New Orleans — David Blunk, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and executive director of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) for more than 25 years, has received an Honorary Membership Award during ACEP ' s annual meeting in New Orleans.
Mr. Blunk has balanced the demands of a dynamic chapter with a courageous advocacy agenda. Working side by side with physician leaders, he has championed passage of the state’s child car-seat bill, has fought repeal of mandatory motorcycle helmet laws and was instrumental in passage of the state’s seat belt law. At the national level, Mr. Blunk’s commitment to ACEP and emergency medicine has led to service on numerous committees, including Federal Government Affairs, Public Relations and National/Chapter Relations. He has also served as a speaker for the ACEP Leadership and Advocacy Conference.
Mr. Blunk’s commitment to improving public safety has been recognized with awards from numerous organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Pennsylvania Division of the American Trauma Society. He is also the first recipient of Pennsylvania ACEP’s David Blunk Outstanding Contribution to Emergency Medicine Award. The chapter created the award in honor of David’s 25th anniversary as chapter executive and will present it annually to recognize contributions to emergency medicine’s profession, practice or body of knowledge.
The Honorary Membership Award is presented to individuals who have given outstanding service to ACEP or to the medical profession.