Emergency physician group to honor Dr. Francis Counselman
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is honoring Francis Counselman, MD, with the organization’s highest award for education and teaching.
Dr. Counselman is the founding Chair of Emergency Medicine and the EVMS Foundation Distinguished Professor in Emergency Medicine. He earned his MD degree at EVMS in 1983 and completed his emergency medicine residency here in 1986.
In October, Dr. Counselman will receive the ACEP Award for Outstanding Contribution in Education, which honors an individual for significant contribution to the educational aspects of the specialty.
Dr. Counselman has been a major influence in emergency medicine education locally and nationally, according to Barry Knapp, MD, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Director of the Emergency Medicine Residency Program.
“I cannot overemphasize Dr. Counselman’s depth of involvement in not only the maturation of our department, but the evolution of emergency medicine as a medical specialty,” Dr. Knapp says. “His expertise is most evident at the patient bedside. His mentorship of faculty, residents and students has helped to solidify EVMS’ national impact for many years to come.”
Dr. Counselman has held some of the most important roles in national medical organizations. For instance, as past president of the American Board of Emergency Medicine he led over 31,000 board-certified emergency physicians in the U.S. He also is a past president of the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine, and is currently Associate Editor-in-Chief of the journal Emergency Medicine.
Here’s a sample of what other colleagues had to say about Dr. Counselman and his recognition:
David Shulmister, MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine: "When Frank took over the residency program, he had a long list of goals that to me at the time seemed unobtainable. Over the years, the residency and residents individually were excelling, research was achieved at a high level, Frank quietly started achieving awards, never applying any attention to himself and has made the program one of the best in the county. We are all more proud of him than he is of himself.”
Carol McCammon, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency and Director, International Emergency Medicine Fellowship:(From a message sent to Dr. Counselman regarding his achievement) “There are so many of us practicing now around the country and internationally who have had the privilege to have been accepted in the Emergency Medicine residency here, trained under your expert guidance and share the love of medicine. I think I can speak broadly and say we are so grateful. I know you don’t look for the recognition but it is so good to see that there are times when the right person gets it. Thank you for the everlasting influence and support.”