Drs. David Griffen, Liza Pilch, John Hafner Honored with ICEP’s Annual Awards

David Griffen, MD, PhD, FACEP, Liza Pilch, MD, MBA, FACEP, and John Hafner, MD, MPH, FACEP, were honored with ICEP’s annual awards during the Annual Business Meeting at the Spring Symposium on May 4 at
Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

Bill. B. Smiley Award
Dr. Griffen, of Springfield, is the recipient of the Bill B. Smiley Meritorious Service Award, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of emergency medicine in Illinois. The Bill B. Smiley award is ICEP’s highest honor.

Dr. Griffen is a Past President who served two terms on the ICEP Board of Directors and continues to remain involved as a Councillor and on a wide variety of committees, including Awards/Nominating, Bylaws, Finance, Membership, and Patient and Physician Advocacy.

He has been an active advocate at all of ICEP’s Advocacy Days in Springfield and has encouraged all of his staff and residents from Springfield to do the same. Dr. Griffen’s photography hobby has been an extra benefit for ICEP, as he has captured great moments at Advocacy Day, ACEP Scientific Assembly, and Spring Symposium that he’s always willing to share.

Dr. Griffen is Chair of the Division of Emergency Medicine at the Southern Illinois School of Medicine in Springfield.

ICEP Meritorious Service Award
Dr. Pilch, of Chicago, is the recipient of the ICEP Meritorious Service Award, honoring her significant contributions to the advancement of emergency medicine by exemplary service.

Dr. Pilch is a dedicated longtime member of the ICEP Education Committee who has helped to advance
many new educational initiatives for the College. She has served as Assistant Course Director for the Oral
Board Review Courses for years and has been a key player in helping to debut the eOral program at the 2017
courses. At ICEP’s programs, Dr. Pilch is frequently seen lending a hand wherever it is needed, from assisting at registration to networking with vendors. She also serves on the EMS Committee.

Dr. Pilch is the Medical Director for the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness at the Chicago Department of Public Health. She is also a student advisor for MedEdits Medical Admissions, LLC.

Downstate Member Service Award
Dr. Hafner, of Peoria, is the recipient of the Downstate Member Service Award, which recognizes an ICEP member from outside the metropolitan Chicago area who has made a consistent effort to advance emergency medicine in Illinois despite lengthy travel.

Dr. Hafner is the immediate past president of ICEP, whose second term on the Board is concluding in May. As a Board member, he made the drive from Peoria to the ICEP office whenever it was needed, no matter how short or long the meeting would be. Dr. Hafner continues to stay active, serving as a Councillor and sitting
on the Awards/Nominating, Bylaws, Finance, Membership, and Research Committees, as well as the Board Liaison for the ITLS Illinois Advisory Committee. Dr. Hafner is a repeat presenter at the Emergency Medicine Update conference in Peoria, for which he previously served as Course Directors for several years. He also served as faculty of the EM Board Review Intensive course and on the course committee for many years.

Dr. Hafner is the Residency Director and a Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. He is also an attending physician at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center.

Congratulations to all!