2024 Health Policy Committee Leader Spotlight

Melanie Yates MD, Chair of the EMRA Health Policy Committee, 2024

Program: University of Cincinnati

Your goal as an EMRA leader: My biggest goal is to help create a community where every medical student and physician-in-training can reach their highest potential. I am here to be a mentor for those interested in my niche, help create content to teach our future leaders about health policy, and to guide my committee members to achieve their goals through my servant leadership. 

Why get involved in a professional society? Professional societies, if used correctly, allow for an incredible amount of growth and networking that is difficult to get anywhere else. I joined EMRA initially to meet others who were interested in emergency medicine, and from there have found a great number of people (who I now call friends) who share in my passion for advocacy and health policy. 

What is the best advice you have ever received? If your dreams don't scare you, their not big enough

Nicholas Melucci, DO, MPH, Chair-Elect of the EMRA Health Policy Committee, 2024

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, Vice Chair of the EMRA Health Policy Committee, 2024

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

Katarina Jones, MD, MPH, Vice Chair of the EMRA Health Policy Committee, 2024

Program: University of Louisville

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To advocate for legislation and policies that are evidence based, equitable and practical

Why get involved in a professional society? To get engaged at the national level to advocate for patients and healthcare workers across the country

What do you think are the top three traits of a great leader? Communication, patience, humility 

What app on your phone consumes the most of your time? NYT games

Stephanie Berg, MD, Vice Chair of the EMRA Health Policy Committee, 2024

Program: Baylor Scott and White

Your goal as an EMRA leader: This is a pivotal moment in time for Emergency Medicine. It is our responsibility to step up as leaders to shape the field so that future students and residents love their training and careers even more than we do today. We are the driving force of our specialty's future and my goal as an EMRA leader is to inspire and lead members to be positive changemakers for EM!

Why get involved in a professional society? Connecting, learning, and leading with other members is an invaluable part of medical education. To face all of the challenges of Emergency Medicine, we need a diverse network. Professional societies like EMRA allow for these interactions to occur and they are a source of encouragement driving us to achieve excellence in our field.

What is something people don't know about you? I have my M class license and will occasionally ride alongside my husband to our treasured coffee date spots.

What is your favorite hack for night shifts? Wear a heated vest and turn it on when you get to the early morning hours. It helps provide warmth and energy when your cortisol levels are at their lowest.

What app on your phone consumes the most of your time? Instagram. The scroll is soothing.

What's the last non-textbook you read? Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek

Favorite channel on social media? Half Baked Harvest! I absolutely love her recipes and whole aesthetic.

Phillip Groden, MD, Vice Chair of the EMRA Health Policy Committee, 2024

Program: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Nicholas Nasser, MD, MPH, Asst. Vice Chair of the EMRA Health Policy Committee, 2024

Program: The Mount Sinai Hospital

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To bring awareness to the health policy implications with regard to rising health care costs and end of life care.

What is the best advice you've ever received? You are the master of your fate, the captain of your soul

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: Either a lawyer or a writer

Angelica Rego MD, Asst. Vice Chair of the EMRA Health Policy Committee, 2024

Program: UVA

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To increase awareness about the ways that, even early in our careers, we can make a difference! Your experiences and ideas are valuable, and change starts just by sharing those with others.

Why did you get involved in a professional society? To expand my network of people in EM who are passionate about innovation and making our specialty the best it can be.