PaACEP Members in the News

Marilyn Heine, MD, and nine other 911 Network Team Captains were recognized for their efforts to educate legislators about national’s legislative priorities, including ACEP-endorsed legislation, the “Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 2007” (H.R.882/S.1003).   Many legislators who agreed to co-sponsor the bill were contacted directly by Team Captains and in some cases, visited the emergency department of a Team Captain prior to signing on.  The bill currently has 116 co-sponsors in the House and 13 co-sponsors in the Senate including new co-sponsor, Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA).

The Team Captains participated in at least five advocacy activities throughout the year including monthly conference call briefings, advocacy training during ACEP meetings, hosting legislators or staff in their hospital emergency department, direct meetings in Washington, DC or at home with legislators and their staff, email and telephone communications with legislators, and recruiting their colleagues for the 911 Network and Team Captain program.

Congratulations to Past President Ted Christopher, MD, FACEP, who recently was elected as an AMA Alternate Delegate.

Chris Cammarata, DO, recently received the EMS Physician Award from the Emergency Medical Services Institute (EMSI). Dr. Cammarata is assistant medical director of LifeFlight and medical director of Ground Ambulance Services at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Michael S. Weinstock, MD, FACEP, of Allentown was recently recognized by ACEP President Linda Lawrence, MD, FACEP, and Executive Director Dean Wilkerson, JD, MBA, for his 30 years of service to the specialty. Dr. Weinstock recently retired as chair of Lehigh Valley Hospital’s Department of Emergency Medicine. 

L. Albert Villarin, Jr., MD, FACEP, who is chief medical informatics officer at Albert Einstein Medical Center and serves on PaACEP’s board of directors, represented the Chapter on IssuesPA 2008, an hour-long program produced by the Pennsylvania Public Television Network. The program, which focused on the costs of gun violence, was broadcast statewide in May. Dr. Villarin also presented a lecture at the 2008 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society annual conference in Orlando, Florida. He spoke about the role automatic patient and asset tracking systems play in impacting patient flow within hospital emergency departments.