News from the Maryland Chapter American College of Emergency Physicians

See all articles MDACEP Presents 2010-2011 Awards

Filed under MDACEP News on Tuesday, November 08, 2011.

Each year, Maryland ACEP awards those outstanding candidates in the following categories:

Emergency Physician of the Year – Neel Vibhakar, MD

Each year, Maryland ACEP recognizes a Maryland ACEP a member who has given meritorious service to the chapter and in furthering its overall goals.  This year we are pleased to recognize Dr. Neel Vibhakar, Chair of our Practice Management Committee.   He is constantly forwarding questions and responses to a virtual committee regarding practice issues in the emergency department.  He has summarized responses to these topics of interest in our newsletter, the EPIC.  Dr. Vibhakar has planned programs and executed meetings to bring current medical directors to the roundtable for discussion of current issues.

Neel is presently Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine at Baltimore Washington Medical Center.  

EMS – Wade Gaasch, MD, FAAEM

Dr. Gaasch has been Baltimore City EMS Medical Director for 19 years where he has been integral in establishing the Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement programs as well as taking an active response and planning role with any mass gathering. Dr. Gaasch has also established the EMS support team for the Baltimore City Special Operations unit implementing the State Tactical EMS protocol program. Dr. Gaasch is an active member of the Metropolitan Medical Strike Team Executive Committee. Dr. Gaasch is a responding  physician as part of the R A Cowley Shock Trauma Center Go-Team which responds to complex EMS scenes where surgical interventions may be required. Most notably Dr. Gaasch was the medical director for Maryland Task Force -2 (MDTF-2) which was deployed to Hurricane Katrina for two weeks.  Dr. Gaasch has been a member of the State EMS Board’s Protocol Review Committee for over a decade providing local EMS Medical Direction insight and decision making on state level EMS provider disciplinary cases.  Dr. Gaasch is also the Commercial Services Medical Director for UMMS’ express care and the PHI Airmedical service.

Emergency Nurse of the Year - Lynn Brown

Lynn Brown is a Certified Emergency Nurse who has been in nursing for over 35 years.  She has an extensive background in nursing for the urban areas of Baltimore.  Starting as a NICU then ICU nurse, she found her home in emergency nursing.  For over 22 years, Lynn has taken on many roles in addition to staff nurse in the Emergency Department.  She serves as a Clinical Department Manager at Baltimore Washington Medical Center where she oversees orientation and developed a Nursing Intern Residency Program.  As a member of the Emergency Nurses Association, she has served as Metro Baltimore Chapter president and is currently the Maryland State Council Treasurer.  She shares her expertise in the care of the pediatric patient as she teaches an Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course and Pediatric Advanced Life Support across the state.  

While Lynn’s leadership roles in Emergency Nursing provides her colleagues with an expert resource, it is her caring and patient-focused, family centered care which separates Lynn from other emergency nurses.  She provides quality patient care with a focus on compassion and caring which truly makes her an outstanding Emergency Nurse, worthy of the honor of Maryland Emergency Nurse of the Year.

Legislator of the Year – Wade Kach

Wade Kach is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 5B, part of Baltimore County, MD. Known for his outstanding service to his constituents, Kach was re-elected to his present seat in the November 2010 election by a wide margin.

Kach started his career as a middle school math teacher in Baltimore County Public Schools. After 22 years in the classroom, he transitioned into the Audit Office of the school system, reviewing the spending of all schools in the county.

Active in his community, Kach is a member of the Timonium Optimists, the North Baltimore County Republican and Civic Organization, and the Ashland Community Organization. Kach is also a past member Parents Anonymous of Maryland, the Reisterstown-Owings Mills-Glyndon Coordinating Council, and the Reisterstown-Owings Mills-Glyndon Chamber of Commerce.

He has received many honors including an award from the Maryland Society of Accountants in 1999 and the Casper R. Taylor, Jr., Founder's Award, from the House of Delegates in 2006.

Del. Kach sponsored many health care bills in the legislature this year including:

HB32 – Cap on Comprehensive Standard Health Benefit Plan

HB 41 – Copayments for in vitro fertilization procedures and surgical treatment of morbid obesity

HB411- statewide advisory commission on immunizations 

HB 435- Reimbursement of Primary Care Providers 

HB804 – Health Insurance Dental Provider Panels

HB814 – Individual Health Benefit Plans 

AND  co-sponsored over 19 bills regarding health care

He has been a true advocate for Maryland’s health care system and has been instrumental in helping emergency medicine and its current legislative curriculum.

Past President's Gavel – Joseph Twanmoh, MD, FACEP

Dr. Joseph Twanmoh has been an active member of Maryland ACEP giving of his time and expertise toward chapter activities.  He has been a member of our Board of Directors, and has successfully held the offices of Chapter Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President and President.

Under his leadership the Chapter’s Practice Management Committee was initiated and continues to grow as emergency department (ED) medical directors use this virtual committee to address current practice issues in the ED.  During his tenure, Maryland ACEP has conducted two very successful educational one-day conferences and we have successfully addressed many legislative and regulatory issues in our state legislature.  Dr. Twanmoh led the chapter through national ACEP’s Task Force on rating emergency medicine in each state.

Dr. Twanmoh practices emergency medicine at St. Agnes Medical Center, Baltimore, as their emergency department medical director.

We heartily endorse this award and present it with pleasure to Dr. Joseph Twanmoh, President of Maryland Chapter, American College of Emergency Physicians for 2010 and 2011.