ICEP President Elect, Dr. Nick Cozzi weighs in recent article published by The Associated Press; Heat makes emergency rooms busier. Study shows which illness and injuries rise during hot spells.

“Heat-related illness is undercounted when studies only search for explicit heat codes like heat stroke,″ said Dr. Nicholas Cozzi, president-elect of the Illinois College of Emergency Physicians

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We are proud to congratulate Dr. Baluzy on receiving the National Emergency Medicine Junior Faculty Teaching Award, a prestigious national honor recognizing outstanding early-career emergency medicine educators who demonstrate excellence in clinical teaching.

This award celebrates faculty who have made exceptional contributions to the education and mentorship of medical students, residents, and fellow physicians. Dr. Baluzy’s dedication to teaching, commitment to learner success, and passion for emergency medicine make him a deserving recipient of this recognition.

We are grateful for the positive impact Dr. Baluzy has on our trainees in Illinois and are proud to celebrate this well-deserved achievement. Please join us in congratulating him on this national honor!

Members of the Illinois College of Emergency Physicians (ICEP) recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to represent emergency physicians and their patients at the ACEP Leadership and Advocacy Conference 2026, hosted by the American College of Emergency Physicians.

This annual conference brings emergency physicians from across the country together to engage directly with lawmakers on the most urgent issues facing emergency medicine today. For ICEP members, participation is about more than policy—it’s about ensuring your access to timely, high-quality emergency care.

Standing Up for Emergency Care

• Addressing the Boarding Crisis

• Emergency departments are increasingly overcrowded, with patients waiting hours—or even days—for inpatient beds. ICEP is pushing for system-wide solutions to reduce dangerous delays in care.

• Protecting the Emergency Medicine Workforce

• Physician burnout and workforce shortages threaten the stability of emergency care. ICEP is advocating for policies that support recruitment, retention, and physician well-being.

• Preserving Medicare’s Promise

• Ongoing reimbursement cuts to Medicare jeopardize access to care, particularly for vulnerable populations. ICEP is working to ensure fair and sustainable payment models that maintain patient access.

Turning Advocacy Into Action

Demand for emergency services continues to surge nationwide, placing unprecedented strain on emergency departments and the physicians who staff them. During LAC26, ICEP members met with bipartisan legislators to advocate for practical, immediate solutions that protect both patients and providers.

Key priorities included:

In addition to meetings on Capitol Hill, ICEP members participated in policy briefings and strategy sessions focused on the future of healthcare. These sessions equipped attendees with the latest insights and tools to effectively communicate the realities of emergency medicine to decision-makers.

By sharing frontline experiences and data, ICEP members are helping shape legislation that directly impacts your care—whether it’s reducing wait times in the ER, ensuring hospitals remain staffed, or protecting access to essential services.