Media inquiries: (434) 924-5679

U.VA. EMERGENCY MEDICINE CHAIRMAN NAMED PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL ORGANIZATION

Dr. Marcus L. Martin, professor and chairman of emergency medicine at the University of Virginia Health System, was named president of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) for 2001. He is the first African American to hold this position.

Martin's term began on May 6 and will last for one year. He will then serve as past- president for the 2002-2003 term.

We have a lot of work ahead of us and I look forward to leading the organization, Martin said. It is my pleasure to work with SAEM now and hopefully for years to come.

As president, Martin is the formal spokesperson for the society and makes executive decisions on the day-to-day issues regarding committee and task force actions. Some of the objectives for the 2001-2002 committees and task forces include:

  • Continuing the development of a teaching module on patient safety.

  • Monitoring Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations, Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) regulations and GME (Graduate Medical Education) funding.

  • Providing mentoring to underrepresented minority members of SAEM.

  • Addressing cultural competency, the understanding and application of cultural differences, and whether they affect racial and ethnic health disparities.

Martin has been chairman of the department of emergency medicine at U.Va. Health System since 1996. He has served as president of the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors. Martin possesses numerous awards and has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks.

Martin has been a board member of SAEM since 1992. He previously served as the board's secretary-treasurer and president-elect. SAEM is a 5,500 member national organization whose mission is to advance patient care through education and research.

July 12, 2001