Since 1970, advocates for the Emergency Medicine specialty.
AWARDS
Every year at our annual CME Conference, we honor those who have gone above and beyond for the emergency medicine specialty.
2024 Award Winners
Bruce M. Lo, MD, MBA, RDMS
Emergency Physicians of Tidewater | Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
Forrest D. McCoig Career Achievement Award
Christopher J. Maples, MD
Emergency Physicians of Tidewater | Sentara Obici Hospital
Medical Director of the Year
James R. Humble, MD
Carilion Clinic
Catherine Agustiady-Becker Rising Star Award
Forrest D. McCoig Career Achievement Award
CRITERIA FOR NOMINATION
The Dr. Forrest D. McCoig Career Achievement Award honors those physicians who have contributed greatly to the Virginia College of Emergency Physicians and improved emergency medicine for patients and emergency physicians in the Commonwealth. The award is named in honor of Dr. Forrest McCoig, VACEP’s first president.
Nominees must meet the following criteria:
Must be an active VACEP member.
Must have outstanding work and professional activities at least seven years towards emergency medicine in the state of Virginia.
The attributes exemplified should include, but not be limited to, inspiration, innovation, dedication, administration and outstanding clinical care.
A proven record of noteworthy, sustained, contributions to emergency medicine.
Any member of the Virginia College of Emergency Physicians (VACEP) may nominate himself/herself or another member for this award. The leadership team of any hospital or treatment facility may nominate a VACEP member for this award. Previous recipients of an VACEP Career Achievement Award are not eligible for this award.
+ Past Winners
- 2023: Gary Kavit, MD, FACEP
- 2020: Debra G. Perina, MD, FACEP
- 2019: Bob Powell, MD
- 2018: Jeremiah O'Shea, MD, FACEP
- 2010: James R. Dudley, MD, MBA
- 2009: Michael J. Bono, MD, FACEP
- 2008: Marcus L. Martin, MD
- 2006: Kenneth Frumkin, MD, FACEP
- 2005: Gaylord W. Ray, MD
- 2003: Michael T. Rapp, MD, FACEP
- 2002: Robert G. Powell, MD, FACEP
- 2001: Francis L. Counselman, MD, FACEP
- 2000: Harry G. Plunkett, Jr., MD
- 1999: Forrest D. McCoig, MD
- 1998: Stanley E. Heatwole, MD, FACEP
John P. McDade Research Award
CRITERIA FOR NOMINATION
This John P. McDade Award is bestowed for exemplary and outstanding research in the field of emergency medical care. The three categories and eligibility are as follows:
Residency: Any resident in an approved Emergency Medicine residency program in the Commonwealth of Virginia who is a member of VACEP.
Post-Graduate: Any licensed physician within the Commonwealth of Virginia who is a member of VACEP.
Non-Physician: Any non-resident or licensed physician in the Commonwealth who has an interest in emergency medicine research.
+ Past Winners
- 2023: Grace Gartman, MD and Lexie Neubauer, MD (Residents)
- 2022: Anne Shirley Jones, DO and Leslie Rea Kallevang, MD (Residents)
- 2021: J. Michael Joyce, MD (Post-Graduate)
- 2019: Adam Schefkind (Non-Physician)
- 2019: Austin Lee, MD, MPH (Resident)
- 2018: Hannah Carr **(Non-Physician) **
- 2018: Alyssa Krepela, LT., MC, USN **(Non-Physician) **
- 2017: Jordan T. Tozer, MD, FACEP, RDMS, RDCS, RVT (Post-Graduate)
- 2016: Michael J. Vitto, DO, MS, RDMS, RDCS (Post-Graduate)
- 2015: Ryan T. Buckley, DO (Resident)
- 2014: Matthew W. Lawrence, MD (Post-Graduate)
- 2014: Kristina M. Rogish, MD (Resident)
Medical Director
of the year Award
CRITERIA FOR NOMINATION
The VACEP Medical Director of the Year Award is to honor a medical director who demonstrates collaborative relationships with nursing and ancillary departments to implement and improve operational and clinical standards based on evidence-based practice. The nominee must demonstrate significant contributions to the department in the following categories:
Quality Patient Care
Operational Effectiveness
Education
Community Service
Collaboration with Nursing
Synergistic approach to leadership within the hospital or hospital system
+ Past Winners
- 2023: Scott McCann, MD
- 2022: AJ Langa, MD
- 2021: William "Doug" Browder, MD, FACEP
- 2020: Bruce Lo, MD, MBA, FACEP
- 2019: Adam Rochman, MD, FACEP
Catherine Agustiady-Becker Rising Star Award
On May 3, 2021, VACEP and the specialty of emergency medicine lost one of our own rising stars with the tragic passing of Dr. Catherine Agustiady-Becker, DO.
It was resolved by the Board of Directors in 2021 that the Rising Star Award is renamed the Catherine Agustiady-Becker Rising Star Award to honor the mother of three’s light and legacy.
CRITERIA FOR NOMINATION
The Catherine Agustiady-Becker Rising Star Award was created in 2020 (renamed in 2021 to honor the late Virginia emergency physician). Similar in intent to sports-based “rising star” awards, the VACEP Rising Star Award is given annually to a standout young EM physician who displays exceptional service to the chapter and/or outstanding leadership in the profession.
Nominees must meet the following criteria:
Between one and five years out of Emergency Medicine Residency or Fellowship Training
Active member of VACEP
Outstanding work and professional activities.
Notable service to professional Emergency Medicine organizations (preferably VACEP)
+ Past Winners
- 2023: Theodore "TJ" Tzavaras, MD
- 2022: Jesse Spangler, MD, FACEP
- 2021: Joran Sequiera, MD, FACEP
- 2020: Trisha Anest, MD, MPH, FACEP
Selection and Presentation: Award winners are selected by a majority vote of awards committee members, the chair vote deciding in a tie situation. The committee’s decision requires VACEP Board approval. The award winner is announced in December. The decision of the board is final, and the board reserves the right to make no award if there are no nominees of sufficient merit. The award is presented at the VACEP Annual Conference.