Awesome Conference, Awesome Leaders, Awesome Advocacy Opportunities | February eNews 152

Last weekend, we wrapped up our first and, while successful and enjoyable, hopefully last virtual annual conference. A word of wisdom: Planning and executing a virtual event is far more strenuous than the real deal.

I am incredibly grateful to our speakers and their wonderful presentations. Dr. Scott Hickey gave his last annual President's Update (link below), and I was especially impressed by our Resident Rapid Fire Talks. Virginia's academic programs are generating top-tier talent in emergency medicine.

We also installed a new VACEP president, Cameron Olderog, MD, FACEP. The U.S. Army vet and Inova emergency physician is the first woman to hold the role since 2012 and, while we haven't checked the records, can likely say she's the first (or at a minimum, one of few) to also maintain a cattle/pig/chicken farm in Northern Virginia. Oh, and she and husband Chris have three kids. Get to know her here. Cameron is...kind of a badass.

Completing the leadership updates for the 2021-2022 year, Drs. Randall Myers and Jesse Spangler have been elected the Board of Directors. Dr. Jon D’Souza has stepped down from his position on the Board to accept a new job in Maryland (we'll miss you!). To fill his seat, the Board elected Dr. Courtney Zydron. The Board also elected Dr. Todd Parker (formerly Secretary-Treasurer) to President-Elect and Dr. Trisha Anest to Secretary-Treasurer. The Board also voted to elect Past-President, Scott Hickey, to a fourth term to last while Dr. Olderog is President.

This time last year was quite different. We were doing many of the same things — advocating during General Assembly, welcoming new leadership, and finalizing our follow up on the conference. But at the same time, I was tracking news of a coronavirus outbreak in China (and planning a soon-to-be-cancelled spring trip to Japan). While this last year has been intense, it has shown our strength as an organization. I look forward to what the next 12 months will bring!

– Sarah Marshall

VACEP Executive Director