EMRA is pleased to welcome the newest members to the EMRA Board of Directors: Blake Denley, MD, president; David Wilson, MD, president-elect; Jacob Altholz, MD, vice speaker of the council; Joe-Ann Moser, MD, MS, director of education; and Morgan Sweere, MD, secretary/editor.
Blake R. Denley, MD
Ochsner Health | New Orleans, La.
President
What’s your first priority as EMRA president?
There are so many projects we’re working on, but at the end of the day, our members are always my first priority. This plays out in a few ways, but I’ll highlight two — our opportunities for involvement and our on-shift clinical guides.
A strength of EMRA lies in its ability to help trainees get where they want to go in their career. We have some amazing leadership and advocacy opportunities, and I encourage everyone to get involved with at least one thing.
We’re also continually working to ensure our members feel well-equipped for their shifts, so we regularly update our existing clinical guides and introduce new ones. We work hard to know what our members currently need and what they’ll need in the coming years. For example, this past year we released the Nerve Blocks and Procedural Pain Management Guide.
How can EMRA members make a difference?
Get involved and contribute to a project. We have so many avenues for involvement, and your contributions will not only help EMRA, but I also believe they will help you as an individual feel more fulfilled on a personal level.
How do you recharge after a tough shift?
Well, I rejoined a class-based gym a few months ago and have been enjoying it! I’d say it really helps reset my brain after a draining shift. If not the gym, then I revert to napping, which is quite the opposite from the gym but still pretty effective for me.
What is something people don’t know about you?
I am a former world champion jump roper. Feel free to YouTube me for some old videos!
What’s one skill you want but don’t have (yet)?
I want to speak Spanish fluently one day. I spent a few months in Ecuador studying Spanish before medical school, and I did a Medical Spanish elective in Mexico my fourth year. Unfortunately, I haven’t kept up with studying, but I’m not giving up on the goal!
What’s one skill you could do without?
I’m really good at eating desserts.
Favorite follow on social?
All of the local plant shops in New Orleans.
David Wilson, MD
University of Cincinnati
President-Elect
What are the most pressing issues facing EM?
Emergency medicine has several issues, and 10 emergency physicians would give 10 different issues. I like to be solution-oriented, and I believe that many problems facing our specialty can be improved by expanding what we can do for our patients.
How can EMRA members make a difference?
I love EMRA because it gives residents a voice to make a difference in the future of the specialty. You can join our committees to find folks with similar interests and work toward advancing our specialty in your niche. You can also get involved in advocacy and legislation through the Representative Council, Health Policy Academy, and others to bring solutions and have EMRA work for you to make our future (and our now) brighter.
How do you recharge after a tough shift?
After a tough shift, you'll find me grabbing some fresh air. I love spending time in some green space to recharge, but I've also been known to frequent 11pm post-shift sushi as well as post-shift breakfast.
What is something people don’t know about you?
My favorite holiday is Groundhog Day.
What’s one skill you want but don’t have (yet)?
I'm getting close, but I'm still working on making the perfect gnocchi from scratch.
What’s one skill you could do without?
I consider myself a champion parallel parker, but now that I live in the Midwest, I don't often find myself needing to parallel park. I used to consider it my mediocre superpower, but now it's a skill I just don't need much.
Favorite follow on social?
It's a toss-up between @emresidents and @tamingtheSRU.
Morgan Sweere, MD, MPH
University of Florida | Jacksonville
Secretary/Editor
What’s your first priority as an EMRA board member?
My first priority is to give as many opportunities as possible for EMRA members to get involved in publications — from their first publication to the many after that. I want to make sure residents know they have a chance to share if they want to and to inspire others to get their work out into the world.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I have ever received is from my parents. They have always told me that I can’t always start out being the best at everything, but I can be the one working the hardest at it. I think this has helped me develop a strong work ethic that can now serve my patients.
How do you recharge after a tough shift?
A walk with my dog, Lily, and a bubble bath!
What is something people don’t know about you?
Ask to race me, and you’ll find out!
What’s one skill you want but don’t have (yet)?
I want to learn how to fly a plane.
What’s one skill you could do without?
Fence repair — my pup is an escape artist!
Does pineapple go on pizza?
No
Favorite comfort food (or drink)?
Pepsi and Reese’s
Jacob Altholz, MD
University of Nevada | Las Vegas
Vice Speaker of the Council
What’s your first priority as an EMRA board member?
Making sure the voice of EMRA members is heard, understood, and appreciated
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
At the end of the day, the only person who has to be okay with your decisions is yourself.
How do you recharge after a tough shift?
Work out, make myself dinner (or buy a pizza), and pass out early
What is something people don’t know about you?
I am classically-training as a singer. I started taking voice lessons once a week in medical school and haven't given up yet!
What’s one skill you want but don’t have (yet)?
Speak another language fluently
What’s one skill you could do without?
Reciting 26 digits of pi. I took one of those competitions in grade school too seriously and still lost.
Does pineapple go on pizza?
Absolutely, especially with pepperoni
Favorite comfort food (or drink)?
Beef Stroganoff
Joe-Ann Moser, MD, MS
University of Wisconsin | Madison
Director of Education
What’s your first priority as an EMRA board member?
Having trained at an urban academic program and chosen to do a medical education fellowship, I realize I’m coming to the role of director of education from a very specific viewpoint. So I want to spend some time at the beginning of my term listening to residents and med students from different programs and parts of the country about what more they think EMRA can be doing to improve their education. If you have any ideas, please feel free to email them to me at educationdir@emra.org.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Perfect is the enemy of good. I just googled this again (to make sure I was getting it right) and turns out it’s a Voltaire quote. I still struggle with this. But there aren’t enough hours in a day to spend time perfecting every little thing, so for our own sanity, we have to figure out which ones to focus on.
How do you recharge after a tough shift?
I love to lie on my couch and read a good book. After a tough shift, preferably something fiction to take my mind to a different place. I recently read “Black Cake” by Charmaine Wilkerson and highly recommend it!
What is something people don’t know about you?
I actually applied to medical school twice. The first time was during my senior year of undergrad, and halfway through the interview process, I realized I wasn’t ready to go straight through, so I withdrew my applications. I spent my gap year doing research at the NIH and learning how to “adult.” I was a lot happier when I applied the next year, even though it was scary in the moment to defy what was expected of me to prioritize my wellness.
What’s one skill you want but don’t have (yet)?
I’d really like to learn some computer programming. I realize this might be a stretch because I oftentimes joke I’m secretly 85 years old and struggle to turn my laptop on each morning. But I find the concept of using a logical sequence of commands to instruct a computer to solve a problem fascinating.
What’s one skill you could do without?
I fully recognize this is not a skill, but I could do without my finger joints being hypermobile (aka double-jointed). Sometimes they lock in place when I’m typing.
Does pineapple go on pizza?
Absolutely not!
Favorite comfort food (or drink)?
Dark chocolate