january-february 2005

32
P RESIDENT S M ESSA GE As we close another calendar year, I’d like to provide the mem- bership with a brief update about some of the activities of the Board of Directors (BOD) over the last months of the year. In October, the BOD had an additional full day meeting in order to work on the organization’s 5 year strategic goals. The BOD reaffirmed the organization’s cur- rent mission and vision state- ments: Mission Statement: Our mission is to improve patient care by advancing research and education in emergency medicine. Vision Statement: Our vision is to promote ready access to quality emergency care for all patients, to advance emergency medicine as an academic and clinical discipline, and to maintain the highest profes- sional standards as clinicians, teachers, and researchers. The strategic goals were organized under a conceptual framework of 5 major themes: research, education, mem- bership services, advocacy and operations. Each theme has an overarching mission/goal, with 3 to 5 objectives and a plan to accomplish each. At this time (the BOD has not yet finalized these) the overall 5 overarching mission/goals are as follows: Research: Improve available knowledge and result- ing patient care outcomes through quality investiga- tion. Education: Expand the breadth and the depth of education in emergency medicine/acute care medi- cine in US medical schools by EM educators. Membership services: Maximize the dollar value of SAEM membership. Advocacy: Advocate for research and education in emergency care within medical schools, funding agencies (governmental and non-governmental) and specialty organizations. Operations: Assure that an appropriate infrastruc- ture exists to support the activities of SAEM. I look forward to reporting the specific objectives in the next Newsletter. Future BOD’s will use these in setting each year’s specific committee and task force objectives. In addition, the organization will shortly conduct its first ever survey of the membership. While SAEM’s mission is focused, and the membership represents the largest organ- ization devoted solely to emergency medicine research and education, our resources are finite. Over the years the BOD has had the hardest time making decisions about which Carey Chisholm, MD (continued on page 26) S A E M Newsletter of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine January/February 2005 Volume XVII, Number 1 901 N. Washington Ave. Lansing, MI 48906-5137 (517) 485-5484 [email protected] www.saem.org “to improve patient care by advancing research and education in emergency medicine” Call for Nominations SAEM Elected Positions Deadline: February 7, 2005 Nominations are sought for the SAEM elections which will be held in the spring of 2005. The Nominating Committee will select a slate of nominees based on the following criteria: previous service to SAEM, leadership potential, interperson- al skills, and the ability to advance the broad interests of the membership and academic emergency medicine. Interested members are encouraged to review the appropriate SAEM orientation guidelines (Board, Committee/Task Force or President-elect) to consider the responsibilities and expec- tations of an SAEM elected position. Orientation guidelines are available at www .saem.org or from the SAEM office. The Nominating Committee wishes to consider as many candidates as possible and whenever possible will select more than one nominee for each position. Nominations may be submitted by the candidate or any SAEM member and should include the candidate’s CV and a cover letter describ- ing the candidate’s qualifications and previous SAEM activi- ties. Nominations must be submitted electronically to [email protected] and are sought for the following positions: President-elect: The President-elect serves one year as President-elect, one year as President, and one year as Past President. Candidates are usually members of the Board of Directors. Board of Directors: Two members will be elected to three- year terms on the Board. Candidates should have a track record of excellent service and leadership on SAEM com- mittees and task forces. Resident Board Member: The resident member is elected to a one-year term. Candidates must be a resident during the entire term on the Board (May 2005-May 2006) and should demonstrate evidence of strong interest and commit- ment to academic emergency medicine. Nominations should include a letter of support from the candidate’s residency director. Nominating Committee: Two members will be elected to two-year terms. The Nominating Committee develops the slate of nominees for the elected positions. Candidates should have considerable experience and leadership on SAEM committees and task forces. Constitution and Bylaws Committee: One member will be elected to a three-year term, the final year as the chair of the Committee. The Committee reviews the Constitution and Bylaws and makes recommendations to the Board for amendments to be considered by the membership. Candidates should have considerable experience and lead- ership on SAEM committees and task forces.

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SAEM January-February 2005 Newsletter

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Page 1: January-February 2005

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGEAs we close another calendar

year, I’d like to provide the mem-bership with a brief update aboutsome of the activities of the Boardof Directors (BOD) over the lastmonths of the year.

In October, the BOD had anadditional full day meeting in orderto work on the organization’s 5year strategic goals. The BODreaffirmed the organization’s cur-rent mission and vision state-ments:

Mission Statement: Our mission is to improvepatient care by advancing research and education inemergency medicine. Vision Statement: Our vision is to promote readyaccess to quality emergency care for all patients, toadvance emergency medicine as an academic andclinical discipline, and to maintain the highest profes-sional standards as clinicians, teachers, andresearchers.

The strategic goals were organized under a conceptualframework of 5 major themes: research, education, mem-bership services, advocacy and operations. Each themehas an overarching mission/goal, with 3 to 5 objectives anda plan to accomplish each. At this time (the BOD has not yetfinalized these) the overall 5 overarching mission/goals areas follows:

Research: Improve available knowledge and result-ing patient care outcomes through quality investiga-tion.Education: Expand the breadth and the depth ofeducation in emergency medicine/acute care medi-cine in US medical schools by EM educators.Membership services: Maximize the dollar value ofSAEM membership.Advocacy: Advocate for research and education inemergency care within medical schools, fundingagencies (governmental and non-governmental) andspecialty organizations.Operations: Assure that an appropriate infrastruc-ture exists to support the activities of SAEM.

I look forward to reporting the specific objectives in thenext Newsletter. Future BOD’s will use these in setting eachyear’s specific committee and task force objectives.

In addition, the organization will shortly conduct its firstever survey of the membership. While SAEM’s mission isfocused, and the membership represents the largest organ-ization devoted solely to emergency medicine research andeducation, our resources are finite. Over the years the BODhas had the hardest time making decisions about which

Carey Chisholm, MD

(continued on page 26)

SAEM

Newsletter of the Society for Academic Emergency MedicineJanuary/February 2005 Volume XVII, Number 1

901 N. Washington Ave.Lansing, MI 48906-5137

(517) [email protected]

“to improve patient care by advancing research and education in emergency medicine”

Call for NominationsSAEM Elected Positions

Deadline: February 7, 2005Nominations are sought for the SAEM elections which will beheld in the spring of 2005. The Nominating Committee willselect a slate of nominees based on the following criteria:previous service to SAEM, leadership potential, interperson-al skills, and the ability to advance the broad interests of themembership and academic emergency medicine. Interestedmembers are encouraged to review the appropriate SAEMorientation guidelines (Board, Committee/Task Force orPresident-elect) to consider the responsibilities and expec-tations of an SAEM elected position. Orientation guidelinesare available at www.saem.org or from the SAEM office.

The Nominating Committee wishes to consider as manycandidates as possible and whenever possible will selectmore than one nominee for each position. Nominations maybe submitted by the candidate or any SAEM member andshould include the candidate’s CV and a cover letter describ-ing the candidate’s qualifications and previous SAEM activi-ties. Nominations must be submitted electronically [email protected] and are sought for the following positions:

President-elect: The President-elect serves one year asPresident-elect, one year as President, and one year asPast President. Candidates are usually members of theBoard of Directors.

Board of Directors: Two members will be elected to three-year terms on the Board. Candidates should have a trackrecord of excellent service and leadership on SAEM com-mittees and task forces.

