Dr. Robert Rodriguez, a professor of medicine at the UC Riverside School of Medicine, delivered the James D. Mills Jr. Memorial Lecture on Oct. 5 at the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Scientific Assembly in Chicago. The lecture addressed the role of emergency departments (EDs) in providing vaccinations to medically underserved populations.
The prestigious keynote address is delivered annually and honors Dr. James D. Mills Jr., a pioneer in emergency medicine who served as the ACEP’s second president.
In his lecture titled “Vaccinations in the Emergency Department,” Rodriguez discussed efforts to implement vaccination programs in EDs, particularly for patients whose only access to health care may be through the ED. He also reviewed his team’s research as well as other programs facilitating vaccination, examining ways EDs can provide preventive care to patients who may have limited access to primary care.
The James D. Mills Jr. Memorial Lecture has traditionally explored the history and evolution of emergency medicine while addressing challenges facing the specialty. Rodriguez’s presentation brought that perspective to vaccination access, amid concerns about declining vaccination rates and the reemergence of vaccine-preventable illnesses.