ACEP26 Keynote/Opening Gerneral Session

Sky High Medicine, Leadership, and Decision-Making at ACEP26 Keynote Session

Strap in for a once-in-a-lifetime session with NASA astronaut and emergency physician Dr. Anil Menon, joining live* from the International Space Station.

*Pending final internet availability from the ISS

Dr. Anil Menon BioDr. Menon at NASA

Opening General Session

New Frontiers in Emergency Medicine

Monday, October 5, 2026
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Start ACEP26 with an inspiring look at how emergency medicine continues to push boundaries, create opportunity and shape the future of healthcare.

Hear from incoming ACEP President Ryan Stanton, experience a special video call from the International Space Station with NASA astronaut and emergency physician Anil Menon, and gain perspective from a panel of emergency physicians whose careers span tactical medicine, entrepreneurship, media, elite athletics and leadership.

From outer space to the Olympic stage, this session will showcase how emergency medicine training equips physicians to innovate, adapt and lead in extraordinary ways.

Join us as we celebrate the bold, future-focused spirit of emergency medicine and explore the new frontiers ahead.

Featured Participants

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Rebecca Bavolek, MD, FACEP

Chair, Scientific Assembly Planning Subcommittee

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Anil Menon, MD

NASA Astronaut and Emergency Physician
Special Keynote Speaker*

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Ryan Stanton, MD, FACEP

Incoming ACEP President

Ryan Stanton will deliver his first Scientific Assembly Presidential Address

He'll be reflecting on the future of emergency medicine and the opportunities ahead for the specialty. Plus, a conversation with NASA astronaut and emergency physician Anil Menon about space medicine, practicing in extreme environments, innovation, resilience, and lessons emergency physicians can apply from the frontier of human exploration as well as tour around the ISS!*

*Pending final internet availability from the ISS

Featured Panelists

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Darria Gillespie, MD

Emergency physician, entrepreneur, author, and national medical media contributor

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Asa Margolis, MD

Emergency physician involved in tactical medicine, special operations, and federal protective operations

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Regina Martinez, MD

Emergency physician and former Olympic athlete who trained and competed at the highest levels while completing residency training

Panel Discussion:
Expanding the Boundaries of Emergency Medicine

Three emergency physicians with extraordinary careers will discuss how they have leveraged their training beyond the traditional ED setting, demonstrating the versatility, leadership, and impact of emergency medicine across diverse arenas.

Dr. Menon at NASA

Images open to a larger view.

NASA astronaut Anil Menon participates in a spacewalk training session NASA astronaut Anil Menon participates in a training session at Johnson Space Center NASA astronaut Anil Menon participates in a photography training session Expedition 75 crew members participate in an emergency training session at Johnson Space Center NASA astronaut Anil Menon participates in an emergency training session NASA astronaut Anil Menon participates in an emergency training session NASA astronaut Anil Menon participates in a training session at Johnson Space Center Expedition 74 Soyuz Rollout Expedition 74 Preflight NASA astronaut Anil Menon wears virtual reality goggles for a spacewalk training session Expedition 75 crew members participate in an emergency training session at Johnson Space Center NASA astronaut Anil Menon participates in a training session at Johnson Space Center Soyuz MS-28 backup crew members pose for a portrait at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center Astronaut Group & Moon Pod Essay Winners Visit Artemis I NASA astronaut Anil Menon participates in a photography training session
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