Resident Board Member: The resident member is electedto a one-year term. Candidates must be a resident duringthe entire term on the Board (May 2005-May 2006) andshould demonstrate evidence of strong interest and commit-ment to academic emergency medicine. Nominations shouldinclude a letter of support from the candidate’s residencydirector.

Nominating Committee: Two members will be elected totwo-year terms. The Nominating Committee develops theslate of nominees for the elected positions. Candidatesshould have considerable experience and leadership onSAEM committees and task forces.

Constitution and Bylaws Committee: One member will beelected to a three-year term, the final year as the chair of theCommittee. The Committee reviews the Constitution andBylaws and makes recommendations to the Board foramendments to be considered by the membership.Candidates should have considerable experience and lead-ership on SAEM committees and task forces.

Page 2: January-February 2005

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John G. Wiegenstein, MD 1930-2004

John G. Wiegenstein, MD, one of thefounders of the specialty of emergencymedicine was killed in a tragic motorvehicle crash in Naples, Florida onOctober 28, 2004. Dr. Wiegenstein’smajor contribution to emergency medi-cine was to organize emergency physi-cians in the late 1960’s and early 1970’sinto the American College of EmergencyPhysicians (ACEP), and then help pro-pel the field to a higher level - that of anapproved medical specialty.

Born in 1930 in rural Missouri, andraised during the Depression, Dr.Wiegenstein’s schooling was in the St.Louis Preparatory Seminary, a six-yearprogram for those aspiring to priest-hood. He eventually decided that hewanted to do something else, and spenta few years finding his calling. He stud-ied engineering, business and econom-ics and enrolled in the military. He final-ly focused on a career in medicine andgraduated from the University of Michi-gan Medical School in 1960. One of hisformative experiences was as a fourthyear medical student when he was hiredas the nighttime “emergency physician”at Beyer Hospital in Ypsilanti, Michigan.He did a rotating internship and twoadditional years of training at TriplerArmy Hospital in Hawaii, and then setup a general practice near Lansing,Michigan.

Dr. Wiegenstein, like many generalpractitioners of the time, was assignedto staff the emergency department (ED)a couple times a month at St. LawrenceHospital. He enjoyed this work, andbecame aware that some physicians,like James Mills, Jr. MD in Alexandria,Virginia, had begun to practice full timein ED’s. With a partner, Dr. Wiegensteinformed an emergency medicine groupto provide staffing at St. Lawrence

Hospital. One of his first realizations in his

emergency medical practice was thegreat need for additional training. Hetook an EMT-type course in Ohio, wherehe met some government leaders whoasked him why there was no nationalorganization for this new breed of physi-cians. Dr. Wiegenstein believed that anational organization could fill a hugevoid by providing educational coursesfor emergency physicians and couldstrengthen and support emergencymedicine practice.

In August 1968, Dr. Wiegenstein andseven other emergency physicians fromMichigan met in Lansing and formed theAmerican College of Emergency Physi-cians. A few months later in November1968, this group joined twenty-two otherphysicians at a national meeting inArlington, Virginia, and ACEP becamethe national specialty organization foremergency medicine. At this time, onlythe rudiments of a “specialty” of emer-gency medicine existed, and it wouldtake a major effort by Dr. Wiegensteinand his colleagues to have emergencymedicine officially accepted as a newmedical specialty. The field needed todevelop an infrastructure and power inmedical politics in its move toward legit-imacy, and it was in this regard that thetalents of John Wiegenstein became sovaluable.

Dr. Wiegenstein became the firstChairman (President) of ACEP, andserved in this role for three years. Work-ing out of a small office in the basementof the Michigan State Medical Society,he and a small band of colleagues builtthe organization member by member,state chapter by state chapter. Heenlisted the help of the AMA to sponsorthe first organizational meeting of ACEPin 1969. He was instrumental in creat-ing the first ACEP Scientific Assemblies,providing the venue and forum for emer-gency physicians from around the coun-try to gain knowledge in the field andlearn how to deal with common prob-lems.

By the early 1970’s, Dr. Wiegensteinand ACEP had a plan to gain specialtystatus in American medicine. The stepswere complex and challenging – estab-lishment of the content and boundariesof the field, establishment of residencytraining programs, recognition as a Sec-tion in the AMA, and then the approvalof a specialty Board by the AMA andAmerican Board of Medical Specialties

(ABMS). Dr. Wiegenstein was the primemover in many of these efforts. Alongwith the other early emergency medi-cine leaders, he put together therequired components and developedthe diplomatic and political skills tonegotiate successfully for a specialty ofemergency medicine. All the while, hewas working more than fifty clinicalhours per week as an emergency physi-cian.

Just nine years after the formation ofACEP, emergency medicine was pre-sented to the ABMS for approval as aspecialty. However, the initial vote in1977 was a resounding defeat, andthings almost came apart. Many emer-gency physicians wanted to form anindependent Board and proceed with acertifying exam. Dr. Wiegenstein’s skillsas a well-prepared diplomat and clevernegotiator were instrumental both inappeasing the unrest in emergencymedicine and in creating a plan for amodified conjoint Board in emergencymedicine. Two years later, in 1979,emergency medicine was approved asthe 23rd U.S. medical specialty. Adecade later, it would become a primaryBoard in the ABMS. Dr. Wiegensteinwas a founding member of the Board ofDirectors of the American Board ofEmergency Medicine and helped thisyoung organization get started, just ashe had done with ACEP.

Dr. Wiegenstein created an emer-gency medicine residency program atSt. Lawrence Hospital in 1974.Although he was more comfortable inthe political world of medicine, he real-ized the need for the academic develop-ment of emergency medicine, and wasa strong proponent of research. Heoften recounted in interviews that hisprimary motivation in organizing emer-gency medicine as a field was to pro-mote the education of emergency physi-cians. He enjoyed his role as a teacherand mentor to future emergency physi-cians. After establishing the ResidencyProgram at Michigan State University in1973, he became its Director. For over20 years he shared the principles ofemergency medicine with its futurepractitioners. Dr. Wiegenstein later wasappointed department Chairman, and in1999, Professor Emeritus. From 1977on he was a member of University Asso-ciation of Emergency Medical Servicesand then SAEM.

Throughout the formative years ofemergency medicine, John G. Wiegen-

John G. Wiegenstein, MDPhoto courtesy of Michigan College of

Emergency Physicians

(continued on page 10)

Page 3: January-February 2005

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Silent Auction to be Held During 2005 Annual Meeting Contact SAEM to make donations

A Silent Auction will be held duringthe SAEM Annual Meeting. The purposeof the Auction is to promote awarenessand raise funds for the SAEM ResearchFund, which supports the SAEM grantsprogram.

SAEM needs the support of themembership to donate items for theSilent Auction. Donations do not haveto be large or expensive, but anythingthat you think someone attending theAnnual Meeting may be interested inbidding on in New York. Contributionssuch as the donation of a time-share in

Colorado, tickets to events, dinners at alocal or national restaurant, gift certifi-cates, sports memorabilia, books, etc.are all wonderful items. Please contactSAEM at [email protected] to contributeto the Silent Auction. A donation form isalso available on the SAEM web site.Donations will be accepted until May 1,2005. Donations are tax deductible. Alldonated items will be posted on theSAEM web site after January 1. TheSilent Auction itself will take place dur-ing the Annual Meeting in New York City.

