Dr. Panacek has been very actively involved with ACEP since joining in 1986. Over the years, he has chaired several committees, task forces and the Research Section of the organization.
His work with ACEP led to a course he created called the Emergency Medicine Basic Research Skills (EMBRS) course taught at ACEP Headquarters in Dallas, Texas. He has been the course director since its inception 20 years ago. EMBRS typically enrolls 30 students per year, teaching early career physicians the research skills needed to succeed in academic medicine. “Educating the next generation of academicians to replace us, while facilitating their scholarly activities that move the field forward is very fulfilling for me,” Dr. Panacek said.
Dr. Panacek has served as chair of emergency medicine at USA for a year and a half, dedicating himself to the advancement of the department and the College of Medicine. “A more academic department of emergency medicine is a positive move in the right direction for both the health system and the university,” he said.
Dr. Panacek is grateful for the recognition he received. “When you enter medical practice or academics, you don’t go into it to win awards. However, when your accomplishments are recognized by respected colleagues and also reflect positively on the work we do at USA, it is a great feeling.”
Dr. Panacek said that the secret to a long career in emergency medicine is going into it for the right reasons. “Individuals who end up in emergency medicine for the wrong reasons can get frustrated pretty quickly,” he said. “Pace yourself and find other things to do. Have some balance in your life, including in academics. It’s the variety of activities in academic teaching programs - performing research, educating and mentoring bright, young physicians that will follow in our footsteps - that make this job so great.”
The award was given to Dr. Panacek at the annual ACEP conference in Oct. 2016 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Learn more about ACEP here.
For more information on the EMBRS course that Dr. Panacek directs, click here.
