The Policy Collective Interest Group and Emergency Medicine Interest Group are excited to invite you to a panel discussion featuring physicians and a resident physician who have integrated policy and advocacy into their careers.
Whether you're interested in emergency medicine, health policy, or exploring ways to make a broader impact on healthcare systems, this is an invaluable opportunity to learn from leaders who are actively shaping policy at local, state, and national levels.
Lunch from Maiwand Grill will be provided!
Meet Our Panelists:
Stephen Schenkel, MD, MPP - Dr. Schenkel is a Professor of Emergency Medicine and Associate Editor to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). He holds a Master's in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and previously served as President of the Maryland Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (2014-15), where he worked to improve access to care, address Maryland's opioid crisis, and advocate for alternative approaches to medical malpractice. His work bridges clinical excellence, patient safety research, and health policy leadership.
David Marcozzi, MD, MHS-CL, FACEP - Dr. Marcozzi serves as Chief Clinical Officer/Senior Vice President at the University of Maryland Medical Center and is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at UMSOM. He was Maryland's Senior Medical Advisor to the Governor on COVID-19 and served for a decade in federal government roles within HHS and the White House, including helping draft the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act of 2006. A colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves with multiple disaster response deployments, he exemplifies leadership at the intersection of emergency medicine, public health, and government.
Janaki Deepak, MBBS, FACP - Dr. Deepak is an Associate Professor in Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine at UMSOM and Governor-elect of the Maryland Chapter of the American College of Physicians. She serves as the Immunization Commissioner for the State of Maryland and is a Board Member of the Tobacco Control Resource Center, focusing on preventive pulmonary health and health disparities. Her work demonstrates the powerful impact physicians can have on public health policy while maintaining robust clinical and academic careers.
Kyle Fischer, MD, MPH, FACEP - Dr. Fischer is a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the Health Policy Fellowship at UMSOM. He serves as Policy Director for The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention, where he leads advocacy efforts to end community violence at state and federal levels. His career path—including policy experience with state and federal legislatures and the U.S. House of Representatives—illustrates how emergency physicians can directly influence legislation and advance evidence-based policy solutions.
Robert Dunn, MD - Dr. Dunn is an Emergency Medicine resident who serves as the Sectional Alternate Delegate for the Resident & Fellow Section at the American Medical Association for 2025-2026. Through his role at the AMA, he advocates for issues impacting residents and fellows while gaining valuable experience in organized medicine and policy development. His journey demonstrates how trainees can engage meaningfully in advocacy work early in their careers.
This panel will explore diverse pathways in policy and advocacy, from organized medicine and academic leadership to government service and legislative work. Come ready with questions about how to integrate advocacy into your future career!