Please support the SAEM Research

Fund by contributing items for the Auc-tion, as well as participating in the Auc-tion during the Annual Meeting. TheSAEM Research Fund is dedicated toproviding professional developmentgrants such as the Research TrainingGrant, the Institutional Research Train-ing Grant, the Scholarly SabbaticalGrant, and others. SAEM assumes theadministrative costs of the ResearchFund, so 100% of every contributiongoes directly to support the Society’sgrant program.

2005 Annual Meeting in New YorkJudd E. Hollander, MDUniversity of PennsylvaniaChair, 2005 Program Committee

The SAEM Program Committee hasbeen working hard to organize the 2005Annual Meeting in New York City. Themeeting is shaping up well and promis-es to once again have high qualitydidactic and scientific sessions, alongwith ample opportunity for networkingwith your national and international col-leagues. Due to the quality of the meet-ing and the location, this year we antici-pate our largest meeting ever.

The SAEM Didactic subcommitteereceived 68 didactic proposal submis-sions. The review process was analo-gous to that used by scientific journals.Each proposal underwent primaryreview by a subcommittee. Proposalsthat fit within the mission of SAEM andwere well developed were provisionallyaccepted or distributed to the full pro-gram committee for evaluation. Aftercommittee review proposals fell into oneof three categories: accept, discussionby the full committee or unable toaccept. After face-to-face discussion atACEP, more than 50 hours of program-ming have been accepted for presenta-tion at the May 2005 meeting.

The program committee is thrilled toannounce some very novel new ses-sions. State-of-the-Art Sessions featuresome cutting edge topics such as Painin ED Patients with Serious Illness;Knowledge Translation and EM: Bridg-ing the Gap from Evidence to ClinicalPractice; and even Space Medicine. Anew trio of luncheon sessions focuseson the faculty at different levels of aca-demic stature, including a “Full Profes-

sor: Now What?” session. The researchseries includes several new lecturesincluding how to utilize large databases,developing qualitative research; andsetting up your own clinical researchunit. The educational research seriesthat commenced last year is being con-tinued with two more advanced ses-sions this year. There is an additionalfocus on health policy and federalresearch with several sessions thatspan this theme. Of course, the programcontinues to include a variety ofresearch and educational sessions,including the medical student and chiefresident forums.

One very new session will be simul-taneously lighthearted yet intense: acourtroom trial that will place the topic ofregistry research into trial-like scrutiny.You, the jury, will ultimately decidewhich side wins this debate.

As you are reading this Newsletterarticle each submitted abstract is cur-rently undergoing peer review byapproximately 6 abstract reviewers.Each expert grades each abstract on 9individual components that are totaledto give a final abstract score that rangesfrom 0 to 20. An average abstract scoreis calculated for each abstract. This sys-tem ultimately determines which scien-tific abstracts will be presenting in NewYork. Because no scoring system is per-fect we have several quality checkswithin the system. Within each category,we review the mean scores for eachreviewer to make sure that one catego-ry does not contain exceptionally hard

or easy reviewers. We review the rangeof scores within each category and com-pare that to the study designs submittedwithin each category to reduce biasesfor or against a particular type ofresearch. We review a report of all thescores for each individual abstract to tryto make certain that an abstract with asingle low score did not end up with anaverage below the cut-point. We reviewa report of all comments sent in byabstract reviewers to look for data split-ting or duplicate submissions. Theseare just a sample of the reports that wereview to make the abstract submissionprocess as valid as possible.

Finally, we are of course beginning toplan the entertainment events. We fullyexpect to have a lively opening recep-tion, a banquet featuring a cruisearound Manhattan, and quite possiblyan opportunity to take in a Broadwayshow and a baseball game. Hopefullywe can watch the Yankees get back atthe Red Sox, but despite my requests itis not clear that Major League Baseballwill accommodate my request to havethis series during our meeting. TheDevelopment Committee and the Boardare also working on putting together asilent auction to raise money for theResearch Fund. This event should alsoadd some activity to the meeting.

So…the bottom line is that the annu-al meeting planning is coming along.Please put May 22-25 on your schedulerequests and come join us in New York.

Page 4: January-February 2005

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2003-2004 Academic Emergency Medicine Outstanding ReviewersFrom July 1 ,2003 to June 30, 2004, Academic Emergency Medicine received 813 manuscripts. Of these, 728 underwent peerreview. 235 (29%) were accepted for publication in AEM. This contribution to the medical literature was assisted by our 22 asso-ciate editors, whose expertise is broad and encompasses every corner of our specialty. In order to reach their decisions, ourassociate editors rely on the help of over 400 peer reviewers and 22 statistical reviewers. Our peer reviewers also possess farreaching expertise, and their assistance has helped us maintain the high quality of our journal. Their names are listed in theDecember, 2004 issue of AEM, and we thank them sincerely for their voluntary efforts to help maintain the quality of the medicalliterature.

Among these fine professionals are several who have repeatedly stepped up to the plate to assist in our decision making andhave provided reviews of consistently excellent quality, demonstrating extreme thoughtfulness, providing very useful construc-tive suggestions, and who were exceeding timely in the review process. The following individuals have been selected by ourassociate editors as outstanding reviewers for 2003-2004. They have returned at least three (and often many more) reviews thatour decision editors have ranked as among the best. The editors of AEM thank these individuals for their effort and we look for-ward to working with them, as well as with all of our reviewers, in the future.

2003-2004 Outstanding Peer Reviewers

Annette Adams, MPHAmado A. Baez, MDAdrienne Birnbaum, MDJonathan Burstein, MDMark Courtney, MDDouglas Flocarre, MD, MPHMichelle Gill, MDLewis Goldfrank, MD

Gregory Guldner, MDDavis Guss, MDBrian Holroy, MDGregg Husk, MDJeff S. Jones, MDGloria Kuhn, DO, PhDBrooke Lerner, PhDKeith Marill, MD

Jim Niemann, MDAlfred Sacchetti, MDManish Shah, MDLatha Stead, MDMichael Turturro, MDHenry Wang,MDScott Wilbur, MD

And from our EditorialBoardJonathan Handler, MDMark Hauswald, MDJim Holmes, MDAmy Kaji, MDJim Miner, MDTerri Schmidt, MD

Call for SubmissionsInnovations in Emergency

Medicine Education ExhibitsDeadline: February 22, 2005

The Program Committee is accepting Innovationsin Emergency Medicine Education (IEME) Exhibits forconsideration of presentation at the 2005 SAEMAnnual Meeting, May 22-25, 2005 in New York City.Submitters are invited to complete an applicationdescribing an innovative new educational methodolo-gy that they have designed, or an innovative educa-tional application of an existing product. The exhibitshould not be used to display a commercial productthat is already available and being used in its intend-ed application. Exhibits will be selected based on util-ity, originality, and applicability to the teaching setting.Commercial support of innovations is permitted butmust be disclosed. IEME exhibits will be published ina summer 2005 issue of Academic EmergencyMedicine, as well as in the Annual Meeting on-site pro-gram. However, if submitters have conducted aresearch project on or using the innovation, the proj-ect may be written up as a scientific abstract and sub-mitted for scientific review in the appropriate subjectcategory by the January 6 deadline.

The deadline for submission of IEME Exhibit appli-cations is Tuesday, February 22, 2005 at 5:00 pmEastern Daylight Time. Only online submissions usingthe form on the SAEM website at www.saem.org willbe accepted. For further information or questions,contact SAEM at [email protected] or 517-485-5484or via fax at 517-485-0801.

