Awards

Know Someone that OWNS Their Career?

Shine a Spotlight with the AAEM Awards

Do you know a remarkable emergency medicine physician, educator, or leader? Each year at the AAEM Scientific Assembly, we shine a spotlight on the extraordinary talent, dedication, and impact within our field through the prestigious AAEM Awards.

These awards are more than just recognition—they honor the individuals who embody the values of our specialty and inspire others through their excellence and leadership.

Submit a Nomination

Nominate a colleague or mentor and give them the recognition they deserve on a national stage. It’s your chance to highlight their achievements and inspire others in the emergency medicine community.

Nominations are now closed for the AAEM Awards.


AAEM Awards

Administrator of the Year Award

AAEM encourages members to nominate an administrator deserving special recognition for their dedication to emergency medicine and patient care.

Past Award Recipients
  • 2023 | Seth Teigen, FACHE
  • 2022 | Thomas Tobin, MD MBA FAAEM
  • 2020 | Peter M.C. DeBlieux, MD FAAEM
  • 2018 | Steven Sonenreich
  • 2015 | Gordon Ferguson
  • 2014 | Steven Johnson
Amin Kazzi International Emergency Medicine Leadership Award

The international leadership award recognizes an individual who has made an exceptional, longstanding, and profound leadership contribution to the international development of emergency medicine (EM) or to the advancement of EM education worldwide.

Past Award Recipients
  • 2024 | Eva Tovar Hirashima, MD FAAEM
  • 2023 | John R. Acerra, MD FAAEM
  • 2022 | Gary M. Gaddis, MD PhD MAEEM FAAEM FIFEM
  • 2021 | Sagar C. Galwankar, MD FAAEM
  • 2020 | Haywood Hall, MD FIFEM
  • 2019 | Zeki Atesli, MD
  • 2019 | Jim Connolly, MBBS FRCS(Ed) FCEM
  • 2019 | Rajat Gangahar, MBBS FRCS(Ed) FCEM
  • 2019 | Bob Jarman, MBBS MSc FRCSE FRCEM
  • 2019 | Hein Lamprecht, MD PhD
  • 2018 | Ashley Bean, MDFAAEM
  • 2017 | Edgardo Jorge Menendez, MD FIFEM
  • 2016 | C. James Holliman, MD FACEP FIFEM
  • 2015 | Terrence Mulligan, DO MPH FAAEM
  • 2014 | Seung Ho Kim, MD
  • 2012 | Raed Arafat, MD
  • 2010 | Professor Gunnar Ohlen
  • 2009 | A. Antoine Kazzi, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2008 | Indrani Sheridan, MD
  • 2007 | Professor Paolo Garbarino
  • 2006 | Professor Thomas Cesario
  • 2005 | Roberta Petrino, MD
  • 2005 | Professor Francesco Della Corte
  • 2004 | A. Antoine Kazzi, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2003 | Herman Delooz, MD PhD
  • 2002 | Joseph Epstein, MD
  • 2001 | Professor Ismail Sallam
David K. Wagner Award

As an organization, AAEM recognizes Dr. Wagner’s contributions to the specialty by offering an award named in his honor to individuals who have had a meaningful impact on the field of emergency medicine and who have contributed significantly to the promotion of AAEM’s goals and objectives. Dr. Wagner himself was given the first such award in 1995.

Past Award Recipients
  • 2024 | Gary M. Gaddis, MD PhD MAAEM FIFEM
  • 2023 | Eveline Hitti, MD MBA FAAEM
  • 2022 | Joanne Williams, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2020 | Peter G. Anderson, MD FAAEM
  • 2019 | Andy Walker, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2018 | Kevin G. Rodgers, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2017 | William T. Durkin, Jr., MD MBA MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2016 | Howard Blumstein, MD FAAEM
  • 2015 | Tom Scaletta, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2014 | Larry Weiss, MD JD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2012 | Joseph P. Wood, MD JD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2011 | Leslie Zun, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2009 | Ron M. Walls, MD
  • 2008 | Robert M. McNamara, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2007 | A. Antoine Kazzi, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2006 | Harvey W. Meislin, MD FAAEM
  • 2005 | Joseph Clinton, MD FAAEM
  • 2004 | John A. Marx, MD
  • 2003 | Robert Simon, MD
  • 2002 | James Roberts, MD
  • 2001 | Daniel Danzl, MD MAAEM
  • 2000 | James Bouzoukis, MD
Joanne Williams Award

This award honors individuals who uphold the legacy of Dr. Joanne Williams, the only female founding member of AAEM and first female Master of AAEM. The purpose of this award is to honor trailblazers within the field. The award originated as a Women in Emergency Medicine (WiEM-AAEM) award. Nominees for this for this award must have supported efforts to add gender equity and diversity to AAEM and/or the field of emergency medicine. Nominees must be AAEM members.

