2022 - 2023 Ultrasound Committee Leader Spotlight

Jake Freudenberger, DO, Chair of the EMRA Ultrasound Committee, 2022-2023

Program: UT Southwestern

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To help continue to grow the field of ultrasound and make education more accessible and fun for others. EMRA has so many incredible resources, I hope to contribute to the resources and of course make everyone I can aware of them!

What is the best advice you ever received? so this isn't related to being a leader as much, but this is by far the best thing I was told by an EM physician-mentor of mine: Be careful always looking forward to the next step, especially in medicine. There is always an opportunity to say "I can't wait till I am (insert next step in life here)". Whether it's going from 1st to 2nd year of medical school, finishing Step 1, then step 2, then auditions, then the Match, then intern year then the year before you graduate from residency; there's always something else. If you don't forget to live in the present and find ways to enjoy the process, you are destined for burnout because you will wonder where the last 7-9 years of your life went. It always stuck with me and I try to live that advice everyday.

If you weren't an Emergency Physician, what would you be? Social Entrepreneur. I would create an organization that is successful by doing good for the word

Moudi Hubeishy, MD, Chair-Elect of the EMRA Ultrasound Committee, 2022-2023

Program: Franciscan Health Olympia Fields

Your goal as an EMRA leader: My goal as an EMRA leader is to support and advance the field of emergency medicine by collaborating with my EM peers across the country to bring forward innovative change to medicine. As an EMRA Leader on the Ultrasound Committee, I am excited to share my passion (obsession) with POCUS. I hope to promote applicable and engaging US-related opportunities for all EM residents that will translate clinically to the bedside.

What is the best advice you've ever received? Make the best of your reality in the moment

What is something people don't know about you? I was a bodybuilder in high school competing 5 times on stage

Favorite life hack for night shifts: I pack a stash of diet cokes, very refreshing at 3:00AM

What's on your playlist? Flo Rida always gets me pumped!

Brock Chimileski, Vice Chair of the EMRA Ultrasound Committee, 2022-2023

Program: UConn School of Medicine

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To help bring valuable education and networking opportunities to residents and students!

Why get involved in a professional society? To join a motivated group of likeminded individuals striving to make EMRA and the EM community better.

Top 3 traits of a great leader:
1. Accountable
2. Decisive
3. Empathetic

What is the best advice you've ever received?  Go with your gut!

Sagar Desai, MD, MEd, MPH, Vice Chair of the EMRA Ultrasound Committee, 2022-2023

Program: NYU-Bellevue

Your goal as an EMRA leader: My goal as an EMRA leader is to, in some small part, help define what it means to be an emergency physician of the future. I believe that the growth of applications of emergency ultrasound is central to the evolution of our specialty.

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: In my dreams, a music producer. Realistically, a high school teacher or principal.

What's on your playlist? Mostly hip hop and various subtypes of electronic music. I like my chill playlist the most (shameless plug).

What's the last non-textbook you read? Adventures Among Ants, by Mark Moffett

Did you pick up a new quarantine hobby? I got really into cooking new dishes. I found out that chopping vegetables is surprisingly therapeutic.

Rich Dowd, DO, Vice Chair of the EMRA Ultrasound Committee, 2022-2023

Program: University Hospitals - Cleveland Medical Center/Case Western

Your goal as an EMRA leader: As an EMRA leader, I hope to reach more future EM physicians earlier in their training, exposing them to the latest in EM research and guidance early on as medical students. Through committee leadership specifically, I hope to add to the Ultrasound experience and instruction that EMRA members receive through in-person and virtual programming, as well as developing our monthly POCUS for the Win segment.

What is the best advice you've ever received? Take a deep breath

Favorite life hack for night shifts: Pre-shift nap, workout, and caffeine bolus obviously

What's the last non-textbook you read? The Ideal Team Player

Alex Gallaer, Asst. Vice Chair of the EMRA Ultrasound Committee, 2022-2023

Program: UConn School of Medicine

Your goal as an EMRA leader: My goal is to continue to advocate for medical students and residents interested in EM.

Favorite life hack for night shifts: Chocolate covered espresso beans!

Number of apps on my phone: 62

What's the last non-textbook you read? The Tao of Pooh

Fred Milgrim, MD, Asst. Vice Chair of the EMRA Ultrasound Committee, 2022-2023

Program: Mount Sinai Hospital

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To engage with the larger EM community in order to collaborate and push the field of ultrasound forward.

Why get involved in a professional society? It is easy to get lost in the minutiae of your own training program and your own city. Stepping outside of that bubble opens you up to new learning and engagement with the practice of medicine.

What is something people don't know about you? I was a reporter before medical school.

Louisa Weindruch, Asst. Vice Chair of the EMRA Ultrasound Committee, 2022-2023

Program: UNTHSC Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To help medical students learn more about ultrasound and encourage them to become involved in professional societies like EMRA

Why get involved in a professional society? It's a great way to connect with colleagues and mentors and find areas that you're interested in!

What is the best advice you've ever received? Don't sweat the small stuff

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: Either a teacher, chef, or detective (or some combo of all 3?)

Favorite life hack for night shifts: Always have some type of sour candy