Doug McGee, DO, the National CPC Coordinator is pictured withthe 2004 Final CPC Competition winners and runners-up.

Pictured (L-R) Best Discussant Runner-up: Esther Chen, MD,University of Pennsylvania; Best Presenter: Lyn Aborn, MD,Carolinas Medical Center; Dr. McGee; Best Discussant: John

Southall, MD, Maine Medical Center; and Best Presenter Runner-up: Jeremiah Schuur, MD, Brown Medical School

Page 5: January-February 2005

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AEM Consensus Conference on Conducting Ethical Resuscitation ResearchTerri Schmidt, MDOregon Health & Science UniversityAEM Consensus Conference Planning Committee

Academic Emergency Medicine is sponsoring a Consen-sus Conference to be held in association with the SAEM Annu-al Meeting in New York City. The Consensus Conference, enti-tled "Conducting Ethical Resuscitation Research", will be heldon Saturday, May 21, 2005. It will focus on questions sur-rounding the performance of research using the 1996 federalguidelines for performing resuscitation research.

In 1996 the Department of Heath and Human Services(DHHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) jointlypublished regulations, known as the Final Rule, for performingstudies when obtaining prospective informed consent isimpossible because of the patient’s acute medical condition.(21CFR50.24). These regulations create two new safeguardsto protect human subjects: community consultation and com-munity notification. Limited information is known about theeffectiveness of the community consultation and notificationprocess. Researchers have raised concerns that the rules hin-der their ability to perform resuscitation research. At the sametime, questions have been raised about whether the rights ofsubjects are adequately being protected.

The goal of the conference is to bring together experts andinterested parties including representatives from emergencymedicine and other organizations, resuscitation researchers,ethicists, representatives from regulatory agencies, industryand public interest groups. This group, with a wide range ofinterests, will work to develop a consensus on questions relat-ed to this topic, including:

● What is empirically known about whether or not thecurrent rules provide adequate protection of subjects

in resuscitation research? ● What is empirically known about whether or not the

current rules create undue barriers to performingimportant resuscitation research under the currentrules?

● What is known about the best methods of communi-ty consultation and notification?

● Does the current processes achieve what the ruleswere meant to achieve?

● Are the current rules too vague?● Under what specific conditions do the regulations

apply? ● What is the definition of life-threatening condition● How is equipoise determined?● What level of evidence is required before an inter-

vention can be tested?● What constitutes effective community consultation

and notification?● Is enough currently known to recommend changes in

the current rules? If so, what changes should be rec-ommended?

● What are the future research directions that shouldbe taken to further study the regulations?

The final product of the conference will be a proceedingsissue of Academic Emergency Medicine published in Novem-ber 2005. AEM is currently accepting manuscripts for possiblepublication in the issue (see below). All members of SAEM andanyone interested in resuscitation research are encouraged toattend.

Call for Papers – "Research Ethics: Informed Consent and Research without Consent"Clinical research hinges on the ability of investigators to

identify, recruit and enroll human subjects into clinical trials.The process of informed consent for research participation isdesigned to protect potential research subjects by educatingthem about the trial and their rights as participants, allowingthem to ask questions regarding the study and their role, andassisting them in making an informed decision about researchparticipation.

There is evidence that even when done under the most con-trolled clinical circumstances, potential study subjects do notalways fully comprehend or even recall the issues presentedto them. In the ED, this possibility is even greater because oftime pressures to enroll patients when study interventionshave narrow therapeutic windows, when patients have lan-guage and reading skills discordant with the investigators, andwhere investigators are often clinicians with competing atten-tion demands.

An additional circumstance, faced by emergency and resus-citation researchers, involves patients who are eligible forenrollment into studies but who cannot provide consentbecause of their critical clinical condition. Current regulationsfor waiver of and exception from prospective informed consentare cumbersome and have not often been successfullyapplied. The methods for fulfilling the requirements of the reg-ulations have not been well defined, and individual IRBs havedifferent levels of comfort in allowing these studies to proceed.

It is also not certain if the patient safeguards built into theseregulations, actually provide the protections they were intend-ed to.

The AEM Consensus Conference will be held on May 21,2005 the day before the SAEM Annual Meeting. It will addressissues of informed consent for research participation as it isprovided and obtained in the ED, problems arising wheninformed consent is waived, and challenges when attemptingstudies with exception from informed consent. It is our hopethat the conference will result in recommendations, a researchagenda, and a call for action from the emergency researchcommunity on how to ensure patient safety as research sub-jects while providing reasonable and practical guidelines forrefining current regulations on waiver of and exception fromprospective informed consent.

Original contributions describing relevant research or con-cepts in this topic area will be considered for publication in theSpecial Topics issue of AEM, November 2005, if received byMarch 1, 2005. Proceedings of the conference will alsoappear in the November Special Topics issue. All submissionswill undergo peer review by guest editors with expertise in thisarea. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Birosat [email protected]. Watch the SAEM Newsletter and theAEM and SAEM websites for more information about the Con-sensus Conference.

Page 6: January-February 2005

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Committee and Task Force Selection Process BeginsGlenn C. Hamilton, MDWright State UniversitySAEM President-elect

Most of our annual planning for the 2005-2006 SAEM year,which begins each May, occurs during the winter months. Animportant component of this is the development of realisticobjectives for our committees and assignment of specialneeds projects to task forces.

The committees have an essential role in determining howwell SAEM progresses in our mission each year. The workeach year focuses on a number of specific objectives.Although ultimately assigned by the President-elect, theseobjectives are developed by soliciting ideas from the entiremembership, as well as current and prior committee chairsand members. The Board of Directors reviews these assign-ments, to assure coordination and resource allocation appro-priate to each task.

Task Forces (TF) are unique entities developed by thePresident-elect in cooperation with the Board of Directors toaddress a specific focused issue in a timely manner. SAEMrelies on task forces to deliver recommendations to the Boardor produce a time sensitive product for the organization. Atask force usually accomplishes its objectives within one to twoyears from inception.Why Should You Become a Committee or Task ForceMember?

● You believe in SAEM’s mission statement: “to improvepatient care by advancing research and education inemergency medicine”.

● You wish to assist in defining the future practice of yourspecialty. The academic mission is a special andunique pursuit, critical to the future of our specialty andthe patients we serve. We are responsible for trainingthe next generation of EM clinicians and academicians.We define the future practice of our specialty throughthe work of our members, both with SAEM activities andat our academic institutions. You have special knowl-edge/skills or interests in a committee/TF work area.Sometimes more junior members in the Society areafraid to volunteer because they “lack expertise” in anarea. However, if you have the time, are willing to do

the work, and have a passion for that area, you repre-sent exactly what a committee/TF really needs.

How Do I Get Assigned to a Committee/TF?● First, assess your ability to offer a realistic time commit-

ment. ● Second, review the current committee and task force

objectives. Where do your interests and experienceslie? What abilities or perspectives might you con-tribute?

● Third, everyone who desires appointment MUST com-plete the Committee/TF Interest Form available onlineat www.saem.org. This includes currently assignedmembers as well! Remember committee compositionrotates regularly, with approximately one-third of themembers turning over each year. This assures that allSAEM members who desire to participate can do so.While invariably disappointing to some members whoare not reassigned, this practice has served SAEM verywell over the years and is a critical component of indi-vidual member development. Reassignment also isinfluenced by the chair’s evaluation of an individual’sproductivity, timeliness, responsivity and overall contri-butions.

