As emergency medicine faced challenges from other specialties, Mr. Wilkerson led ACEP as it staked out ground to support its members. When anesthesiologists adopted a policy for sedation that was inappropriate for care in the emergency setting, ACEP adopted its own sedation policy that was far more applicable. As the critical care community has started to embrace a European standard for sepsis care that is not the standard of care in the United States, ACEP is now developing its own policy.

Part of his legacy is ACEP’s new headquarters, a three-story, 57,000-square-foot building that reflects the bold and progressive character of emergency medicine. Located near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, ACEP’s new facility has proved convenient and welcoming for a variety of EM organizations and affiliated companies.

“Being the chief executive of ACEP is a tremendous honor. We are more than just a professional medical society. To me, the mission of ACEP is a cause every bit as important as that of any philanthropic organization in the world,” Mr. Wilkerson said.

“We are striving to provide access and help deliver the highest quality of emergency medical care possible. I fiercely advocate for emergency medicine and emergency physicians whenever I have the opportunity,” he said, adding, “An ACEP past president once paid me a real compliment when he said, ‘Dean wears ACEP underwear.’”