What’s Hot and What’s Not in Our National Organizations: An Emergency Medicine Panel, Part 2
During its 8th annual retreat in Tempe, Arizona February 21 to 24, 2016, the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine (AACEM) organized a panel discussion that included representatives from seven prominent EM organizations: the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM), AAEM Resident and Student Association (AAEM/RSA), American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine (CORD), Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association (EMRA), and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). Part 1 of this series (Emerg Med. 2016;48[4]:163-166), published reports from the AAEM, AAEM/RSA, ABEM, and ACEP. Part 2, the concluding part of this series, features reports from CORD, EMRA, and SAEM.
Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors
Saadia Akhtar, MD, President CORD
Resident Involvement in CORD. CORD members consist of faculty of EM residency programs. Each program is allowed to have a number of representatives, including program directors, associate/assistant program directors, clerkship directors, faculty, and program coordinators. In November 2015, the membership participated in a CORD bylaws amendment voting process, which resulted in the addition of a resident as a CORD program member representative. In addition, a vote was passed to establish a resident member-at-large position on the CORD board of directors , effective for 2016 to 2017. This will be the first time that a resident will have a position as a member of the CORD board of directors. Residents also have the opportunity to join various CORD task forces, committees, and communities of practice.
Physician Resilience. CORD has a long-standing history of supporting physician well-being and resilience. Emergency physicians are at great risk for burnout and physician suicide. CORD recently established the CORD Resilience Committee. The goals of the committee are to promote a culture of wellness among educators, residents, and students, along with providing curricular resources for educators. The committee plans to establish a network for educators, residents, and students interested in advancing physician wellness. In addition, the committee will conduct research and scholarship in physician wellness.
GME Funding. CORD is actively engaged in advocating graduate medical education (GME) funding. We are educating and empowering our members on advocacy issues affecting EM medical education and developing curriculum resources on GME funding. CORD is also collaborating with other organizations with similar interests.
Free Open-Access Medical Education. CORD is invested in enhancing free open-access medical education (FOAMEd). CORD has partnered with Academic Life in Emergency Medicine (ALiEM) by creating the CORD-ALiEM Task Force. CORD has financially supported and endorsed a number of projects that are important to both organizations. The establishment of this task force has allowed CORD members to participate and offer their expertise in EM medical education.
Academic Assembly. CORD is proud to conduct its annual Academic Assembly, which incorporates a variety of educational opportunities for medical educators and residents. Attendees can participate in a number of tracks, including program leadership, best practices, and navigating the academic waters. Additional tracks for clerkship directors, residency coordinators, and residents are also offered. The conference hosts the annual semi-final Clinical Pathologic Conference Competition. The CORD Academic Assembly is an excellent platform for EM educators and future leaders of our specialty to share ideas, collaborate, network, and advance our organization.
Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association
Leonard Stallings, MD, EMRA RRC-EM Liaison
Overview. EMRA is the largest resident organization in the world, with more than 13,000 members. EMRA represents 85% of all EM residents in the world and 90% of all senior residents in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited EM residency programs.
Benefits of EMRA Membership. Members receive over $200 worth of EMRA educational publications (eg, EMRA Antibiotic Guide) immediately upon joining. It offers its members opportunities to submit articles for publication in EM Resident and its monthly e-newsletter. There are numerous committees and divisions to join based on the members’ area of interest, including ultrasound, emergency medical services, and critical care. EMRA gives out approximately $70,000 worth of awards annually, including travel scholarships and local action grants for residents and students.
EMRA Chair’s Challenge. Once again, EMRA challenges all chairs of academic EM departments to support sending one or more residents to the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Leadership and Advocacy Conference May 15 to 18, 2016 in Washington, DC. Participants will be entered into a drawing for two subscriptions to Virtual ACEP 15. The goal of this conference is to highlight and advocate legislation advancing emergency care, regardless of political labels.
Strategic Plan. The EMRA Strategic Plan includes developing diverse future EMRA leaders, producing quality educational resources, remaining fiscally responsible and secure, and advancing the EMRA culture of innovation.
