Debra G. Perina, MD, FACEP, is Professor Emeritus of Emergency Medicine at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, where she was Prehospital Division Director and EMS Fellowship Director for more than 20 years. She has spent decades working to advance emergency medicine, EMS, and ACEP though mentoring, training, and leadership. She led efforts to revise the Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine and create the EMS Medicine Core Content. Dr. Perina authored the EMS Medicine subspecialty application, which achieved recognition by the American Board of Medical Specialties. She also spearheaded the creation of the first EMS Medicine Board certification examination.
Dr. Perina completed her medical training at West Virginia University School of Medicine in 1983 and her emergency medicine residency in 1987 at Richland Memorial Hospital/Palmetto Health Care University of South Carolina School of Medicine, remaining as faculty and subsequently becoming Residency Director prior to moving to Virginia in 1995. She is the former State EMS Medical Director for South Carolina.
Dr. Perina served on numerous ACEP committees. She served on the ACEP Board of Directors from 2012-2019 and was Chair of the Board from 2017-2018. She is Past President of ABEM and CORD. She served on the RRC-EM and as Chair of the Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Dr. Perina has published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles, has given more the 80 scientific and didactic presentations and has served as principal investigator for several state and NHTSA federal grants.
Dr. Perina has been active in ACEP for more than 40 years, utilizing leadership and organizational skills to serve and develop emergency medicine in a variety of venues—education, training, EMS and trauma. She continues to serve ACEP and her community as a delegate to the AMA, a local medical examiner, medical director for several EMS services and volunteer fire departments and as a volunteer at her local free medical clinic. She continues to enjoy and indulge her passion for gardening.
About This Award
The John G. Wiegenstein Leadership Award is presented to a current or past national ACEP leader - member of the Board of Directors or officer of the Council - for outstanding contributions to the College.
