ACEP Now reflects collaboration between the ACEP staff, the executive director, John Wiley & Sons publishing house, and the ACEP Now Editorial Advisory Board to achieve our shared goals of producing a high-quality monthly publication targeting the needs of our members.

Finally, our great work together as a Council reflects perhaps the most impactful but complex example of organizational collaboration. Our deliberative body is of far greater value than the sum of its councillors and component bodies. Listening and learning from one another guides our thinking, which results in well-considered guidance for the Board of Directors.

Vision, unique knowledge, and collaborative thinking are all qualities of an effective Board member. I have vision for the College and our specialty, unique knowledge that will complement the Board’s current talents, and a collaborative approach to all that I do.

Debra G. Perina, MD, FACEP (Virginia)

Current Professional Positions: professor, regional quality director, and EMS fellowship director, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville; director, Division of Prehospital Care, University of Virginia, Charlottesville

Internships and Residency: emergency medicine, Richland Memorial Hospital/University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia

Medical Degree: West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown (1983)

Candidate Question Response: This is a hard question for me, as I find it difficult to be self-promoting. First and foremost, I strive to be a servant leader. I’m a humble person, preferring to let my actions and work speak for my dedication and effectiveness. A Board member should represent the interests of the membership and stand for the values of the organization. I never forget that I was elected to represent you, our members, and do this to the best of my ability at all times.

Others have described me as an innovative and creative problem-solver. I do approach issues from many angles and will not stop until a solution is found. I’m diligent and persistent until the job is done. I strive to be respectful, transparent, open, and honest in dealing with others, as I think we all would like to be treated this way. I’m dependable: If I make a commitment or say I will do something, I will follow through. I have a passion for helping others, which goes to the core of values instilled in me from an early age. Having previously served on several boards, including ABEM’s, I have a true working understanding of how a board functions. This definitely helped me hit the ground running during my first term on the ACEP Board. Having been a Board member for the past three years, I’m very familiar with the Board’s goals and direction, and I am currently intimately involved with several ongoing projects. This experience will allow me to be an even more effective and productive Board member in service to ACEP going forward.