Dr. Michael Spigner, assistant professor of emergency medicine, received the 2024 NAEMSP/Stryker EMS Medicine Early Career Medical Director Award in recognition of his contributions to the emergency medical services (EMS) specialty and community EMS systems.
The award was presented to Dr. Spigner at the NAEMSP’s 2024 Annual Meeting, held in Austin, Texas, from January 8-13, 2024.
“Our Selection Committee unanimously chose Dr. Spigner as the winner of the 2024 NAEMSP/Stryker EMS Medicine Early Career Medical Director Award,” said NAEMSP President José Cabañas, MD, MPH, FAEMS. “The NAEMSP congratulates him on this impressive accomplishment, and we look forward to seeing his future contributions to his community EMS system and our specialty.”
The 24-month, $60,000 career development award is sponsored by the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) and Stryker, a global leader in medical technologies. Presented at the NAEMSP’s 2024 Annual Meeting in Austin, TX, earlier this month, the inaugural award was competitive on a national level.
EMS produce an enormous quantity of data, which is highly variable and commonly siloed from hospital data. Though EMS agencies with a high level of sophistication may employ data analysts to assist with making this data actionable, many EMS agencies will not have access to this type of expertise. As such, prehospital data is underutilized. To develop the field of prehospital medicine informatics, it is necessary to have leaders who possess clinical and technical expertise, as well as a vision for how to effectively leverage these data.
“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized with this award, which will be an important catalyst for my growth as a prehospital informatician and EMS medical director,” said Dr. Spigner, who is Director of Prehospital Informatics, as well as Medical Director for Belleville EMS and Brooklyn Fire & EMS.
Funding provided by the award will afford Dr. Spigner the time necessary to develop essential skills in data science, such as fluency in programmatic database language and predictive modeling. He also plans to use a portion of the award to develop a database of prehospital data, opening the door for projects that will create opportunities for research productivity and directly benefit EMS clinicians and the community.
“Much like the growth of prehospital medicine, we should not only implement hospital-based informatics, but organically grow prehospital informatics by establishing best practices and foundational concepts,” said Spigner. “This award will help to sculpt prehospital informatics as a unique and necessary discipline.”
In a statement made at the annual meeting, Dr. Spigner extended his gratitude to the National Association of EMS Physicians and the Stryker Corporation for supporting his professional development and fostering the growth of the EMS specialty through educational and research scholarships and initiatives.
About the NAESMP
Since its inception in 1984, the NAEMSP has grown from a handful of dedicated founders to over 2,000 physicians, paramedics, nurses, administrators, educators, researchers and key EMS personnel. As part of its ongoing commitment to improving out-of-hospital emergency medical care, NAEMSP promotes meetings, publications and products that connect, serve and educate its members. In addition, the Association acts as a resource and advocate of EMS related decisions in cooperation with organizations throughout the country and the community at large, including agencies of the federal government.