On June 3, Professor Laura Bontempo, MD, MEd and Assistant Professor Kathleen Stephanos, MD joined colleagues from the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) to advocate for the specialty on Capitol Hill.

Drs. Bontempo and Stephanos visited the offices of several Members of Congress from Maryland—including Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks.

Both Drs. Bontempo and Stephanos are very involved with AAEM. At AAEM’s Scientific Assembly in April, Dr. Bontempo was reelected to continued service on AAEM’s Board of Directors as an At-Large Member. At the same conference, Dr. Stephanos was recognized as the 2026 recipient of AAEM’s National Young Educator Award.