2023 - 2024 Prehospital & Disaster Medicine Committee Leader Spotlight EMRA

Kelly M. Tillotson, MD, Chair-Elect of the EMRA Prehospital & Disaster Medicine Committee, 2023-2024

Kelly Tillotson.jpg Program: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To increase education about prehospital and disaster medicine for medical students and residents. Also, to help foster interest in this diverse and expanding field.

Why did you get involved in a professional society? I saw all the impact you can have on EM as a member of ACEP and EMRA. I love my specialty and wanted to help it grow and improve the outcomes for our patients through advocacy and education.

What is the best advice you have ever received? Be teachable, not perfect

What is something that people don't know about you? I was almost a classical musician. Also, for fun, I enjoy doing DIY work working home improvement/gardening

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: A history professor!

What's on your playlist? A mix of classic rock, 70's, 80's, and pop music with a couple broadway songs for fun

Luke Wohlford, MD, MPH, Chair-Elect of the EMRA Prehospital & Disaster Medicine Committee, 2023-2024

Luke Wohlford.jpg Program: University of Vermont Medical Center

Your goal as an EMRA leader: I want to open up as many opportunities as possible for residents and students to follow their passions, while also advocating for the improvement of our field. We will be the leaders of EM in the not-too-distant future and we have to be intentional and proactive with how we start our careers!

Why did you get involved in a professional society? I joined EMRA in medical school and got more involved as I realized that it's a great way to work with like-minded people who want to improve emergency medicine and the world around us. It continues to be such a supportive and invigorating environment to work, and has been a great community to be a part of.

What is the best advice you have ever received? If you're in a room with one patient but you can't stop thinking of another patient, you're in the wrong room!

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: Probably working out in South American public health and environmental projects! One Health really captured my attention in school and I may still pursue that kind of work eventually.

What's on your playlist? Future Islands, Local Natives, Beach Fuzz, MF DOOM, Car Seat Headrest, and a healthy portion of house music

Shilpi Ganguly, MS, Vice Chair of the EMRA Prehospital & Disaster Medicine Committee, 2023-2024

Shilpi Ganguly.jpg Program: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Your goal as an EMRA leader: As an EMRA leader I hope to play a role in providing EMRA members opportunities for growth, development and a sense of camaraderie. The greatest gift EMRA gave me as a member was the sense of community, and as a leader I hope to continue providing that sense of safety and security for others. Emergency medicine is a dynamic field with many facets and I hope to play a role in continuing EMRAs legacy as being the foremost resource for all who wish to enter and engage with this amazing field.

Why did you get involved in a professional society? Being involved within a professional society like EMRA has given me a well respected and established platform upon which to bring my passions and skills. A professional society uniquely provides a cohort of likeminded individuals with whom I can pool resources, skills, ideas and voices to create meaningful and lasting change.

What is something people don't know about you? I was featured in a Discovery Channel TV show when I was younger and as a thank you, they partnered with MIT Lincoln Lab and named a minor planet named after me!

If you weren't an emergency physician, what would you be? I would actually probably work in the music industry! I worked in music all through undergrad and I loved it. Working with artists, going to different types of shows and networking within the industry was always such a treat. Every day and task was different, kind of like emergency medicine!

What is the last non-textbook you read? I just finished Project Hail-Mary by Andy Weir! If you love science-fiction I highly recommend.

Sriram Venkatesan, Vice Chair of the EMRA Prehospital & Disaster Medicine Committee, 2023-2024

Sriram Venkatesan.jpg Program: Sri Ramachandra Medical College, India/University of Colorado

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To help our medical student and resident members of EMRA expand their understanding of Prehospital Medicine as a discipline, beyond the scope of a traditional EMS fellowship pathway, and explore the multitude of subspecialties & niche opportunities available for them to explore. As always, I also hope to facilitate connections with experts in the field through faculty lectures, panels, and interviews.

What is the best advice you've ever received? “Process is always more important than the result. The result is a by-product of the process. Worry about the controllables and take care of the small steps in life…you know, what needs to be done, what you’re supposed to do, what extra you can do, and that will automatically help you achieve your target!”

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: Tactical Medic

Mohammad Abuakar, CCEMT-P, Asst. Vice Chair of the EMRA Prehospital & Disaster Medicine Committee, 2023-2024

Mohammad Abuakar.jpg Program: Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine

Your goal as an EMRA leader: My goal as Asst. Vice Chair is to work with the rest of the incredible EMRA leaders to facilitate an inquisitive, collaborative, and embracing environment, where members can find support to explore their interests and share their ideas. I hope that my experiences as a critical care paramedic and municipal fire paramedic will help contribute to the advancement of prehospital and disaster medicine through the work of this committee!

Why did you get involved in a professional society? “There is power in unity and there is power in numbers.” - Martin Luther King Jr.
History has put meaning to this quote time and time again. Even in current times, the power in unity and in numbers is what led to the rapid advancement of mRNA vaccinations. Professional societies, like EMRA, are full of incredibly talented and intelligent individuals, all with different backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. When forward-thinking people come together, we unleash the power that Martin Luther King Jr. described. I joined EMRA because I believe that, united together, we can find new and innovative ways to continue to advance the growing field of emergency medicine.

What is something that people don't know about you? I had the unique honor of representing Chicago and paramedics nationwide in a Super Bowl 2021 pregame segment that aired as a tribute to front-line workers during the pandemic.

If you weren't an emergency physician, what would you be? Within medicine, I would’ve absolutely loved to continue my career as a critical care paramedic with the incredible team on the Northwestern Medicine Mobile Stroke Unit! Outside of medicine, I would’ve loved to open a dance studio and host classes for hip-hop, Middle-Eastern and Latin styles of dance.

Matthew Lyons, Asst. Vice Chair of the EMRA Prehospital & Disaster Medicine Committee, 2023-2024

Matthew Lyons.jpg Program: Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

Your goal as an EMRA leader: I want to help residents and students find ways to get involved in emergency medicine outside of the walls of the ED. EMRA already has so many great programs in place for developing leadership skills and findings your niche in the specialty. My primary goal is to help extend these opportunities to as many people as possible while also working to create new, engaging ways to explore interests in prehospital and disaster medicine.

Why get involved in a professional society? I originally got involved with EMRA at the beginning of my 3rd year of medical school. I was hoping to find a way to network with some current leaders in the specialty, and I ended up finding so much more. It has been amazing to meet and work with so many like-minded, motivated people and build some lifelong friendships along the way.

What is something that people don't know about you? With some new-found free time during my 4th year of medical school I started collecting bourbon. I have spent the majority of my life living in the middle of the bourbon trail, so it only made sense.

Brent Olson, DO, Asst. Vice Chair of the EMRA Prehospital & Disaster Medicine Committee, 2023-2024

Brent Olson.jpg Program: Loyola University Medical Center

What is your goal as an EMRA leader? To build on the work of previous leaders in order to continue growing and improving the fields of EM and EMS, and the opportunities available to trainees.

Why did you get involved in a professional society? I joined EMRA as a medical student in order to be better prepared for my training and future as an emergency physician and have been a member ever since.

What is the best advice you have ever received? That if you give your best effort in whatever you do, you'll always be able to live with the outcome.

What is something that people don't know about you? I was hired as a paramedic extra on the TV show Chicago Med for one day.

If you weren't an emergency physician, what would you be? Probably a gym owner and personal trainer

What is the last non-textbook you read? Where Men Win Glory by Jon Krakauer

Favorite channel on social media? Nick Bare's YouTube channel

2023 - 2024 Prehospital & Disaster Medicine Committee Leader Spotlight