Twelve years ago, comedian-cum–high school assembly speaker Mark Scharenbroich was passing through Milwaukee as Harley-Davidson’s 100th anniversary celebration went on around him. He kept hearing motorcyclists who were otherwise unconnected bond instantly as they repeated two words over and over.

“Nice bike.”

The phrase became a company and a career for Mr. Scharenbroich, who now travels the country as a motivational speaker and will give the ACEP15 Opening Session keynote at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 26 in Boston. The idea is a “powerful, memorable principle that acts as a catalyst to building strong connections,” said Mr. Scharenbroich’s wife, Sue, who is president of the couple’s motivational speaking business, Scharenbroich and Associates.

“Nice Bike is a metaphor of how we connect with others, both in our personal and professional lives,” he said. “The bottom line is [connecting with] the people you work with and the people you serve.”

“The families are coming in there wanting to have faith, wanting to have trust, wanting some assurance. And when that physician can do that in a short amount of time, then [patients] can sit back and go, ‘OK, do your work.’” —Mark Scharenbroich

Building a quick but earnest rapport is particularly important in emergency departments, said Mr. Scharen­broich. His wife said the speech will urge physicians and others to “take time to acknowledge, honor, and create a personal connection.”

“The families are coming in there wanting to have faith, wanting to have trust, wanting some assurance,” Mr. Scharenbroich added. “And when that physician can do that in a short amount of time, then [patients] can sit back and go, ‘OK, do your work.’”

Mr. Scharenbroich, who has won an Emmy for his work, blends comedy and anecdotal stories to deliver a message of positivity. His goal is for physicians and others in attendance to realize the impact that a personal connection can have. He gave a similar presentation a few years ago to emergency department nurses and enjoyed the experience. He expects the same this fall.

“They love humor,” he said of emergency medicine professionals. “They’ve seen everything in the world, and they’ve seen things that none of us have ever seen.”