● Finally, when submitting your interest form, please makea brief statement supporting your committee choice.SAEM is a large organization, and I unfortunately do notknow every member’s skills and talents. While per-formance record goes a long way for those currentlyserving, the interest form will be a major factor inappointment decisions for all members.

SAEM’s mission has never been more critical for the livesof our patient population. We are charged with defining thefuture practice of EM, both clinical practice and academics.The Committees and Task Forces are central to the missionand goals of the Society. We look forward to your volunteeringthis year. Please address specific questions about this processto the central office at [email protected].

NOTE: SAEM members who wish to be considered for appointment to an SAEM committee in2005-06 (May 2005-May 2006) must complete the online Committee Interest Form, which canbe found on the SAEM web site at www.saem.org. All interested members, whether currentlyserving on a committee or task force or not currently serving, must complete the Interest Formin order to be considered. The deadline to submit the Interest Form is February 4, 2005.Individuals must be current members of SAEM in order to serve on a committee or task force.Contact SAEM at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Page 7: January-February 2005

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Toxicology in the Great NorthwestShaun D. Carstairs, MDNaval Medical Center

This past September brought manytoxicologists, pharmacologists, and poi-son center specialists from North Amer-ica and the rest of the world to Seattlefor the 2004 North American Congressof Clinical Toxicology. As one of tworecipients of the 2004 SAEM/ACMTMichael P. Spadafora medical toxicolo-gy scholarship, I was fortunate enoughto be able to attend as well.

The conference began with theNACCT keynote breakfast, which fea-tured Dr. Bruce Ames. Dr. Ames, a sen-ior scientist at Children’s Hospital Oak-land Research Institute, gave an enter-taining and informative talk on mito-chondrial physiology and its relationshipto the process of aging. Dr. Ames lec-tured the next day on public perceptionversus actual risk in environmentalchemical exposures and cancer (thinkErin Brockovich).

Mitochondrial toxicology was alsothe subject of this year’s ACMT scientif-ic symposium. Dr. Steven Curry gave aconcise review of oxidative phosphory-lation and metabolic acidosis (which isnot an easy thing to do!). This was fol-lowed by Dr. Serge Przedborski’s lec-ture on toxin-induced mitochondrial dys-function, which included a discussion ofMPTP-induced neurodegeneration.

The ABAT symposium tackled thestill-simmering topic of ipecac. After anoverview by Dr. Anthony Manoguerra ofvarious position statements on the useof ipecac, a spirited case-based discus-sion began between Dr. DanielCobaugh and Dr. Edward Krenzelok onopposite sides of the argument. Afteran often humorous debate, both sidesagreed to disagree upon when and ifipecac should still be used.

A perennial favorite was the meeting

of the Toxicology History Society, whichdiscussed a wide range of topics,including the mass poisoning thatoccurred at Lake Nyos, Cameroon in1986 and the history of oleander poi-sonings. One of the more interestingtalks reviewed the history of poisonsthroughout children’s literature, includ-ing the toxic mushrooms of Babar andAlice in Wonderland, as well as poisonsin such stories as Snow White andUncle Shelby’s ABZ Book.

A total of 251 abstracts were select-ed for oral or poster presentation at thisyear’s conference. They included a mixof original research and interesting casereports, some of which are summarizedbelow.

Fomepizole for DEG poisoning:Diethylene glycol (DEG) has been impli-cated in multiple mass poisonings, typi-cally from contaminated pharmaceuticalelixirs. Kostic et al. used fomepizole (4-MP) for treatment of DEG poisoning in arat model. They found that while 4-MPmitigated the metabolic acidosis andrenal injury associated with DEG poi-soning, it actually worsened mortality,suggesting that high-dose 4-MP mayitself have inherent toxicity.

Coral snake antivenin for exoticelapid envenomation: Although thecoral snake is the only elapid native toNorth America, envenomations fromexotic elapids are becoming more com-mon, and their antivenins may not bereadily available. Richardson et al.evaluated coral snake antivenin for thetreatment of Naja naja (Indian cobra)and Dendroaspis polylepsis (blackmamba) envenomation in a murinemodel. Animals receiving the antiveninsurvived significantly longer than thosereceiving the placebo, but mortality was

unchanged.Poison hunting on eBay®: Many

substances that are deemed too dan-gerous for commercial use are still avail-able to the public. F. Cantrell did a dailysearch on eBay® for the terms “poison”and “contents”; what he found was con-cerning. There were 121 products iden-tified, 24 of which contained ingredientsrated as “supertoxic,” including strych-nine (10), arsenic trioxide (8), cyanide(2), as well as nicotine, pilocarpine,phosphorus, and powdered coniummaculatum. Although the actual con-tents of these items could not be indi-vidually verified, the mere possibilitythat these items can be so easilyobtained over the internet is somewhatalarming.

Deadly NAC: Although N-acetylcys-teine is generally believed to be a some-what innocuous antidote for treatment ofacetaminophen toxicity, the fact is that itcan be deadly in high doses. Bailey etal. describe the case of a 30-month-oldgirl who was inadvertently given morethan 10 times the normal dose of NACfor treatment of acetaminophen over-dose. She developed intractablemyoclonus, followed by intracranialhypertension and death. This particularcase highlights the pitfalls of medicationerrors, as well as the fact that, in thewords of Paracelsus, “the right dose dif-ferentiates a poison and a remedy.”

This represents only a fraction of theinteresting items presented and dis-cussed at this year’s NAACT. I am gladto have been given the chance toattend, and would like to thank theAmerican College of Medical Toxicolo-gy, SAEM, and Dr. Leslie Dye for award-ing me the opportunity to do so.

SAEM Evidence Based Medicine Online CourseFebruary 1-June 1, 2005

The SAEM Evidence Based InterestGroup is pleased to offer an on-line,web based, evidence based medicinecourse. This course is a modification ofa previous pilot course. The platform forthe course is an interactive state of theart teaching tool that incorporates all thenecessary links to pertinent webaddresses and teaching aids. Many ofthe instructors for the New York Acade-my Evidence Based Medicine coursecontributed to this course content, and it

is offered in collaboration with the Cen-tre for Health Evidence. The course isdesigned for junior faculty, but is open toall SAEM members.

Participants will need to have accessto a personal computer with internethookup in order to participate. Exactspecifications are listed below. The textbook for the course is Users Guide tothe Medical Literature and is included inthe cost for the course. The cost for thiscourse will be $200 (U.S. funds), and

those interested can register by down-loading the form located atwww.saem.org/ebm/regform.htm. Asspace is limited, interested participantsare encouraged to sign up early. Paidparticipants will be added to the courselist on a first come first serve basis.

Specific questions regarding thiscourse can be addressed to Dr. Char-lene Irvin, the course director [email protected].

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How to Get the Most Out of the SAEM Annual Meeting: Advice and a Guide for Medical Students

Kimberly SchertzerPenn State UniversitySusan Farrell, MDBrigham and Women's HospitalDavid Manthey, MDWake Forest UniversitySAEM Undergraduate Committee

Attending the SAEM Annual Meetingpresents a unique opportunity for med-ical students to experience the broadnational aspects of emergency medi-cine. The meeting lasts for several daysin May, and consists of presentations,posters, interactive sessions, businessmeetings and a medical student sympo-sium.

