Yale Emergency Medicine’s influence in shaping the future of emergency medicine was on full display at the 2026 Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Annual Meeting, held this May in Atlanta, Georgia. From nationally recognized research and prestigious awards to specialty-wide leadership and innovation, Yale EM demonstrated the breadth of its impact across every mission of academic emergency medicine.
More than 50 Yale EM faculty, fellows, residents, students, pharmacists, research staff, and alumni participated in the meeting, the premier national and international forum for education, research, and innovation in emergency medicine. Across plenaries, scientific presentations, workshops, committee leadership, and competitions, Yale EM faculty and trainees were visible throughout the conference.
One of the most widely attended presentations was Kathryn Hawk, MD, MPH’s plenary presentation, “Association Between Emergency Department Presentation for Overdose and Treatment Engagement Following Emergency Department-Initiated Buprenorphine in a Randomized Controlled Trial.” Her talk focused on outcomes for patients enrolled in ED-INNOVATION, a large, multi-site randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of extended-release BUP versus sublingual BUP among ED patients with untreated opioid use disorder (OUD). The presentation highlighted Yale EM’s national leadership in addiction medicine, overdose prevention, and emergency department-based substance use treatment.
Yale EM’s leadership extended far beyond the podium. Rohit Sangal, MD, led the SAEM Artificial Intelligence Consensus Conference, helping shape national conversations around the responsible integration of artificial intelligence in emergency medicine. Rachel Liu, BAO, MBBCh, once again organized SonoGames, the nationally recognized ultrasound competition that draws hundreds of residents from across the country. Pooja Agrawal, MD, MPH, continues to serve as an elected Member-at-Large of the SAEM Board of Directors.
Yale EM also stood out on the awards stage with faculty, fellows, and residents earning an unprecedented number of honors. Most notable was the recognition of Basmah Safdar, MD, with the prestigious Advancement of Women in Academic Emergency Medicine Award, one of SAEM’s highest honors. Yale achieved an extraordinary showing in the SAEM Fellow Awards, receiving half of the honors presented this year, including awards for Tushara Surapaneni, MD; Leah Colucci, MD, MS; and Mitchell Blenden, MD. Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD, was recognized with the RAMS Leadership in EM Award.
Additional recognition across SAEM Academies highlighted the breadth of Yale EM’s impact on global emergency medicine, social medicine, ultrasound, medical education, and academic leadership. Sharon Chekijian, MD, MPH, received the GEMA Globalization and Advancement Award; Caitlin Ryus, MD, MPH, earned the AWAEM Social Medicine Advocacy Award; Mark Iscoe, MD, MHS, was recognized with the AGEM Early Career Achievement Award, and Caroline Raymond-King, MD, PhD, received the ADIEM Outstanding Future Academician Award. Cristiana Baloescu, MD, MPH, earned two AEUS Awards: Most Impactful Researcher and Best Broadscale Innovation. Lisa Zhang, MD, won the MedEd Innovation Showcase.
Yale EM also made a strong showing at the SonoGames. The Yale team “My Chemical Probemance”, comprised of Doug Barber, MD; Maha Saleem, MD; and Jorge Zaldivar, MD, delivered an outstanding performance at the event, placing third among 98 teams!
The department’s extensive alumni presence throughout the meeting further underscored Yale EM’s national reach and enduring influence. Yale-trained leaders were represented across SAEM programming and governance, including Wendy Sun, MD, MBA, who will serve as Program Committee Chair for SAEM27.
Reflecting on the meeting, department leadership emphasized both the department’s achievements and its continued commitment to advancing the field. “Watching our faculty, trainees, alumni, and staff contribute at every level of SAEM—from plenary sessions and groundbreaking research to national leadership and mentorship—was an extraordinary reminder of what makes Yale EM special,” said Arjun K. Venkatesh, MD, MBA, MHS, Chair of the Yale Department of Emergency Medicine. “Our culture is driven by curiosity, collaboration, and a commitment to improving care for patients and communities. SAEM26 demonstrated not only the strength of our department today, but the future we are helping shape for emergency medicine.”
The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the improvement of care for the acutely ill and injured patients by leading the advancement of academic emergency medicine through education, research, advocacy, and professional development. To learn more, visit saem.org.