New Emergency Department co-medical directors announced

After a robust internal search, the UC Davis Emergency Department (ED) has two new co-medical directors – familiar faces who will be taking on different, critical roles. David Barnes and Daniel Colby will be sharing the job vacated by long-time director Sam Turnipseed when he retired in July.

“Our search committee had several great applicants, but the committee thought Dan and David had such great complementary expertise,” explained Nathan Kuppermann, distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine. “They both know about every aspect of the job, but they are each going to take an area of focus.”

David Barnes is a health sciences clinical professor and is board certified in emergency medicine. He’s been the residency program director since 2011 and will continue in that role until next July. He was recognized this year by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education with the Parker J. Palmer “Courage to Teach” award, its highest honor for program directors. Barnes also created the residency program’s quality and safety curriculum.

“David is a real health system leader in education, quality and safety, and sustainability. He will bring valuable experience in these areas to the job,” Kuppermann said.

Daniel Colby is board certified in emergency medicine, medical toxicology and addiction medicine and helped lead the department’s operational efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. He co-founded both the UC Davis Substance Use Intervention Team and the Substance Use Disorder Committee. He also directs the Addiction Medicine Fellowship and Medical Toxicology Associate Fellowship programs. Colby is also the instructor of record at the UC Davis School of Medicine for the Molecular Cellular Medicine, Addiction Medicine and Medical Toxicology courses.

“Dan is a great clinician, has been on the emergency department operations team for several years and is very highly regarded by everyone. His expertise on substance abuse disorders and toxicology will be important,” Kuppermann said.

Teaming up

The emergency department has changed significantly over the years, noted Kuppermann. “We’ve really outgrown the notion of just one person running the clinical operations of the ED. Over the last decade, and especially over the last several years the department has really grown in size and complexity and it really can’t be overseen by just one person.”

Barnes and Colby are taking over for Sam Turnipseed, who was the medical director of the department for nearly two decades, and whom Kuppermann calls an “icon.” “Luckily, they’ll still benefit from Sam’s institutional knowledge and guidance, as he’s staying on part-time and will serve as a mentor to the clinical operations team,” Kuppermann said. “Sam is a real ‘doctor’s doctor,’ the consummate clinician, educator and professional and is simply outstanding at everything he does. He’ll be there for Dan and David to bounce things off of, and to help with the transition.”

Pandemic experience

Both Barnes and Colby have helped lead the ED’s efforts in addressing COVID-19. They have started their new jobs with an understanding of the challenges presented by the pandemic.

“Even though we’re in the middle of another wave, the timing is good, because both Dan and David have had the benefit of 18 months of this pandemic. They have hit the ground running. We are reinventing the way we deliver care due to the pandemic and they have already been an integral part of this change,” Kuppermann said.