Consider attending the full day Medi-cal Student Symposium that is held dur-ing the SAEM Annual Meeting. TheSymposium includes a lunch sessionthat affords the opportunity to talk toResidency Program Directors. In addi-tion, at the conclusion of the day's activ-ities a Residency Fair is held. Last year69 residency programs attended thisfair.

This is a brief discussion of the oppor-tunities, which a student may takeadvantage of at the SAEM Annual Meet-ing.

Education – The oral paper presen-tations and posters represent the mostcurrent and nationally recognized emer-gency medicine research. Attendingthese sessions is a great opportunity tolearn what is new in the field and to getto know the research that is being per-formed at various academic institutions.If one is interested in research, the pre-sentations as well as the question andanswer sessions which follow, provideunique insight into study design, imple-mentation, and complications, whichmay be useful in one’s own futureresearch plans.

Networking – The majority of physi-cians attending SAEM are excited totalk to students. This is an ideal place tostrike up informal conversations about

residencies, and clinical practice aroundthe country. If a student has an advisorthrough the SAEM virtual advisor pro-gram, this meeting affords a chance tomeet that mentor and have a tangiblecontact for future questions.

Insight – The business meetings andinterest group sessions provide achance to learn more about the issuespertaining to, and affected by emer-gency medicine. For example, topicssuch as overcrowding or physicianstaffing will be issues of importance tofuture physicians. These sessions mayhighlight departments in the nation thatare designing or implementing innova-tive means to solve relevant problems.Being informed about such nationalissues may allow one to ask insightfuland knowledgeable questions duringupcoming interviews. These are thetopics that will also be relevant as emer-gency medicine residents, working dailyin the specialty.

Leadership – Attending SAEM offersthe opportunity to meet some of theleaders in emergency medicine, and tobecome involved in activities that mayrefine one’s own leadership skills.Medical students may join national com-mittees and contribute to projects inacademic emergency medicine.

Morale – SAEM is a forum for meet-ing people who practice and teachemergency medicine for a living, andwho love it. Their enthusiasm is conta-gious.

Advance preparation can help med-ical students maximize their meetingexperience. This is a brief list of sug-gestions of preparation activities, whichcan enhance one’s attendance at the

SAEM Annual Meeting. Identify Residencies – Before

attending, one might make a list of resi-dency programs under consideration,and then review the program calendarfor presentations, posters, and exhibitsby people from those programs. Meet-ing faculty and residents at poster ses-sions may be less formal and intimidat-ing than at the applicant interview, andwill provide greater insight into the workand interest of a program.

Explore Research – If one has aresearch or educational interest, review-ing the posters and oral presentationsrelated to that interest may broadenone’s view, and potentially spark ideasfor future residency projects.

Review Committees – Committees,task force, interest group, and evenBoard meetings are open to members.Medical students might sit in on a meet-ing to learn about current ideas and top-ics. Committee, task force and interestgroup members are happy to share theirinsights.

Participate in Learning – The pho-tography/visual diagnosis presentationprovides a fun opportunity for education.One can see photos of real patients andtest one’s knowledge in this informal,non-pressured display.

Consider Staying Local – If notready or able to attend the SAEM Annu-al Meeting, one could consider attend-ing a nearby regional SAEM meeting.These meetings afford many of thesame opportunities on a smaller scale,and almost always include sessionsspecifically designed for medical stu-dents.

Call for Medical Student VolunteersThe Program Committee for SAEM is soliciting a request

for medical students who are interested in working at the 2005Annual Meeting in New York City on May 22-25. The ProgramCommittee will waive the registration fee for a limited numberof medical students willing to assist with some administrativeduties. Each medical student will be responsible for coordinat-ing evaluations at assigned didactic sessions during two halfdays and one luncheon session. The Annual Meeting provides

a unique opportunity for medical students to familiarize them-selves with the research and educational interests of emer-gency medicine. In return the students will receive a compli-mentary registration fee. Interested medical students shouldcontact the SAEM office at [email protected] and include“Medical Student Volunteer for Annual Meeting” in the subjectline.

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SAEM Medical Student SymposiumMay 21, 2005

The Medical Student Symposium is intended to help medical students understand the residency and career options that exist inemergency medicine, evaluate residency programs, explore research opportunities, and select the right residency. At the com-pletion of the session, participants will: 1) know the characteristics of good emergency physicians and the "right" reasons to seeka career in this specialty, 2) have a better understanding of the application process with regard to letters of recommendation, per-sonal statement, planning the 4th year, etc., 3) consider factors important in determining the appropriate residency, including geo-graphic locations, patient demographics, length of training, etc., 4) understand the composition of an emergency medicine rota-tion and what to expect while they are rotating in the ED, 5) discuss the skills needed to get the most out of your educationalexperience in the ED rotation, 6) Identify the standard sources of information in the field of emergency medicine, 7) have anappreciation of various career paths available in Emergency Medicine, including academics, private practice, and fellowship train-ing, and 8) discover current areas of research in Emergency Medicine. To register for the Symposium, use the online AnnualMeeting registration form at www.saem.org.

9:00-9:15 Welcome and Introduction, Kevin Rodgers, MD, Indiana University9:15-10:00 How to Select the Right Residency for You, Cherri Hobgood, MD, University of North Carolina

An overview of EM residency programs will be discussed. Important factors to consider in the selection processincluding length of training, geographical location, patient demographics, and academic vs. clinical setting willbe reviewed. The speaker will also discuss the difference between allopathic and osteopathic programs.

10:00-10:30 Getting Good Advice, Wendy Coates, MD, HarborOne of the keys to any successful career is getting and following good advice. How do you choose the rightadvisor(s) and use their wisdom to help your succeed? What do you do when your medical school doesn't havean EM Residency Program? What resources are available to you about the various programs?

10:45-11:45 Navigating the Residency Application Process,Peter DeBlieux, MD, Charity Hospital - Louisiana State UniversityThis presentation will provide students with tips on how to prepare their ERAS application, how and when tosuccessfully interview and how to follow-up with top programs.

11:45-12:15 The Dean's Letter, Brian Zink, MD, University of MichiganThe speaker, an emergency physician and Dean, will review with the students the components of the Dean'sletter. The importance of your input into the contents of the Dean's letter will be discussed.

12:30-2:00 Lunch with Program Directors

2:00-2:45 Getting the Most out of Your EM Clerkship,Gus Garmel, MD, Stanford University This session will provide the student with valuable tips for getting the most from your Emergency DepartmentClerkship. Specific topics to be discussed will include: 1) appropriate educational goals for an emergencymedicine rotation; 2) how to best prepare for your rotation in order to make the most of your ED experience; 3)recommended textbooks and references; and 4) important considerations when deciding when and where to doyour emergency medicine rotation.

2:45-3:30 Career Paths and Prospects in Emergency Medicine, Carey Chisholm, MD, Indiana UniversityThis session will expose students to a variety of career paths including private practice, academics, and dualtraining (EM-IM / EM-PEDS) as well as fellowship training.

