50th Anniversary CME Celebration

Airway, Breathing, Celebration: An Emergency Medicine at 50 Event

Friday, Aug. 28, 2026
Medical Education and Research Building
Indiana University School of Medicine

As part of the Emergency Medicine Residency program's 50th anniversary celebration, faculty, alumni, residents and advanced practice providers gathered for an afternoon of continuing medical education, reflection and collaboration.

Hosted in the Medical Education and Research Building, the program featured emergency medicine alumni, faculty and other leaders discussing advances in emergency care, clinical practice, public health and medical education.

The CME program provided an opportunity to celebrate five decades of learning and leadership while bringing together members of the Department of Emergency Medicine community for education, conversation and connection.

CME event photos

Agenda

12–12:05 p.m. | Welcome
Elizabeth Weinstein, MD
Opening remarks and introduction to the afternoon’s CME program.

12:05–12:35 p.m. | Decision Rules in Emergency Care
Jeff Kline, MD
A discussion on emerging diagnostics, risk stratification and management strategies in venous thromboembolism.

12:40–12:55 p.m. | Pediatric Trauma: Lessons and Advances
Geoff Hays, MD
An evidence-based look at current approaches to pediatric trauma care and future opportunities for innovation.

1:00–1:30 p.m. | Lytes On, Lytes Off
Cami Pfennig, MD
A review of evidence-based interventions to rapidly identify and manage life-threatening electrolyte emergencies to improve patient outcomes.

1:35–2:05 p.m. | Update on Acute Stroke in the ED
Benton Hunter, MD
This lecture will review recent high-impact studies on the emergency department diagnosis and treatment of acute stroke, highlighting research from the past year that may influence clinical practice and emphasizing evidence-based evaluation and critical appraisal.

2:05–2:20 p.m. | Break
Elizabeth Weinstein, MD
Light refreshments provided in the lobby.

2:20–2:50 p.m. | A Miracle in Paris
Jamie Jones, MD
Dr. Jones will discuss his cardiac arrest in Paris in August 2019 and how this has impacted and shaped his personal and professional life going forward.

2:55–3:25 p.m. | Xylazine to Nitazenes: Emerging Drug Trends and Adulterants in the Emergency Department
Jerry Snow, MD
An update on evolving drug trends, new synthetic substances and clinical considerations for emergency and toxicology practice.

3:30–3:45 p.m. | Beyond the Lights and Sirens: Emerging Topics in Prehospital Medicine
Dan O’Donnell, MD
An overview of current innovations, challenges and directions in emergency medical services and prehospital care.

3:50–4:05 p.m. | Blink and You’ll Miss it: Rapid Ocular Diagnostics in the ED
Dani Brenner, MD, PhD
A concise and practical session on ocular ultrasound and its expanding role in emergency care.

4:10–4:55 p.m. | From Resuscitation to Regulation
Dan Rusyniak, MD, Lindsay Weaver, MD, and Jen Sullivan, MD
A dynamic discussion on the intersection of public health, state policy and emergency medicine in Indiana and beyond.

4:55–5:00 p.m. | Closing and Thank You
Elizabeth Weinstein, MD

Speakers

The anniversary CME program featured alumni, faculty and other experts representing a range of areas within emergency medicine.

Meet the Speakers

Planning Committee

The 50th Anniversary CME program was developed with the support of alumni representing multiple generations of residency graduates. We are grateful for their time, expertise and commitment to creating an educational program worthy of this milestone anniversary.

Bart Besinger — Class of 2000
Chris Strachan — Class of 2001
Betsy Hull — Class of 2003
Jerry Snow — Class of 2005
Bill Swigart — Class of 2006
Elizabeth Weinstein — Class of 2007
Ben Ricke — Class of 2010
Ben Petty — Class of 2014
Anne Whitehead — Class of 2014
Terez Malka — Class of 2014
Brian Phillips — Class of 2016
Geoff Hays — Class of 2018
Ashley Grigsby — Class of 2019