GALVESTON, Texas - Dr. Angela F. Gardner is next in line to be the president of the American College of Emergency Physicians.The ACEP council late last month elected Gardner, an assistant professor in the division of emergency medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, to be president-elect of the organization. She has been serving as the group's vice president and will become president of ACEP in October 2009 when the group meets in Boston.
"We are thrilled and honored that Dr. Gardner has been chosen as the president-elect of the American College of Emergency Physicians," said Dr. Brian Zachariah, medical director of the division of emergency medicine. "She is an outstanding physician and faculty member and a proven leader. Especially during these trying times, her election speaks volumes in terms of the caliber of employees we have here who represent UTMB to the rest of Texas and the nation."
Gardner 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.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 2006.
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.