3:45-4:45 Breakout Groups

Balancing Act - Susan Promes, MD, Duke University and Elizabeth Datner, MD, University of Pennsylvania This session will discuss how to optimize your career and person life. Financial Planning - David Overton, MD, Michigan State UniversityThis session will review practical tips on financial issues. The speaker will address such issues as how to puttogether a budget and what to so with medical student loan debt. Optimizing Your Fourth Year - Doug Ander, MD, Emory University This session will provide students with recommendations for making the most of their senior year includinginformation about EM and other electives, research experience, and when to take their Boards exams.Medical Schools without EM Residencies – Kevin Rodgers, MD, Indiana UniversityThis Q&A session will help guide medical students from medical schools without EM residencies through thecomplicated maze that leads to a residency and career in EM. It will specifically address how this processdiffers from those students with a EM residency at their medical school.

5:00-6:30 Residency Fair and ReceptionAll osteopathic EM residency programs are invited to exhibit and should contact [email protected] to register.Last year residency programs participated in the Residency Fair.

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Medical Student Interest Groups Grant Recipients SelectedClif Callaway, MD, PhDUniversity of PittsburghChair, SAEM Grants Committee

SAEM has selected eight recipients forthe Medical Student Interest GroupGrant. The grants provide $500 to eachinstitution for activities to assist in thedevelopment and activities of interestgroups for medical students who areinterests in a career in emergency med-icine. The Grants Committee received19 applications for this award. All appli-cations were reviewed for their educa-tional focus, likely impact, and feasibili-ty. All applicants are medical studentswho have solicited the guidance of afaculty sponsor. Congratulations to thisyear's recipients:

Jefferson Medical College studentsMichelle Price and Kristopher Lyon pro-posed an Ultrasound Training Clinic forMedical Students. This experience willbe offered to first and second year med-ical students.

The Medical College of Georgia pro-posed a series of emergency care lec-tures, skills labs, and orientations forpreclinical students. The students Eliz-abeth Mendell and Elga Tinger devel-oped a detailed series of lunch-time lec-tures and tours for first and second yearstudents.

New York University-Bellevue student

Yoheved Rose plans to train membersof their interest group to act as stan-dardized emergency patients. Thesestandardized patients will participate inthe training of emergency medicine res-idents, thereby improving education onseveral levels.

A team of students at the University ofBuffalo will create an interactive DVDthat teaches advanced airway skills.This project will address the need forspecific training for the large numbers ofstudents passing from second to thirdyear.

For the second year, SAEM will help tosupport a team of students at theUniversity of California, Irvine whoare organizing the Southern CaliforniaEmergency Medicine Student Work-shop Symposium. The second meetingis planned for Spring 2005, and hasseveral sponsors. It provides a forumfor medical students to attend simula-tions, workshops and present research.

University of California, San Francis-co students Jon Rosenson and CarinaBaird have developed a structuredcadaver workshop that will allow thirdand fourth year students to performultrasound and advanced procedures.

Benjamin Bassin at the University of

Michigan proposed a series of Wilder-ness Medicine training activities. Stu-dents in all four years of training have arole in organizing didactic and expedi-tion experiences focusing on environ-mental problems.

University of South Alabama studentsBrett Miller and Saba Rizvi developed afive day program for second year stu-dents. This program, “Total Immersionin Emergency Medicine,” presents aseries of two to three hour evenings,highlighting the procedures and practiceof emergency medicine. The program islikely to provide broader exposure to thespecialty than normally encountered inthe medical school curriculum.

SAEM receives a consistently highnumber of applications from medicalstudent interest groups, and the selec-tion of awardees remains challenging.Over the past few years, SAEM hasbeen able to provide support for moreprograms thanks to the contributions tothe Research Fund. We are certain thatthese programs will help foster the con-tinued growth of our specialty.

stein was a fixture as a calm, collectedleader. He was a master at analyzingthe processes, reacting to roadblocks,and making the right decisions. Tall andwhite-haired, he was a humble, non-assuming man but projected the air of astatesman. He knew how to temper andcajole those in emergency medicinewho were a bit too radical, and how toinspire those who needed someone tofollow. Dr. Wiegenstein remained activein ACEP, and current leaders frequentlysought his sage advice. He encouragedemergency physicians to excel inpatient care, teaching and in advancingthe specialty. He was a vigorous manwho did not easily slide in to retirement.At the time of his death, he was plan-ning to become licensed in Florida toresume practice.

John G. Wiegenstein was one of theheroes of emergency medicine. He

became a leader out of his desire toimprove emergency medical practiceand education. He worked incrediblyhard and sacrificed some of his owncareer interests and development inorder to move emergency medicine to alegitimate place in American medicine.ACEP’s John G. Wiegenstein Leader-ship Award was created in his honor in1975. Dr. Wiegenstein received theAMA’s Distinguished Service Award, theassociation’s highest honor, in 2001. Hehas been recognized by his medicalschool, and other medical organizationswith achievement awards. Along hisjourney, Dr. Wiegenstein inspiredlegions of young emergency physicians,and acquired a group of close friendsand acquaintances who now feel a greatsense of shock and loss with his suddendeath. But the legacy of John G.Wiegenstein can be seen in the thou-

sands of emergency physicians whoattend the ACEP Scientific Assemblyeach year to learn about the new devel-opments in their field, the thousand ormore graduating emergency medicineresidents each year who will sit for theirBoards in emergency medicine, and themillions of emergency departmentpatients whose care has beenimproved. The best thing that academ-ic emergency physicians can do tohonor and pay tribute to Dr. Wiegensteinis to work as hard as he did to promoteexcellence in the education of emer-gency physicians.

Robert W. Schafermeyer, MDCarolinas Medical CenterBrian J. Zink, MDUniversity of Michigan

Dr. Wiegenstein…(continued from page 2)

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Chief Resident ForumMay 24, 2005

Chief residency is a demanding and highly responsible position, however little formal and structure preparation is available prior tobecoming a chief resident. New chief residents typically have not had the benefit of training in essential administrative, academic,and leadership skills. This one-day course will include a variety of sessions covering administrative and academic topics relevant tonew chief residents. Talks and small group discussions will be led by experienced program directors and past chief residents. Allsessions will include ample time for questions. In addition, a lunch session and coffee breaks will provide opportunities for chiefsfrom different programs to meet and exchange ideas. The small group discussion sessions will also allow for interaction withworkshop faculty and former chief residents.

At the completion of this course, participants will be able to understand basic characteristics of good leadership, managementtechniques, administration and problem solving concepts; have learned successful scheduling and back-up techniques; becomeaware of common pitfalls faced by chief residents; learned effective communication techniques; had the opportunity to discusspotential ethical dilemmas that may arise during the chief resident year; and learned time management techniques.

All chief residents registered to attend the Annual Meeting are invited to register for the special Chief Resident Forum. Enrollment islimited and the fee is $100, in addition to the basic Annual Meeting registration fee. Use the online Annual Meeting registration formto register for the Annual Meeting and the Chief Resident Forum.

7:30-8:00 am Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00-8:45 am So You’re Chief Resident. What Does that Mean?, Stephen Playe, MD, Baystate Medical CenterThis session will explain the various roles and requirements of chief residents.

8:45-9:45 am Leadership and the Management Role, Robert Hockberger, MD, Harbor UCLA Medical CenterThis session will describe the scope of authority and responsibility in your role and explain leadershiptheories focusing particularly on action-centered leadership.

