Pulse

Dr. Knapp joins American Board of Emergency Medicine leadership

By

Barry Knapp, MD, the Chidester Endowed Chair of Emergency Medicine and Professor and Chair of Emergency Medicine at EVMS, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM).

The ABEM is the nation’s certifying authority for emergency physicians. In his new role with one of the most important organizations within the field of emergency medicine, Dr. Knapp will help develop the evaluation and certification process for the next generation of emergency physicians.

“The American Board of Emergency Medicine is excited to have Dr. Knapp join the Board of Directors,” says Earl Reisdorff, MD, ABEM Executive Director. “His legacy of excellence will serve the specialty of Emergency Medicine as ABEM faces a bright and challenging future.”

“Dr. Knapp’s election to the board is a reflection of the high regard and respect he commands from the emergency medicine community at the national level,” says Francis Counselman, MD, Vice Dean for Graduate Medical Education, Professor and former Chair of Emergency Medicine and a former ABEM President. “It is a significant and well-deserved honor. His appointment reflects not only well on Dr. Knapp, but our department of Emergency Medicine and Eastern Virginia Medical School as an institution.”

Dr. Knapp was an ABEM oral exam team leader several years ago when he and now current ABEM President Ray Johnson, MD, MBA, met. “At that time,” Dr. Johnson says, “he demonstrated his outstanding qualities as a leader in the specialty. As a seasoned emergency medicine physician in a private, democratic emergency medicine group that staffs seven emergency departments ranging from an academic to free-standing, Barry understands the needs/sentiments of front-line physicians. This is critical when setting standards for excellence within the specialty.

“He is a teacher, a researcher and a tireless administrator yet he has remained humble, soft spoken, and collaborative,” Dr. Johnson added. “He is simply one of the best of the best and I am extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to serve with him on the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Knapp has made a significant impact both within the school and in the community.

As Assistant Dean for Ultrasound Education, Dr. Knapp was instrumental in integrating ultrasound into the medical education. He also has had an active leadership role in the prehospital and disaster arena as the Operational Medical Director for the City of Norfolk Fire Rescue where he has been responsible for the delivery of healthcare training of over 500 emergency medical services providers. He has served as a supervising physician and as the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, United States, Region Three of the National Disaster Medical System.

Dr. Knapp has also been actively involved in the community where he has supervised hundreds of students and oversaw bystander CPR training for thousands of people. His efforts raised awareness for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and advanced community health by increasing CPR and AED use.

A senior partner with Emergency Physicians of Tidewater, Dr. Knapp is the former EVMS Emergency Medicine Residency Program Director and founder of the Emergency Medicine Ultrasound fellowship. Dr. Knapp has volunteered with ABEM as an oral examiner since 2010 and a test question writer since 2017.