UTH-EM Making Waves in the Windy City at ACEP 2026
From the Conference Floor to the Chi-Town Shore
What a week in the Windy City…Our EM family made its way to Chicago for the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Scientific Assembly 2026 (external link), held October 4–8, and what an experience it was!
From engaging presentations and hands-on training to reconnecting with familiar faces and making new memories, our faculty, residents, and alumni enjoyed a week of learning, collaboration, and plenty of camaraderie.
Our team had a strong showing throughout the conference, sharing their expertise on a wide range of topics in EM.
Taking Emergency Medicine to New Heights: Dr. Anil Menon Live from Space!
One of the biggest highlights of ACEP 2026 was seeing our very own Anil Menon, MD, MPH, UTH-EM Space Medicine faculty member and NASA (external link) astronaut, take center stage as a featured keynote speaker, connecting LIVE from the International Space Station (ISS) (external link).
During the conference’s opening general session, Dr. Menon joined ACEP leadership from orbit to discuss the remarkable similarities between EM and life aboard the ISS. From making critical decisions with limited resources to relying on clinical judgment in unpredictable environments, he highlighted how the skills EM physicians use every day are just as valuable hundreds of miles above Earth.
A quick bit of background, Dr. Menon’s journey from practicing EM to becoming a NASA astronaut is an incredible example of where a career in EM can lead. Before joining NASA’s astronaut corps, he served as SpaceX’s (external link) first flight surgeon and supported multiple ISS expeditions as a NASA crew flight surgeon.
Having one of our own faculty members address colleagues from across the country while orbiting Earth was a particularly proud moment. His participation not only showcased the versatility of EM but also highlighted the growing role of space medicine in advancing patient care and human exploration.
At the Conference
Several of our faculty members also contributed their expertise through lectures, panels, and skills sessions:
- Dorian Alexander, MD – Emergency Extracorporeal Life Support (E-ECLS): Foundations of Cannulation
- Carrie Bakunas, MD + Catie Reynolds, MD – Implementing Opt-Out Point-of-Care Syphilis Testing for Pregnant Patients in the ED
- Ben Cooper, MD, MEd – Game On! ECG Games
- Sally Hennin, MD, CMQ, FACEP – Dignity Behind Bars: Trauma-Informed Sexual Assault Care
- Nick Heft, MD – Beyond Orbit: Translating Spaceflight Systems Engineering and Medicolegal Challenges to Emergency Medicine
- Janel Paukovits, MD – Skills instruction and presentations addressing transvenous pacing, advanced practice provider supervision, and emergent catheter, shunt, and drain complications
- Leanne Fagan, MD – Recipient of the 2026 ACEP Medical Humanities Writing Award for Best Poetry Piece, recognizing her award-winning poem, “The Butterfly Doctor.”
These contributions reflect the breadth of expertise within our program and our continued commitment to advancing EM through education, research, and leadership.
Beyond the presentations, our residents and faculty also had the opportunity to explore interactive exhibits, participate in hands-on demonstrations, and connect with colleagues and programs from across the country.
From discovering new technologies to learning how others are working to improve patient care and advance our specialty, there was plenty to see, do, and bring back home to H-Town!
Beyond the Conference: Reconnecting with Our EM Family
Beyond the educational sessions, ACEP provided an opportunity for faculty, residents, and alumni to reconnect outside the clinical and academic setting.
Our annual Departmental & Alumni Dinner, held October 6th at Timothy O’Toole’s Pub (external link), brought together familiar faces for an evening of conversation, shared experiences, and good old fashioned family time.
The following day, attendees also had the opportunity to explore Chicago during a architecture boat tour, taking in the city’s iconic skyline.
From sharing clinical knowledge and innovative approaches to strengthening professional relationships, our dept’s involvement at this year’s conference reflects its ongoing commitment to advancing EM both locally and nationally.
Thank you to everyone who represented us in Chicago and helped make this year’s conference a memorable experience!