(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - Three members of the UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine were honored recently for their achievements and leadership at this year's annual Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) meeting in Atlanta.

Daniel Nishijima, assistant professor of emergency medicine, received the society's Young Investigator Award for his early career accomplishments in clinical research in emergency medicine. Nishijima, who came to UC Davis as a research fellow in 2008, is becoming known as an investigator with expertise in the evaluation and management of patients with blunt head trauma. One of his current projects is a cost-effectiveness analysis of using a decision rule for CT scanning in children with blunt head trauma versus routine care. Nishijima has published 18 manuscripts (including those in press), and has been the first author on 11 of those studies. He is currently an awardee of a competitive CTSC K12 career development award, and has been successful in obtaining highly competitive intramural grants as well as securing important extramural research funding.

Erik Laurin, associate professor and director of medical student education for the department, was honored with SAEM's Master Clinician Bedside Teaching Award for 2013. Laurin, who has been a UC Davis faculty member since 1999, has long been rated by residents and medical students as one of the best teaching and mentoring physicians in the Department of Emergency Medicine. Numerous physicians who trained under Laurin sent letters of praise and support for his award's nomination. One former resident, in his letter to the SAEM's awards committee, summed up many of the sentiments about Laurin: "Erik has a way of elevating his students to the highest level and bringing the very best out of them...His unwavering support and guidance over the years has made me a better doctor and a better person because of it."

James Holmes, professor of emergency medicine, was elected to the society's board of directors. Holmes is well known for both his clinical-care expertise and research accomplishments. In addition to investigating various approaches to improving trauma care of both adults and children in emergency departments, he is working with department Chair Nathan Kuppermann to oversee a five-year, NIH training grant for research education in emergency medicine, pediatric emergency medicine and associated disciplines. His research is highly collaborative, frequently using multicenter research networks, and focuses on the care of adults and children with acute traumatic injuries.

This isn't the first time members of the department's faculty team have been honored by SAEM. Last year, Edward Panacek, professor of emergency medicine, was honored by the society with the Hal Jayne Excellence in Education Award.

UC Davis Health System is improving lives and transforming health care by providing excellent patient care, conducting groundbreaking research, fostering innovative, interprofessional education, and creating dynamic, productive partnerships with the community. The academic health system includes one of the country's best medical schools, a 619-bed acute-care teaching hospital, a 1000-member physician's practice group and the new Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing. It is home to a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, an international neurodevelopmental institute, a stem cell institute and a comprehensive children's hospital. Other nationally prominent centers focus on advancing telemedicine, improving vascular care, eliminating health disparities and translating research findings into new treatments for patients. Together, they make UC Davis a hub of innovation that is transforming health for all. For more information, visit healthsystem.ucdavis.edu.

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UC Davis Emergency Medicine Faculty Honored