ABEM News

Meet the 2024 Class of the Dr. Leon L. Haley, Jr., Bridge to the Future of Emergency Medicine Academy

Rising second-year, underrepresented in medicine (URiM) medical students were selected for this two-week opportunity offered by ABEM. During the Haley Academy, the aspiring physicians 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. The students were welcomed to ABEM by Wesley Haley, J.D., son of Dr. Haley. To watch their journey, visit the Haley Academy Instagram page. 

Pictured left to right, seated: Cayman Pearsall, Alexis Fisher, Haley Brown, Cindy Gonzalez

Pictured left to right, standing: Amelia Smyth, Leonides Catarino, Roberto Figueroa Soto, Samone Alexander, Joshua Young, Jean Mars, Jr., Jeffery Radcliff, Johnathan Overton

Students participated in site visits to the following Emergency Medicine residency programs:

• Henry Ford Health Sim Center/Henry Ford Health EM Residency Program, Detroit, Michigan. Dr. 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, Michigan. At Central Michigan, students took part in grand rounds lectures, Sim Lab cases, and hands-on procedural simulations.
  

ABEM wishes to thank the many expert speakers for their inspiring and relevant presentations, and recognize Henry Ford and Central Michigan for your knowledge, insights, and hospitality!

ABEM is dedicated to hosting the annual Haley Academy and continuing to support and mentor alumni through mentorship and guidance. The Board looks forward to watching the students grow in their careers and communities.

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. In 2022, it was announced that a new trauma facility named in honor of Dr. Haley will be built in Jacksonville. 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.