Each year, ACEP recognizes outstanding contributions to emergency medicine. Here are this year’s recipients of these awards:

Mark L. DeBard, M.D., FACEP

John G. Wiegens tein Leadership Award

ACEP presents the John G. Wiegenstein Leadership Award to a current or past national leader in recognition of outstanding contribution to the College. The award honors Dr. John G. Wiegenstein, a founding member and the first president of ACEP.

Dr. Mark L. DeBard is a professor of emergency medicine at the Ohio State University College of Medicine, where he teaches medical students and residents. He also works full time as a clinician in the OSU Wexner Medical Center at

University Hospital East in Columbus and serves as co-chair of the medical school’s admissions committee.

Dr. DeBard’s service to ACEP began early. He joined the College in 1976 and quickly became a leader at the state and national levels. He was elected to Ohio ACEP’s Board of Directors in 1982 and served until 2005. He was the chapter’s President in 1990 and continues as one of its longest serving representatives on the Council. He served on the national ACEP Board of Directors from 1992-1998, as Council Vice Speaker from 1999-2003 and as Speaker from 2003-2005.

Throughout his career, he has championed important improvements in emergency care, including standards for exams and counseling of sexual assault patients and the identification of excited delirium syndrome as a clinical entity. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including Ohio ACEP’s Bill Hall

Service Award in 1995, ACEP’s Council Meritorious Service Award in 2006, and the OSUCOM Distinguished Educator of the Year Award in 2011.

Dr. DeBard grew up in Centerville, Ohio, outside of Dayton, where his father was a country family physician and his mother ran their medical office as a medical technician. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Dayton and his medical degree from Ohio State.

He lives with his wife, Linda, a retired secondary-school French teacher, in Columbus. Avid Francophiles, they love traveling and Broadway musicals. They are the parents of four adult children: Jason, Brittany, Nathan and Alicia.

Diana L. Fite, M.D., FACEP

James D. Mills Outstanding Contribution to Emergency Medicine Award

ACEP presents the James D. Mills Outstanding Contribution to Emergency Medicine Award to an active, life or honorary member for significant contributions to emergency medicine. The award honors the late James D. Mills Jr., MD, the second president of the College and organizer of the Alexandria Plan for full-time emergency department staffing and management.