Past Award Recipients
  • 2024 | Gayle Galletta, MD FAAEM
  • 2023 | Loice A. Swisher, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2022 | Adeola Kosoko, MD FAAEM
  • 2021 | Lisa A. Moreno, MD MS MSCR FAAEM FIFEM
Kay Whalen Strategic Ally Award

Description: This award recognizes a sustained outstanding contribution made to further the mission of AAEM by a non-member.

Selection Criteria:

a) Nominee has demonstrated a sustained commitment to furthering the mission of AAEM with multiple measurable outcomes.  Examples (not exclusive) may include initiatives to improve the care of the emergency patient, improvements to emergency physician health and wellness, assistance in passing substantial legislation furthering AAEM’s mission, contributing to the long-term financial stability of AAEM, or significantly expanding membership and outreach.

b) Nominee’s service and/or leadership has been sustained for several years.  (In extremely special circumstances, an exception may be made for a truly groundbreaking one-time contribution to the success of AAEM.)

c) Nominee must not be an AAEM member, nor eligible for membership.

Nomination Requirements: Nominator must be a full-voting member and must provide one nomination letter as well as two letters of support from full-voting AAEM members.

Past Award Recipients
  • 2023 | Kay Whalen, MBA CAE
Resident of the Year Award

This award recognizes a resident member who has made an outstanding contribution to AAEM. Nominees for this award must be AAEM/RSA resident members and must be enrolled in an EM residency training program.

Past Award Recipients
  • 2024 | Heath Spencer, DO
  • 2023 | Leah Colucci, MD MS
  • 2022 | Lauren  E. Lamparter, MD
  • 2021 | Resident Physicians at the American University of Beirut
  • 2020 | Haig Aintablian, MD
  • 2019 | MohammedMoiz Qureshi, MD MBA FAAEM
  • 2018 | Ashley Alker, MD MSc FAAEM
  • 2017 | Mary Haas, MD
  • 2016 | Victoria Weston, MD
  • 2015 | Andrew Phillips, MD MEd FAAEM
  • 2014 | Meaghan Mercer, DO
  • 2013 | Leana S. Wen, MD MSc
  • 2012 | Zachary Repanshek, MD FAAEM
  • 2011 | Heather K. Jimenez, MD
  • 2010 | Michael Ybarra, MD
  • 2009 | Megan Boysen, MD
  • 2008 | Daniel Nishijima, MD
  • 2007 | Elizabeth Weinstein, MD FAAEM FAAP
  • 2006 | Mark Reiter, MD MBA MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2005 | Brian Potts, MD MBA FAAEM
  • 2004 | Jesse M. Pines, MD MBA
  • 2003 | Scott Weiner, MD MPH FAAEM
  • 2002 | David Huang, MD
  • 2001 | Jeannie Tsai, MD
Young Educator Award

This award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to AAEM through work on educational programs. Nominees must be out of residency or fellowship 10 years or less and must be AAEM members.

Past Award Recipients
  • 2024 | Cortlyn Brown, MD FAAEM
  • 2023 | Cara Kanter, MD FAAEM
  • 2022 | Italo M. Brown, MD MPH FAAEM
  • 2021 | Mark Newberry, DO FAAEM FPD-AEMUS
  • 2020 | Molly K. Estes, MD FAAEM FACEP
  • 2018 | Michael Gottlieb, MD FAAEM
  • 2017 | Semhar Z. Tewelde, MD
  • 2016 | Jennifer Kanapicki Comer, MD FAAEM
  • 2015 | Mimi Lu, MD
  • 2014 | Michael Ybarra, MD
  • 2013 | Michael S. Pulia, MD PhD FAAEM
  • 2012 | Mark Reiter, MD MBA MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2011 | Joel M. Schofer, MD MBA CPE FAAEM
  • 2010 | Jesse Pines, MD MBA
  • 2009 | Erik Kulstad, MD
  • 2009 | Michael Winters, MD MBA FAAEM
  • 2008 | Michael Epter, DO FAAEM
  • 2007 | Jim Colletti, MD FAAEM
  • 2006 | Michelle Lin, MD
  • 2005 | Robert L. Rogers, MD
  • 2004 | J. Christian Fox, MD FAAEM FAIUM
  • 2003 | Ghazala Sharieff, MD
  • 2002 | Amal Mattu, MD FAAEM
  • 2001 | Paul Sierzenski, MD MSHQS RDMS
Advocate of the Year Award

An individual who has demonstrated passion and expertise in advocating for issues at the federal, state, or local level that are important to the advancement of the mission and vision of the Academy. The award shall be given to a member of AAEM, or to a legislator or a member of their staff, who has been active in advocating for and advancing the mission and vision of the Academy.

