SPOTLIGHT CALLED TO IMPACT THE LIVES OF SOCIETY'S MOST VULNERABLE AND NEEDY
SAEM Pulse talks with Sheryl Heron, MD, MPH Dr. Sheryl Heron, MD, MPH, is professor of emergency medicine, vice chair for administrative affairs in the department of emergency medicine, and assistant dean for medical education and student affairs at Emory University School of Medicine. She received her MD at Howard University College of Medicine and completed her emergency medicine residency at King Drew Medical Center. Prior to starting medical school, she received her MPH at Hunter College in New York. Dr. Heron has long been an integral SAEM member and serves on the SAEM Wellness Committee, SAEM's Academy for Diversity & Inclusion in Emergency Medicine (ADIEM), and SAEM's Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine (AWAEM). She is the recipient of many awards, including the American College of Emergency
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Physicians National Faculty Teaching Award, the Woman in Medicine Award from the National Medical Association Council on the Concerns of Women Physicians, the Gender Justice Award from the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, and the Outstanding Woman Award at Emory University School of Medicine. Her research interests include diversity and disparities in medicine, intimate partner violence, and wellness and well-being for the healthcare professional. She is co-editor of two textbooks: Diversity & Inclusion in Quality Patient Care and Diversity & Inclusion in Quality Patient Care (2016) 2nd edition; and Your Story/Our Story: A Case-Based Compendium (2019). Dr. Heron was interviewed for this issue by Sharon Atencio, DO, chair of the SAEM Pulse Editorial Advisory Task Force.
Why emergency medicine? Emergency medicine has been my destiny. Called to a profession where we see the juxtaposition of public health each day, the ability to intervene in and impact the lives of our most vulnerable and needy citizens has indeed been a calling. Thanks to my best friend Dr. Patricia Baines, an emergency medicine physician now practicing in Australia for letting me see the light.
Who were some of the mentors and teachers who contributed to your success? Without question, Drs. Vivian Pinn (Howard University College of Medicine and emeritus director NIH Women’s Health), Arthur Kellermann (Emory), Marcus Martin (University of Virginia), Kate Heilpern (Emory), emergency medicine (EM) giants and former chairs at Emory and UV, respectively; Dr. Nadine Kaslow (chief psychologist at Grady and former president of the