GALVESTON, Texas - Dr. Angela F. Gardner, an emergency physician at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, has been elected vice president of the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Gardner is an assistant professor for emergency medicine at UTMB. She has held several ACEP leadership positions, including chairwoman of ACEP's task force that developed a National Report Card on the State of Emergency Medicine, released in 2006.
A national speaker, educator and published author, Gardner has served as a national spokeswoman for Doctors' for Medical Liability Reform and as a member of ACEP's Professional Liability Task Force. In addition, she served as president of ACEP's Texas chapter from 2003 to 2004.
"Emergency physicians are like the first Antarctic explorers, in that we encounter obstacle after obstacle but we do not give up on our mission: to care for our patients," Gardner said. "However, we are in serious danger of witnessing health care break up under our watch due to crowding and reimbursement and professional liability concerns. These problems, which affect our ability to provide high-quality emergency care, are daunting and we must work together tirelessly to apply our skills and knowledge to solving them for our patients and for our specialty."
Gardner is active in the American Association of Women Emergency Physicians and in issues involving emergency medicine practice management and health policy. She received her medical degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and completed her residency in emergency medicine at Texas Tech Regional Academic Health Center in El Paso. Gardner came to UTMB in May 2005.
ACEP is a national medical specialty society with more than 25,000 members. The group, which is based in Dallas, has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A government services chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.