David Mehr is the epitome of a quiet leader. If you didn’t ask you probably wouldn’t know he traveled from coast to coast on a bicycle (one of two in the 2021 class to have done so). He’s not the one telling you how much he’s worked over the past week. He’s just quietly trying to get better and bring you along, if you wish. He set out and built our residency its own procedure lab - a space to tinker and refine micro skills to make you a better proceduralist. He built training models in his garage. He’s always there to humbly suggest how to refine your thought process on managing the critically ill patient - but never in your face. It’s the reason we all respect him as much as we do. He’s quicker to speak with his actions than his voice. He’s a leader in our field and that’s why he’s a RIP City Resident!

You're a man of many snacks…what’s your top 3?

If you talk to people that know me, they might say I have a bit of a sweet tooth. I’m a big fan of the crumble cookies that show up in our ED once in a while. Those things are legit. I’m also a big fan of caramel M&Ms. I buy the share size, but I don’t let packaging tell me what to do. But I think the ultimate snack is the gummy bear. It is heat resistant, cold resistant, smoosh resistant, and delicious.

Rock climbing is obviously an important part of your life - what has been your favorite climb and why?

My favorite climb is probably one called Little Finger. It’s an easy traditional multipitch in the Adirondacks in New York. What made it memorable is that it is a large 600 foot monolith that rises out of a lake, so it’s only accessible by boat. We rented a rowboat and paddled to the base of the climb which was a pretty unique experience. The other thing that made it so memorable was that this wasn’t actually a climbing trip. I was on a family reunion vacation, and so my wife did this climb with me, despite being well out of her comfort zone because she knew I was really excited to do it. So that meant a lot.

What are you looking forward to the most in the first 6 months out of residency?

Freedom. Insert Braveheart meme.

What do you think is the single most important piece of advice all new EM residents should know?

Whenever you decide to do something; Order a test. Not order a test. Give a treatment. Always ask yourself “why?” If you can answer that question to yourself great. But if you can’t answer the question “why?”, then maybe you shouldn’t be doing that thing, or maybe you should have a better understanding before you do.

What do you make sure to have with you for every shift in the ED?

I may or may not keep a spare echogenic procedure needle, extension tubing, 50cc syringe, 3 way stop cock, sterile saline, 10cc syringe, chlorhexidine, drapes, and an ultrasound probe cover in my backpack for go to access for my patients regional nerve block needs.