Past Award Recipients
  • 2024 | Mercy Hylton, MD FAAEM
  • 2023 | Julie Vieth, MBChB FACEP FAAEM
  • 2022 | Debbie D. Fletcher, MD FAAEM
Christina Costin Award

Given the years MEMC is held:

The award would be given to a female physician who has had a long-standing, sustained and profound effect on international development outside of the United States. This individual would need to have demonstrated tangible and measurable involvement in AAEM and/or MEMC

Past Award Recipients
  • 2023 | Rasha Sawaya, MD
  • 2022 | Judith E. Tintinalli, MD MS FAAEM
  • 2019 | Melanie Stander, MD MMed EM
  • 2017 | Eveline Hitti, MD MBA FAAEM
James Keaney Award

Named after the founder of AAEM, this award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to our organization. Nominees for this award must have 10 or more years experience in EM clinical practice and must be AAEM members.

Past Award Recipients
  • 2024 | Allie Min, MD FAAEM
  • 2023 | Laura Bontempo, MD MEd FAAEM
  • 2022 | Teresa M. Ross, MD FAAEM
  • 2021 | Robert P. Lam, MD FAAEM
  • 2020 | Vicki Norton, MD FAAEM
  • 2019 | Loice A. Swisher, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2018 | Robert E. Suter, DO MHA FAAEM
  • 2017 | Robert A. Frolichstein, MD FAAEM
  • 2016 | Andy Walker, III, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2015 | Brian Potts, MD MBA FAAEM
  • 2014 | Joanne Williams, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2013 | Roger Stone, MD MS FAAEM FAEMS
  • 2012 | Carol Cunningham, MD FAAEM
  • 2011 | Howard Roemer, MD
  • 2010 | Anthony DeMond, MD MAAEM
  • 2009 | David Lawhorn, MD MAAEM
  • 2008 | Kevin Beier, MD FAAEM
  • 2007 | Mark Batts, MD FAAEM
  • 2006 | Samuel H. Glassner, MD
  • 2006 | Michael J. Buchele, MD
  • 2006 | Stuart B. Shikora, MD
  • 2005 | Geoffrey Mitchell, MD
  • 2004 | Scott Plantz, MD
  • 2003 | John Christensen, MD
  • 2002 | Joseph Lex, Jr., MD MAAEM FIFEM
  • 2001 | James Cohen, MD
Joe Lex Educator of the Year Award

This award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to AAEM through work on educational programs. Nominees must be AAEM members who have been out of their residency for more than 10 years.

Past Award Recipients
  • 2024 | Christopher Colbert, DO
  • 2024 | Molly Estes, MD FAAEM
  • 2023 | Mark I. Langdorf, MD MHPE MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2022 | Frank L. Christopher, MD FAAEM
  • 2021 | Evie Marcolini, MD FAAEM FACEP FCCM
  • 2020 | Ziad N. Kazzi, MD FAAEM FACMT FAACT
  • 2019 | Joelle Borhart, MD FAAEM FACEP
  • 2018 | Michael Winters, MD BA FAAEM
  • 2017 | Kevin C. Reed, MD FAAEM
  • 2016 | Christopher Doty, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2015 | David Farcy, MD MAAEM FAAEM FCCM
  • 2014 | Lillian Oshva, MD
  • 2013 | Michael L. Epter, DO FAAEM
  • 2012 | James Colletti, MD FAAEM
  • 2011 | Ghazala Q. Sharieff, MD
  • 2010 | Richard Shih, MD FAAEM
  • 2009 | Kevin Rodgers, MD
  • 2008 | Amal Mattu, MD FAAEM
  • 2007 | Richard Nunez, MD
  • 2006 | Michael Lambert, MD RDMS FAAEM
  • 2005 | Mitchell Goldman, DO MAAEM FAAEM FAAP
Master of AAEM (MAAEM)

Active members of AAEM may also recommend nominees to the AAEM executive committee for the Master of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (MAAEM). This recognition of senior AAEM fellows shall be extended to those who demonstrated a long career of extraordinary:

  • Service to AAEM
  • Service as an exemplary clinician and/or teacher of emergency medicine
  • Service to emergency medicine in the area of research and/or published works
  • Service as a leader in the hospital, the community or organized medicine
  • Service in the areas of health policy and advocacy
  • Volunteerism
  • Other activities or high honors that distinguished the physician as preeminent in the field of emergency medicine.

