It is a profound honor and privilege to serve as the 53rd President of PACEP. I do so with a deep sense of gratitude and with a clear understanding of the responsibility this role carries. In accepting this role, I am mindful that no leader stands alone. Each of us who has the honor to serve in this capacity does so supported by the vision, courage, and determination of those who came before. We all stand on the shoulders of giants. That phrase is often repeated, but here, rings especially true. The leaders who preceded us did not inherit a fully formed specialty or a settled identity. They built Emergency Medicine into what it is today, often in the face of skepticism, limited resources, and evolving expectations. They advocated for recognition, for standards, for training, and for the fundamental idea that every patient, at any hour, deserves expert, immediate care. They did not wait for permission to lead, they defined what leadership would look like in our field. Because of those who have come before, we inherit a College that is respected, resilient, and relevant. But we also inherit the responsibility to carry that work forward with intention. For a brief period, the leadership is entrusted with guiding an organization that must continue to grow, adapt, and advocate long after our term has ended. That perspective shapes how I approach this year. It demands humility, because we are part of something larger than ourselves. But it also demands urgency, because the challenges we face today are complex, consequential, and will shape the future of Emergency Medicine for the state for the future. Among the most important issues before us is the effort to advance legislation in House Bill 2265, supporting physician led care in Emergency Departments across Pennsylvania, ensuring the appropriate care and expertise patients deserve. Communities across our state, whether urban or rural, deserve access to the highest standard of emergency care. We know that outcomes improve when patients are evaluated and treated by physicians specifically trained in the breadth and unpredictability of emergency medicine. This initiative is not about exclusion; it is about patient care. It is about ensuring that the standard continue reading on page 6 EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE On the Shoulders of Giants Blake Bailey, DO, MBA, FACEP PACEP President 2026-2027 NEWS PACEP SPRING 2026 QUARTERLY ACCOMPLISHMENTS CPC HIGHLIGHT PACEP26 RECAP