Meet the 2022 Class of the Dr. Leon L. Haley, Jr., Bridge to the Future of Emergency Medicine Academy
The American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) is proud to present the 2022, inaugural class of the Dr. Leon L. Haley, Jr., Bridge to the Future of Emergency Medicine Academy! Ten rising second-year medical students were selected for this two-week opportunity offered by ABEM.
Pictured left to right:
- Leslie Roman, Morehouse SOM
- Nathalie Figueroa-Soto, Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Calia Schexnayder , Louisiana State University SOM, New Orleans
- Simone Stinnette, Wright State University Boonshoft SOM
- Kennedy Key, Medical College of Wisconsin
- Teza Harrison, California Northstate University COM
- Montserrat Tijerina, University of Chicago Pritzker SOM
- Jessica Hernandez-Moreno, Kirk Kerkorian SOM
- Paige Sims, Michigan State University CHM
- Yoana Flores, University of the Incarnate Word SOM
These rising second-year medical students were welcomed to ABEM by Wesley Haley, J.D., son of Dr. Haley. Marianne Gausche-Hill, M.D., ABEM President, and Yvette Calderon, M.D, Director and Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, also spoke with the students about their selection as a Haley Academy student and about the vital role they could play in the future of Emergency Medicine. During the Haley Academy, students had the opportunity to be immersed in educational and hands-on experiences in critical topics related to disparities in health care, leadership, physician wellness, public health issues, applying for residency, and more.
A sample of presentation topics were:
- Emergency Medicine in Resource-Limited Countries – Breaking Barriers, Finding Frontiers
- Hepatitis & HIV: Impactful Public Health in the ED
- Gender Bias in Emergency Medicine
- Disparities in Maternal Care
- Caring for LGBTQ Patients in the ED
- Facilitated Discussion – Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Are We Accountable?
- Values-Based Leadership in Medicine/ Lessons learned and Career Impact in Everyday Practice – Q&A Session
- Advice on applying and interviewing for residency programs was provided by three ABEM directors/program directors via panel discussions and individualized sessions
Students participated in site visits to the following Emergency Medicine residency programs:
- Henry Ford Health Sim Center/Henry Ford Health EM Residency Program, Detroit, MI. Doctor Haley completed residency training and then served as an attending at Henry Ford. While learning about Dr. Haley’s legacy, students participated in a simulated mass disaster triage and small group ultrasound teaching sessions at the Sim Center.
- Central Michigan University College of Medicine, Saginaw, MI. At Central Michigan, students took part in grand rounds lectures and hands-on simulations.
ABEM wishes to thank Henry Ford and Central Michigan for your knowledge, insights, and hospitality!
Capstone Projects
During the academy, each student developed a unique Capstone Project on a topic related to health disparities. Their portfolio projects were presented at the closing of the Academy.
| Project Topic | Presenter |
| The Association of Social Factors and Delay in Care for the Hispanic Community During COVID-19 | Yoana Flores |
| Buprenorphine: Barriers Affecting Access to Treatment | Kennedy Key |
| The Association Between Higher Asthma Rates and Air Pollution in the Black Population | Teza Harrison |
| Lower Quality Health Insurance Leads to Depression in Hispanic Populations in the Bronx | Nathalie Figueroa-Soto |
| Race and Ethnicity’s Impact on Rates of Diagnostic Imaging in Emergency Departments | Paige Sims |
| Implicit Bias and Chronic Pain Management: What Can We Do? | Calia Schexnayder |
| Impact of COVID-19 on the Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence | Simone Stinnette |
| Higher Pre-term Birth Rates Among African American Women | Jessica Hernandez-Moreno |
| Childhood Obesity in Hispanic Communities | Leslie Roman |
| Gun Violence in Youth and Pediatric Interventions | Montserrat Tijerina |
About Dr. Haley
Leon L. Haley, Jr., M.D., M.H.S.A., was a member of the ABEM Board of Directors. He died July 24, 2021, as the result of a tragic accident. The Academy was formed to honor his memory. After completing residency training at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and receiving a Master’s Degree in Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan, he joined Emory University, where he eventually served as Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Chief of Emergency Medicine Affairs. He then joined the University of Florida at Jacksonville as the first African-American to hold the position of Dean of the Medical School and soon thereafter was appointed CEO of University of Florida Health. We extend our gratitude to the Haley family for their participation in the Academy. Read more about Dr. Haley and his legacy here.
About The Dr. Leon L. Haley Academy
The Dr. Leon L. Haley, Jr., Bridge to the Future of Emergency Medicine Academy is specifically designed to provide URiM rising second-year medical students the opportunity to participate in an in-person, all-expenses paid, two-week mentorship program at the ABEM headquarters in East Lansing, Michigan.