Nominees are expected to meet most, but not all of the above criteria. However, with very rare exceptions, nominees must meet the first criterion, extraordinary service to AAEM. Individuals shall not self-nominate. Current members of the board of directors may not receive a nomination, but will become eligible for a nomination two years after completion of their service as members of the board. Those nominees who receive approval from the AAEM executive committee shall receive their awards at the next Scientific Assembly. AAEM authorizes Masters to use the title MAAEM for as long as their AAEM membership remains current.

The nominator should submit the following to the AAEM executive committee:

  • Letters of reference for the nominee from three other members in addition to the nominator (Total of 4 letters).
  • Provide the nominee’s current curriculum vitae.

Completed nominations, including all letters of reference and the CV, will receive consideration by the executive committee for submission to the board of directors.

Past Award Recipients
  • 2024 | William G. Gossman, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2024 | Marianne Haughey, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2023 | Mark I. Langdorf, MD MHPE MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2023 | Leslie Zun, MD MBA MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2022 | David A. Farcy, MD MAAEM FAAEM FCCM
  • 2022 | Gary M. Gaddis, MD PhD MAEEM FAAEM FIFEM
  • 2022 | Mitchell J. Goldman, DO MAAEM FAAEM FAAP
  • 2021 | Steven Rosenbaum, MD MAAEM
  • 2021 | Loice Swisher, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2021 | Andy Walker, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2020 | Christopher I. Doty, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2019 | Mark Reiter, MD MBA MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2019 | Daniel F. Danzl, MD MAAEM
  • 2018 | Joanne Williams, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2018 | William Durkin, Jr., MD MBA MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2018 | Kevin G. Rodgers, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2017 | David W. Lawhorn, MD MAAEM
  • 2016 | Robert McNamara, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2015 | Larry Weiss, MD JD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2014 | Anthony DeMond, MD MAAEM
  • 2014 | James Keaney, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2014 | Tom Scaletta, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2013 | Amin Antoine Kazzi, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2013 | Joseph P. Wood, MD JD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2012 | Joseph R. Lex, Jr., MD MAAEM FIFEM
Robert McNamara Award

This award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to AAEM in the area of academic leadership. Nominees for this award must have 10 or more years experience in an EM academic leadership position and must be AAEM members.

Past Award Recipients
  • 2024 | Michael C. Bond, MD FAAEM FACEP
  • 2023 | Marianne Haughey, MD FAAEM
  • 2022 | Christopher I. Doty, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2020 | Michael L. Epter, DO FAAEM
  • 2019 | Joel M. Schofer, MD MBA CPE FAAEM
  • 2018 | A. Antoine Kazzi, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2017 | Shahram Lotfipour, MD MPH FAAEM
  • 2016 | Corey Slovis, MD FAAEM FACEP
  • 2015 | Mel Herbert, MD
  • 2014 | Steve Rosenbaum, MD
  • 2013 | Amal Mattu, MD FAAEM
  • 2012 | Gary Gaddis, MD PhD MAAEM FAAEM FIFEM
  • 2011 | Stephen R. Hayden, MD FAAEM
  • 2010 | Gus Garmel, MD FAAEM FACEP
  • 2009 | Robert M. McNamara, MD MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2008 | Judith Tintinalli, MD MS
  • 2007 | Peter De Blieux, MD
  • 2007 | Jorge Martinez, MD
  • 2007 | Trevor Mills, MD MPH FAAEM
  • 2007 | Keith Van Meter, MD FAAEM
  • 2006 | David Kramer, MD
  • 2005 | Mark Langdorf, MD MHPE MAAEM FAAEM
  • 2004 | William Barsan, MD
  • 2003 | Jerome Hoffman, MD
  • 2002 | Jerris Hedges, MD FAAEM
  • 2001 | Vincent Markovchick, MD

Questions? Email AAEM or call (800) 884-2236