And the Winners Are...
Each year at the VACEP Annual Conference, leaders recognize emergency physicians whose efforts have gone beyond the bedside when it comes to emergency medicine leadership and advocacy. Here’s a look at our three winners this year.
RISING STAR
The Catherine Agustiady-Becker Rising Star Award was created in 2020 (renamed in 2021 to honor the late Virginia emergency physician). Similar to sports-based “rising star” awards, the honor is given annually to a standout young EM physician who displays exceptional service to the chapter and the specialty.
Lauren Webb, MD is our 2025 winner.
Webb (at right) meets with a legislative aide during VACEP’s 2025 EM Advocacy Day in Richmond. Her VACEP and USACS colleague Joran Sequeira, MD, FACEP is at left.
“Lauren has become an increasingly valuable member of the VACEP team,” notes VACEP President Jesse Spangler, MD, FACEP.
Webb was an active member during her time on the VACEP Leadership and Advocacy Fellowship and today offers her guidance on the Virginia Department of Health’s Trauma Administrative and Governance Committee. During the 2024 legislative session, Webb gave testimony in front of lawmakers regarding Nurse Practitioner scope of practice, arguing to keep requirements to five years of supervised training.
“Through Lauren's various VACEP activities, it has become clear that she is a leader in emergency medicine,” Spangler said.
VACEP President-Elect Joran Sequeira, MD, FACEP — a colleague of Webb’s through their shared employer, U.S. Acute Care Solutions (USACS) — writes: “In such a short time, Lauren has become so involved. Testifying at the General Assembly, the trauma state workgroup, sharing her expertise in Department of Health Professions meetings, helping with workgroups…dhe has been the one of the most involved fellows we’ve seen.”
MEDICAL DIRECTOR
The VACEP Medical Director of the Year honors a leader who demonstrates collaborative relationships with nursing and ancillary departments to implement and improve operational and clinical standards based on evidence-based practice.
Sarah Klemencic, MD, VACEP’s 2025 Medical Director of the Year.
Our 2025 winner is Sarah Klemencic, MD, medical director of the Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital Emergency Department, the only Level 1 trauma center and tertiary care hospital in Southwest Virginia. Klemencic is also overseeing a massive expansion into a new ED space to allow the department to continue to serve the community’s needs. Ten of her colleagues submitted nominations for her. Among their comments:
“Dr. Klemencic's tireless efforts have seen significant decreases in our Left Without Being Seen rate and significantly improved sepsis outcomes.”
“She is a shining model of leadership at both the state and local level and is exceptionally deserving of the Medical Director of the Year award."
“I have watched Dr. Klemencic grow as a leader with the faculty as well as leader within [ACEP]. She is a tremendous communicator with exceptional ability to grow trust within a team. This has allowed us as a group to adapt quickly and seamlessly to rapid changes in emergency medicine.”
“Sarah has been able to make this very high-acuity, high-volume emergency department run like a well-oiled machine. She is loved by all of her colleagues. When she has to do the tough job of course correction, she does it with grace.”
“I interact with her on a regular basis through system-wide meetings and initiatives as the medical director of one of our system's community sites. She has a way of inspiring each of the other system medical directors to be better, often with a simple nudge, a basic question, or shining light on the tremendous work that someone else has done to ensure they feel valued.”
“A natural, approachable leader. She inspires her colleagues to work collaboratively and engenders a feeling of camaraderie and confidence that we can get this done together...whatever it is, and no matter how difficult the work."
“Dr. Klemencic's genuine commitment to our team and the community shines through in everything she does. Her vision will guide us effectively as we grow our department.”
“A caring, smart, hard-working, and approachable medical director.”
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT
Parker
The Dr. Forrest D. McCoig Career Achievement Award honors a physician who has contributed to VACEP and improved emergency medicine for patients and emergency physicians in the Commonwealth. It’s named in honor of Dr. Forrest McCoig, VACEP’s first president.
Our 2025 winner: Todd Parker, MD, FACEP, our immediate past president and an emergency physician with Riverside Health System and U.S. Navy veteran, where he served as an emergency physician. His prior experience includes serving as an emergency physician in the U.S. Navy. He is known among his colleagues as a leader and driven mentor to others.
Parker presents at the ACEP Leadership & Advocacy Conference, sharing how Virginia passed a law requiring 24/7 physical physician presence in emergency departments. That law becomes effective July 1 and has become a national model.
“Todd is an experienced emergency physician with a dedicated history in caring for patients and educating the future. Throughout his time in this profession, he has had extensive military and healthcare leadership,” writes Sequeira, who nominated Parker on behalf of the Board.
Parker has been on the front lines of ACEP and VACEP policymaking and decisions, including presenting to attendees at ACEP’s annual Leadership & Advocacy Conference. He has served as an ACEP Councillor and on the VACEP Board, testified multiple times in front of General Assembly, has forged relationships with legislators, and led a lawsuit against the Department of Medical Assistance Services (Virginia Medicaid)’s Downcoding policy.
“He is a wealth of knowledge and has been a role model for future emergency medicine advocates,” Sequeira writes. “Through all of this, he remains humble and kind with a welcoming smile.”
