Newsletters

POSTED: June 28th, 2026
POSTED IN: 2026 EM Pulse Q2, EM Pulse - The Official Newsletter of MOCEP,

Leading from the Frontline: Emergency Medicine in Missouri and The Work Ahead

Dear MOCEP Members,

It is an incredible honor to serve as the President of the Missouri College of Emergency Physicians (MOCEP). I am humbled by the opportunity to represent the outstanding emergency physicians, residents, fellows, medical students, and emergency medicine advocates who care for patients across our state every day. Missouri’s emergency departments stand on the front lines of healthcare.

My journey with organized medicine started during medical school at Mizzou with the Student National Medical Association (SNMA), where I was chapter president for two terms, then moved into regional leadership as the Associate Regional Director, and finally served as Regional Director and a member of the national Board of Directors. As I toiled over which specialty to choose, I noticed a group of emergency physicians in this state who, at the time, had their annual conference at the old Tan-Tar-A resort at the Lake of the Ozarks.  I became a member of ACEP and MOCEP and would eagerly read their communications, hoping to one day to become an emergency physician. As I entered residency at Saint Louis University (SLU), I again was drawn toward organized medicine leadership and became the first resident from SLU on the MOCEP Board, before being elected to the EMRA (Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association) Board of Directors. These organizations laid the foundation for my involvement in this specialty.

As I begin this journey as President, I am reminded of Missouri’s official state motto: “Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto” which means “Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law.” While these words have represented our state for nearly two centuries, they also embody the very heart of emergency medicine. Every day, emergency physicians answer the call to care for anyone, at any time, under any circumstance. We advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. We care for our communities at their most vulnerable moments. The welfare of the people is not simply our responsibility; it is our calling.

Emergency medicine continues to face unprecedented challenges. From threats to physician-led care and reimbursement pressures to emergency department boarding, behavioral health crises, workplace violence, and an increasingly complex healthcare landscape, we must remain united in our purpose. Our work over the coming years will focus on strategic priorities that represent the practical expression of Missouri’s enduring motto.

A Call to Serve

None of these priorities can be achieved by one president or one Board alone. The strength of MOCEP has always been its members: physicians who volunteer their time, expertise, and passion to improve emergency medicine for patients, colleagues, and communities across Missouri.

Whether your passion is advocacy, education, EMS, rural emergency medicine, wellness, leadership, ultrasound, critical care, or mentoring future physicians, there is a place for you within MOCEP. I invite every member to become involved, share your voice, and help shape the future of our specialty.

I would like to thank my predecessor, Dr. Timothy Koboldt, for his steadfast dedication to our organization, and I look forward to continuing to work with him on the annual symposium. I also look forward to working with Dr. Jeanise Butterfield, our new Vice President.

The dedication, resilience, and expertise of our members continue to inspire me. It is an honor to serve alongside each of you as we write the next chapter in the proud history of the Missouri College of Emergency Physicians.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, or suggestions.

(Email to: [email protected])

Kene Chukwuanu, M.D.

President, Missouri College of Emergency Physicians (MOCEP)