Sharon Mace Receives the Lou Graff Award at ACEP24!

The Lou Graff Award for Excellence in Observation Medicine Award recognizes emergency physicians who have made a significant contribution to the field of observation medicine within emergency medicine. It is named after Dr. Lou Graff, who spent his career defining and refining observation care as an extension of emergency care.

Margarita Pena-Morris, MD, FACEP and Sharon Mace, MD, FACEP, FAAP

This year’s recipient is Dr. Sharon Mace. Dr. Mace has been practicing emergency medicine since 1984 and has held numerous administrative and educational positions throughout her career.  She is a Professor in the Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University and has been on faculty at the Cleveland Clinic since 1995 where she is currently the Research Director and Assistant Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Director. She has also served as Director of the Observation Unit and Director of Pediatric Education/Quality Improvement.

Dr. Mace has dedicated her career to emergency medicine, including in the areas of observation medicine, pediatric emergency medicine and EMS.  Specifically, Dr. Mace has been a trailblazer in the genesis and expansion of observation medicine through her numerous and significant research and educational contributions and leadership positions. In addition to her numerous peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters in observation medicine, Dr. Mace was one of the co-editors of the first observation medicine textbook (with Dr. Lou Graff) and is also the editor of the current textbook Observation Medicine: Principles and Protocols which is now in its 2nd edition. Dr. Mace’s leadership positions in observation medicine include past chair of the ACEP OM Section (twice!), secretary, treasurer, councilor and newsletter editor.  She has been invited to speak at national observation medicine conferences and is an invaluable resource and subject matter expert in observation medicine.  Dr. Mace has been a mentor and supportive role model to all the past leaders of the Section and an incredible resource for all Section members. 

In summary, Dr. Sharon Mace embodies the spirit of the Lou Graff Award in Observation Medicine and is most deserving of this honor.