UTHealth professor receives John A. Rupke Legacy Award

Arlo F. Weltge, M.D., M.P.H., clinical professor of emergency medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School, has received the John A. Rupke Legacy Award for his lifelong commitment to the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).

Weltge received the award at the recent ACEP14 Scientific Assembly in Chicago. A total of 11 awards were announced in areas of leadership, policy, education and research. Founded in 1968, ACEP represents more than 32,000 emergency physicians, residents and medical students.

"Dr. Weltge is a well-recognized leader in emergency medicine at the national level," said James J. McCarthy, M.D., associate professor, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at UTHealth Medical School and holder of the Nancy, Clive and Pierce Runnells Distinguished Professorship. "His dedication to his patients, colleagues and the specialty of Emergency Medicine is an inspiration to us all. I'm proud to be able to call him a friend and colleague."

Weltge joined the faculty of UTHealth in 1989 as the first board-certified emergency physician and was part of the initial efforts to begin the emergency medicine residency program. He holds an adjunct appointment in the Department of Acute and Continuing Care with the UTHealth School of Nursing. He received his medical degree from the UTHealth Medical School and his masters' degree from the UTHealth School of Public Health.

The award is given in honor of John A. Rupke, M.D., one of the founding members of the ACEP. Weltge has held every position of state chapter leadership for the ACEP, including president, and has chaired dozens of committees. He has led the ACEP's National Council as speaker and vice-speaker and chaired the Continuing Education, Finance and Public Health committees.

Weltge has been a board member of the National Emergency Medicine Political Action Committee and a committee member for the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. He continues to represent emergency medicine in the Harris County Medical Society, the Texas Medical Association and as a delegate to the American Medical Association.

Weltge has served as medical director and adjunct faculty for the Houston Community College (HCC) Program in EMS and as medical director for AMR Ambulance Service's Houston operations.