded to a member of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians or emergency medicine community who has been an outstanding educator and teacher of emergency medicine to emergency physicians, residents, and/or students.

Criteria: The person receiving this award may be an emergency medicine physician, or a member of the emergency medicine community, whose efforts as an educator have positively impacted the lives and/or the quality of care of physicians, residents, and/or students in emergency medicine.

Excellence in Education Award Application 2025

Previous Award Recipients

2014 Alan R. Janssen, DO, FACOEP-D

2015 Kenneth H. Butler, DO, FAAEM

2016 Michael Allswede, DO

2017 Nilesh N. Patel, DO, FACOEP

2018 Kevin Klauer, DO, FACOEP

2019 Judith Tintinalli, MD, MS., FACOEP-H

2023 Jamie J. Adamski, DO

2024 Christopher Colbert, DO

2025 Spencer Heath, DO

 

This is presented to a nominee(s) who has developed an innovative process through which the practice of emergency medicine is improved by its implementation.

Criteria:  The individual(s) receiving this award is an ACOEP member whose innovation has improved the efficiency, patient safety and/or quality of care in the emergency department and is easily transferrable to other emergency department settings. The innovation is sustainable over the long term and demonstrates collaboration between the emergency department and hospital team.

Innovation Application 2025

Previous Award Recipients

2015 Karen Greenberg, D.O., FACOEP
Michael D’Ambrosio, D.O.
(Neurological ED)

2016 Alexis LaPietra, DO
(Alternatives to Opioids ALTO)

This is awarded to physicians and lay people alike who have contributed to the success of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physician or emergency medicine community through his or her actions, dedication and deeds.

Honorary Member Application 2025

Previous Award Recipients

1997 John Sevastos, D.O.

1999 Eugene A. Oliveri, D.O.

2000 Janice A. Wachtler

2004 Ann M. Wittner

2006 Phillip L. Shettle, D.O. & Shawn Martin

2007 Leigh Hykema

2008 Marcelino Oliva, D.O.

2010 Philip Ajluni, D.O.

2011 Peter J. Kaplan

2012 William Lynch

Honorary Fellowship is awarded to physicians and non-physicians who have contributed to the success of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physician or field of emergency medicine through his or her actions, dedication, and deeds.

Honorary Fellowship Application 2025

Previous Award Recipients

2016 Judith Tintinalli, MD & Peter Rosen, MD



Spencer Heath, DO – 2025 Educator of the Year



Melody Milliron, DO, FACOEP, FAAEM / 2025 Mentor of the Year



Christine Giesa, DO, FACOEP-D / 2025 Willoughby Award



Robert Suter, DO, MHA, FACOEP-D / 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award