The author of two novels, Dr. Fields looks forward to returning to fiction and nonfiction if he ever swears off policy and politics.

Paul R. Pomeroy Jr., M.D., FACEP

John A. Rupke Legacy Award

ACEP presents the John A. Rupke Legacy Award to a current ACEP member for outstanding lifetime contributions to the College. In recognition of his longevity and unwavering dedication, ACEP presents the Legacy award in honor of John A. Rupke, M.D., FACEP, one of the College’s initial founding members.

Dr. Pomeroy is a retired emergency physician who spent his career caring for patients in the Detroit area. He held department director positions at several suburban hospitals, including St. Mary Mercy Livonia Hospital and St Joseph Mercy Oakland in Pontiac.

He received his undergraduate degree from Indiana University and his medical degree from the University of Michigan School of Medicine. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Wayne County General Hospital, where he was chief resident.

Throughout his career, he helped guide and shape emergency medical services systems. He served multiple terms as medical director for EMS systems in Oakland and Western Wayne counties. During his tenure, he developed, implemented, and supervised important pilot programs, including the use of automated defibrillators and an intermediate airway device by basic emergency medical technicians.

Dr. Pomeroy’s dedication to ACEP began early and continues today. He served as President of the Michigan Chapter in the early 1980s and is the longest continuously serving member of the ACEP Council. In addition to recognition from the Michigan Chapter, he is the recipient of ACEP’s Council Meritorious Service Award and Honorary Membership Award.

Dr. Pomeroy and his wife, Barbara, an emergency nurse, live in Livonia, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. They spend winters in La Quinta, Calif., to be close to their children. Their blended family includes son, Jeff, and his wife, Danna; and daughter, Noelle, and her husband, Rich. When he isn’t traveling or gardening with Barbara, Dr. Pomeroy helps keep two regional bridge organizations going strong.

Caral Edelberg, CPC, CPMA, CAC, CCS-P, CHC

Honorary Membership Award

ACEP presents the Honorary Membership Award to an individual who has rendered outstanding service to the College or to the medical profession.

Mrs. Edelberg is President of Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Edelberg Compliance Associates, a firm specializing in emergency, EMS/ambulance, and hospital medicine coding and compliance.

A widely recognized expert on emergency department revenue cycle management, she manages projects in facilities across the country. She also develops training, auditing, and monitoring tools that identify coding and billing problems for emergency and hospitalist medicine.