“I believe our position of strength and advocacy has already changed due to his actions; this is just an award recognizing him for that,” Dr. Lawrence said. “When you look at where we were 5 years ago, we are significantly stronger.”

ACEP President Nicholas Jouriles, M.D., concurred. “This has shown how far emergency medicine and ACEP have come in a very short period of time. It also shows that we are well respected on a national level and a force to be reckoned with.”

The road to the 100 most powerful list is not an easy one. As a result of their month-long call for nominations, Modern Healthcare received more than 25,000 submissions, up 76% from last year. Those who received the most nominations were put on a final ballot—approximately 300—and readers were given a month to vote online for the 10 candidates they believed should make the final list of 100.

The rankings were determined by the nearly half a million votes that were cast.

“This is truly one of the greatest honors of my life,” Mr. Wilkerson said. “But behind me there’s the board, staff, members, chapters, sections, and committees. There is not one project, activity, or achievement in my time at ACEP that hasn’t been the result of a whole slew of people at the state and national level working on it.”

A cast of thousands may be behind him, but make no mistake about it, Mr. Wilkerson is leading them.

“I think this recognition is directly attributed to his vision and leadership,” Dr. Lawrence said. “He is someone who sets very high goals and always seems to get us to reach them.”

ACEP President-Elect Angela Gardner, M.D., said, “He has worked tirelessly to advance the interests both of emergency physicians and their patients. I hope that when other members learn of this honor, they will appreciate the work Dean has done on their behalf.”

Dr. Lawrence agreed. “I think members should be proud, and it should give them reassurance that their organization is in extremely capable hands.”

Despite the recognition for his accomplishments this honor has brought Mr. Wilkerson, he is focused on the next 5 years and beyond.

“At the end of everything, I’d like to look back on my career and see that our efforts have resulted in the practice of emergency medicine being improved for every physician and the millions of patients they help,” he said. “I’d like to say that emergency care is better.”