During his first 40 years in emergency medicine, Dr. Wilcox has been blessed with a long, broad, interesting, enjoyable, and rewarding career. Following true to the John Rupke Legacy, it is Dr. Wilcox’s intention to continue showing up, giving back, and paying it forward, until he is no longer physically capable of doing so.

James D. Mills Outstanding Contribution to Emergency Medicine Award

Thom A. Mayer, MD, FACEP
Dr. Mayer is founder of BestPractices, Inc, the medical director for the NFL Players Association, a medical director for Studer Group, clinical professor of emergency medicine at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and a senior lecturing fellow at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and 100 book chapters, and has edited or written 20 textbooks.

Dr. Mayer was named the ACEP Outstanding Speaker of the Year in the second year the award was given, and has twice been named ACEP’s “Over-the-Top” award winner. In sports medicine, his work at the forefront of changing concussion diagnosis and management in the NFL has changed the way in which these athletes are diagnosed and treated.

Dr. Mayer served as chairman of the department of emergency medicine at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Annandale, Virginia, from 1989 to 2002, taking a community emergency department to one of the most renowned and innovative emergency departments in the nation, winning numerous awards. He has served on the Inova Health Care System Foundation Board since 2000.

On September 11, 2001, Dr. Mayer served as one of the command physicians at the Pentagon rescue operation, coordinating medical assets at the site. He has served on the Department of Defense on Defense Science Board Task Forces on Bioterrorism, Homeland Security, and Consequences of Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Despite these accomplishments, he continues to push the envelope of innovation in emergency medicine, sports medicine, and indeed health care itself.

Judith E. Tintinalli Award for Outstanding Contribution in Education

Corey M. Slovis, MD, FACEP
Dr. Slovis is professor of emergency medicine and medicine, and chairman of the department of emergency medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Slovis has completed residencies in internal medicine and emergency medicine at Emory University and Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. He is board certified in internal medicine, emergency medicine, and most recently in emergency medical services. He serves as the medical director for Metro Nashville’s Fire Department and Nashville International Airport.