2025 Health Policy Committee Leader Spotlight

Nicholas Melucci, DO, MPH, Chair of the EMRA Health Policy Committee, 2025

Program: George Washington University

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To educate and inspire residents and medical students to involve themselves in health policy both within emergency medicine and beyond.

Why get involved in a professional society? After serving as a Vice Chair on the Health Policy Committee last year, I realized how valuable it was to be involved with EMRA. I met and networked with many people from across the country. EMRA provides a fantastic platform for collaboration to educate the EM physicians of the future.

What do you think are the top three traits of a great leader? 1. Communicator 2. Listener 3. Selfless

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: A golf course architect or a chef

Alberto E. Perez-Sthory, MD, Chair-Elect of the EMRA Health Policy Committee, 2025

Program: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvannia

Your goal as an EMRA leader: There were times when I thought the circumstances of my birth would dictate my future. However, I was able to embark on a different path because of the sacrifices of my family and that of mentors & peers who took a chance on me. Thus, I want to pave it forward by supporting the next generation of emergency medicine physicians. I want to empower them to continue helping the underserved and make sure they are able to define their own destiny by their potential, not by resource constraints or their past. I trust that being an EMRA leader will allow me to do just that.

Why did you get involved in a professional society? To meet and connect with colleagues from all over the country and walks of life, as well as inspire others to see health policy through a different lens and help shape the future of our health care system. 

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: Probably a professional food taster lol ... love food, wine, and traveling!

What is your favorite hack for night shifts? Pre-shift workout + Celsius ... Post-shifts mimosas!

What's the last non-textbook you read? Red, White, & Royal Blue

Srikar Adibhatla, MD, Vice Chair of the EMRA Health Policy Committee, 2025

Program: Mount Sinai/Elmhurst

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To help advocate for systemic change in healthcare and make health policy more accessible to all EM residents

Why did you get involved in a professional society? To discuss ideas with like-minded residents and help find meaningful solutions to our current health care problems

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: Probably a teacher or a chef... in a perfect world maybe a tennis pro?

What is your favorite hack for night shifts? Celsius and Gummy Bears

What's the last non-textbook you read? Poverty, by America... or a little bit more fun Ready Player Two

What are your top songs on your Spotify Wrapped? Headfirst - The Royal, A Bar Song - Shaboozey, Stick Season - Noah Kahan

April Huckleberry, MD, Vice Chair of the EMRA Health Policy Committee, 2025

Program: Kaiser Permanente San Diego

Your goal as an EMRA leader: My goal is to empower EM residents to learn about the policies that shape our field and affect our patients, so that we can have more meaningful careers as informed and compassionate emergency physicians. 

Why get involved in a professional society? I want to be a part of and learn from the greater EM community, connecting with people who are similarly interested in the policies, current events, and cultural values that give important context to the way we practice medicine. 

What is something people don't know about you? I used to be in an A capella jazz choir 

What is your favorite hack for night shifts? Dark chocolate covered espresso beans

What's the last non-textbook you read? The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Favorite channel on social media? Giggly Squad

Parth Patel, MD, Vice Chair of the EMRA Health Policy Committee, 2025

Program: University of Connecticut School of Medicine