Complete Story
05/14/2026
ACEP Leadership and Advocacy Conference Recap
Capt (Dr.) Allen Archer, MD, CPT (Dr.) Maren Strootman, MD, and CPT (Dr.) Mike Ramirez, MD
This year, GSACEP was well represented at the ACEP LAC conference with 6 primary members including 3 board members and 2 LAC Scholarship recipients in attendance. It was a new experience for several members and provided a valuable opportunity to network and collaborate on pressing issues in Emergency Medicine.
LAC Scholarship Recipient - CPT (Dr.) Maren Strootman, PGY-1, Brooke Army Medical Center:
“One thing that drew me into emergency medicine was the resourcefulness and ingenuity required to provide high quality care to every patient that walks through our doors. Regardless of their circumstances, we treat every patient with the dignity, respect, and skill that they deserve, oftentimes without all the resources and support that we would like to have.
I sometimes wonder if the grittiness and improvisational skills of emergency medicine physicians has inadvertently been taken advantage of, compounding issues of boarding, workplace violence, and diminishing reimbursement. It’s easy to look at all the problems we face as a profession and feel defeated, yet attending the LAC 2026 conference showed me a different path.
Surrounded by some of the best and brightest emergency medicine physicians in the country was inspiring, and in particular witnessing the commitment to addressing and solving the unique problems that face our specialty was motivating. Although there is more work to be done, I’m excited to be part of the newest generation of emergency medicine physicians working to create meaningful change for our profession and for our patients.”
For those considering LAC in the future or curious what the conference entails:
Conference Overview
Day 0: Primer lectures on main advocacy topics focussed on residents and those early in their EM career. The day ends with networking opportunities and open events.
Day 1 is an all‑day education program devoted to leadership development, policy updates, and honing the advocacy message with presentations by policy aligned experts in law, elections, and the legislative process.
Day 2 shifts to the Hill: Morning issue briefing and skills tuneup with your respective chapters, then congressional office visits in state/district teams, with a closing reception that evening.
2026 Capitol Hill Talking Points
Protecting us and our patients from workplace violence
We emphasized the alarming frequency of assaults on emergency staff. We asked for support for The Save Healthcare Workers Act (H.R. 3178/S. 1600). This is bipartisan legislation to establish federal criminal penalties for violence against health care workers, similar to protections afforded to airline and airport workers. We shared lived experience, tied the safety issue to care delays and workforce attrition, and asked for cosponsorship.
Tackling the boarding crisis
We advocated for the bipartisan Addressing Boarding and Crowding in the Emergency Department (ABC‑ED) Act (H.R. 2936/S. 1974). The bill focuses on coordination and accountability: statewide and regional real‑time bed tracking, targeted care‑transition pilot programs, and examining capacity‑tracking best practices. We shared how stalled inpatient flow strangles ED capacity, lengthens door‑to‑needle/door‑to‑balloon times, and pushes ambulances to wait or divert.
Preserving Medicare’s promise and emergency care access
Physician payment instability hits emergency medicine especially hard: we cannot “opt out” or limit Medicare volume, and unfunded mandates like EMTALA ensure we care for all comers, something we take pride in. We advocated for two points: Stop the 2027 conversion factor cut, and establish a permanent, inflation‑linked update to physician payments (e.g., H.R. 6160) a long-term solution to the year after year debate.
LAC Scholarship Recipient - Capt (Dr.) Allen Archer, MD, PGY-1, Virginia Commonwealth University:
“Attending the ACEP Leadership and Advocacy Conference was an inspiring and educational experience that strengthened my understanding of the deeply ingrained connections between emergency medicine and health policy. The educational sessions, led by national experts, provided amazing insights into current legislative priorities and equipped me with practical tools to advocate effectively for patients and our profession. Beyond formal programming, opportunities to connect with colleagues from across the country with shared interests and a passion for improving emergency medicine were equally impactful, fostering meaningful conversations and a shared sense of purpose.
What I enjoyed most about this opportunity were the many thought-provoking conversations about what avenues we have as a profession to make positive changes despite the mountain of challenges. It was a breath of fresh air to hear so many great people putting their energy into these efforts and discussions. This experience has strengthened my commitment to staying engaged in health policy efforts and working to improve our healthcare system. For any student or resident interested in better understanding how policy decisions are made that impact our practice and our patients, I would highly recommend attending this conference. I look forward to returning next year ready to continue the conversations.”
LAC compresses leadership development, policy immersion, and direct advocacy into a tight, usable package. As junior members, we left with new mentors, a clearer idea of how advocacy becomes policy, and having attached real ED experiences to tangible legislation. The conference was a fantastic experience to get involved and grain tools to better further our specialty. If considering future attendance, ACEP’s team has the scaffolding in place so first‑timers can be effective on day one. Until next year!
