01 Nov Emily Bokser, MD: A 2024 Unsung Hero
Dr. Bokser is a force to be reckoned with but in the most calm and unassuming way. She is an Emergency Medicine physician who can tackle a busy room, manage multiple critical patients simultaneously and educate residents at the same time while remaining completely unfazed by the chaos. Though early in her career, she has become a go to educator for the residents. They look to her for both her practical insights and her foundation of knowledge. I admire her willingness to take on additional responsibilities and her proactive approach—regularly asking, “What else can I do?” Whether to cover a sick call, give a lecture or help in a busy section of the ED, Dr. Bokser never shies away from stepping in to lend a hand. Her ability to handle the demands of emergency medicine with calm efficiency, coupled with her eagerness to support and educate the residents, make her an incredible asset to our ED, trainees, colleagues, and patients. She is the true epitome of the Unsung Hero!
Dr. Bokser’s contribution to our ED, is particularly distinctive because of her focus on enhancing the patient experience in the emergency department. While many physicians prioritize clinical outcomes, she goes beyond by actively working on programs to improve the patient experience through better communication from providers, improved teamwork and additional resources available for patient care. Moreover, her collaboration with nursing and support staff to create a more welcoming environment—through improved signage, comfort measures, and streamlined processes—has led to an increase in patient satisfaction scores. She introduced an initiative to utilize volunteers to “round” on patients and address their needs and concerns. Dr. Bokser also created joint training sessions for nurses, physicians and ACPs to strengthen teamwork in the department. By championing patient-centered emergency medicine experience, she distinguishes herself from her peers.
Recipient Bio:
After graduating from Brandeis University and completing her medical degree at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Dr, Bokser started her residency at Staten Island University Hospital in 2016. After completing her residency, she stayed on as an attending at SIUH in 2019. She has remained a vital member of the staff since then. She assumed additional responsibilities in 2021, when Dr. Bokser was appointed to be our Patient Experience Officer. As part of this role, she also oversees our ED Discharge Referral program which connects patients with necessary appointments after discharge from the emergency department. This program has been a great success and continues to grow rapidly.
– Anna Van Tuyl, MD FACEP