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If a “routine” day in a hospital Emergency Department seems hectic, imagine what the day would look like if a public health emergency such as a natural disaster, act of terrorism or disease outbreak were to occur. For Lauren Wiesner, MD, it’s her job to help ensure that MedStar Washington Hospital Center’s physicians are prepared for an emergency and to coordinate the medical response in the emergency room.
As Director of Emergency Preparedness for the Hospital Center’s Emergency Department, Dr. Wiesner works with the emergency preparedness team to educate physicians and medical students on emergency preparedness plans. She also participates in city-wide emergency preparedness drills and other initiatives with the DC Emergency Healthcare Coalition, a partner with the DC Department of Health.
This is in addition to Dr. Wiesner’s primary duties as an attending physician in the Emergency Department, and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine at the Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Dr. Wiesner might well have made a career out of covering emergencies as a reporter rather than caring for people impacted by them. As Biology major at Muhlenberg College, she maintained a strong interest in journalism and writing until she decided to enroll in Drexel University’s College of Medicine. She completed her emergency medicine residency at both MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.
Dr. Wiesner is a Fellow in the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, and a diplomat of the American Board of Emergency Medicine. She is also a member of the Society of Simulation in Healthcare, and the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors.
Given the high-stress nature of preparing for and dealing with emergencies, it’s no small wonder that Dr. Wiesner takes advantage of her spare time outdoors. An avid gardener, she raises vegetables and is currently learning about cultivating native plants. She also spends as much time as possible with Aloha, her four-year old rescue dog.
