Coming Together for Kentucky

Ryan Stanton MD, FACEP
Vice-President Communications – American College of Emergency Physicians
ACEP Board of Directors

We recently returned from a fantastic Scientific Assembly (ACEP23) in Philadelphia with a great turnout and a wonderful time with fellow emergency physicians. We also came together on November 15 for our chapter annual meeting at Jeptha Creed Distillery. Check out photo galleries below.

ACEP23 in Philadelphia, PA

 

KACEP 2023 Annual Meeting
November 15, 2023 at Jeptha Creed Distillery

 

Our annual meeting has steadily grown over the years and now features poster presentations, resident competitions, meetings, and educational offerings. We were blessed this year to have Dr. Steve Stack, emergency physician and past president of the AMA who currently serves as the Commissioner of Public Health for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He spoke on government operations and how we can effectively engage government officials and entities. It was a great time for some “inside baseball” to help as we continue to advocate for EM in Kentucky and beyond. We were also joined by Dr. Jamie Shoemaker, Vice-President of Membership for ACEP, and Dr. Nicholas Cozzi, reimbursement fellow for ACEP. They talked about money matters with reimbursement struggles, the NSA, insurance games, and how we can better achieve the fair reimbursement for the work we do. We are so fortunate to have such fantastic local and national leaders that have committed to our gathering. See photos below.

We have significant challenges facing emergency medicine within Kentucky and across the country. Whether it is staffing, boarding, reimbursement, or countless hoops that we navigate while still providing the best care for our patients, it is integral that we come together as a profession and emergency physicians to move our specialty forward. I heard a great quote a couple months ago that has resonated with me and that I used in my council speech in Philly. “The ground may be shifting, but the sky isn’t falling.” We have many challenges, but with these challenges are opportunities to advocate and shape emergency medicine as we move forward. The key is that we do it together, with an organization that serves as the voice of the emergency physician and can get the access and seats at the table that can truly move the needle for our physicians, departments, and patients. I would encourage you to join us at future chapter meetings and to encourage eligible physicians, residents, and students to join ACEP/EMRA so we can continue to fight for our specialty.