9:45-10:00 am Break

10:00-11:00 am Effective Communication, Marc Borenstein, MD, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Communication is a key element to the success of any leader. At the end of this discussion, participantswill understand how to build effective communication networks, identify the key communication skillsrequired to manage staff, explain formal and informal communication networks, facilitative questioning,active listening, and describe the principles of giving and receiving feedback.

11:00-12:00 noon Developing a Schedule, Kevin Rogers, MD, University of Indiana (moderator)The emergency department schedule is a central element of any chief resident’s responsibility. Thisdiscussion will outline the RRC requirements for scheduling in EM, suggest tips for managing thecomplexities of an ED work schedule and explain mechanisms for dealing with sudden changes.

12:00-1:30 pm Lunch - Question and answer session

1:30-2:15 pm Professional Growth, Sandra Schneider, MD, University of Rochester This session will illustrate strategies for successful career development, describe various routes toadvancement and describe the challenges and barriers to promotion.

2:15-3:00 pm Ethics and Professionalism, James Adams, MD, Northwestern UniversityAs chief resident, you may confront a new series of ethical dilemmas. This session will highlight ethicaland confidential issues that involve other residents and describe how to set professional examples forothers.

3:00-3:45 pm Time Management, Susan Promes, MD, Duke UniversityAt the end of this session, participants will understand what you can realistically achieve with your time,recognize the importance of prioritizing To-Do lists and describe time management principles that can helpyou in your role as chief resident.

3:45-5:00 pm Lessons Learned - Panel discussion of former chief residents

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Call for PhotographsDeadline: February 18, 2005

Original photographs of patients, pathology specimens, gram stains, EKG’s, and radiographic studies or other visual dataare invited for presentation at the 2005 SAEM Annual Meeting in New York City. Submissions should depict findings that arepathognomonic for a particular diagnosis relevant to the practice of emergency medicine or findings of unusual interest thathave educational value. Accepted submissions will be mounted by SAEM and presented in the “Clinical Pearls” sessionand/or the “Visual Diagnosis” medical student/resident contest.No more than three different photos should be submitted for any one case. Submit one glossy photo (5 x 7, 8 x 10, 11 x 14,or 16 x 20) and a digital copy in JPEG or TIFF format on a disk or by email attachment (resolution of at least 640 x 48).Radiographs and EKGs should also be submitted in hard copy and digital format. Do not send X-rays. The back of eachphoto should contain the contributor’s name, address, hospital or program, and an arrow indicating the top. Submissionsshould be shipped in an envelope with cardboard, but should not be mounted.Photo submissions must be accompanied by a brief case history written as an “unknown” in the following format: 1) chiefcomplaint, 2) history of present illness, 3) pertinent physical exam (other than what is depicted in the photo), 4) pertinent lab-oratory data, 5) one or two questions asking the viewer to identify the diagnosis or pertinent finding, 6) answer(s) and briefdiscussion of the case, including an explanation of the findings in the photo, and 7) one to three bulleted take home pointsor “pearls.”The case history must be submitted on the template posted on the SAEM website at www.saem.org and must be submittedelectronically. The case history is limited to no more than 250 words. If accepted for display SAEM reserves the right to editthe submitted case history. Submissions will be selected based on their educational merit, relevance to emergency medi-cine, quality of the photograph, the case history and appropriateness for public display. Contributors will be acknowledgedand photos will be returned after the Annual Meeting. Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM), the official SAEM journal, mayinvite a limited number of displayed photos to be submitted to AEM for consideration of publication. SAEM will retain therights to use submitted photographs in future educational projects, with full credit given for the contribution.Photographs must not appear in a refereed journal prior to the Annual Meeting. Patients should be appropriately masked.Submitters must attest that written consent and release of responsibility have been obtained for all photos EXCEPT for iso-lated diagnostic studies such as EKGs, radiographs, gram stains, etc.

Board of Directors UpdateThe SAEM Board of Directors meets

monthly usually by conference call.This report includes the highlights fromthe October 17 and October 18 Boardmeetings during the ACEP ScientificAssembly in San Francisco, as well asthe November 18 Board conferencecall.

The face-to-face meetings of theBoard provided an opportunity forreports from some of the leaders in theSociety. Dr. Michelle Biros provided anupdate on the activities of the AEM Edi-torial Board and the AEM ConsensusConference. She reviewed the publish-er’s report, as well as the marketingreports. Dr. Brian Zink reported on theactivities of the Development Commit-tee, including a multi-year membershipcampaign and a Silent Auction. Addi-tional information on the Silent Auctionis included in this issue of the Newslet-ter. Dr. Judd Hollander reviewed theprogress of the Program Committee indeveloping the 2005 Annual Meeting.

The Board reviewed and approved aslate of six nominees to submit for theopen seat on the American Board ofEmergency Medicine. The Board

selected Dr. Jeff Kline and Dr. RobertNeumar to serve as the Society’s repre-sentatives on the ACEP EmergencyMedicine Foundation.

The Board endorsed a manuscripton critical care medicine, which wassubmitted by the Critical Care Fellow-ship Task Force. Further information onthe manuscript will be published in thenext (March/April) issue of the Newslet-ter.

The Board approved the proposal ofthe Evidence Based Medicine InterestGroup to offer the online evidencebased medicine course in 2005. Furtherinformation on the course is published inthis issue of the Newsletter. In addition,the Board approved a proposal to pro-vide the online evidence based medi-cine course to the second year resi-dents at Emory University. Funding forthe course was provided by a grant, andthere will be no cost to SAEM.

The Board approved a proposaldeveloped by Dr. Jeff Kline to completethe work required to protect the Soci-ety’s name, logo, and the SAEMacronym. The Board approved fundingfor this project of up to $5,000.

The Board approved funding eightMedical Student Interest Group grants,as recommended by the Grants Com-mittee. Information on these grants ispublished in this issue of the Newsletter.

The Board approved the new WebPolicy, submitted by the Web Develop-ment Task Force. The Board alsoapproved a new policy regardingrequests for letters of support for grants.

The Board continued its review of allSAEM policies and position statements.The Board approved revisions of theOrganizational Liaison Policy and theUltrasound Position Statement andapproved other editorial changes inother documents. Updated informationon the policies and position statementscan be found on the SAEM web site at:http://www.saem.org/publicat/postlist.htm and http://www.saem.org/publicat/adpolist.htm.

The Board approved the 2005 SAEMWestern Regional Meeting and the2005 Southeastern Regional Meeting.The call for abstracts for the four springregional meetings, is published in thisissue of the Newsletter.

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Advancement to the Position of Academic Chair: Strategies for Preparation, Negotiation, and Survival

David Karras, MDTemple UniversitySAEM Faculty Development Committee

At the 2004 Annual SAEM meeting,Dr. John Gallagher of Albert EinsteinMedical College moderated a discus-sion on strategies for advancing to theposition of academic chair. The pan-elists included Dr. James Hoekstra ofWake Forest University, Dr. StephenHargarten of the Medical College ofWisconsin, and Dr. Glenn Hamilton ofWright State University. The sessionwas well-attended and provided valu-able insights for those interested inworking their way to the top of the aca-demic ladder. The following is a synop-sis of the presentations.

A number of prerequisites are neces-sary for an individual to be successful ina quest for an academic chair position.It is essential that a candidate be recog-nized as a national leader in emergencymedicine or related medical organiza-tions, and it is usually important that theapplicant have a strong academic trackrecord. Potential chairs should be famil-iar with the functioning of undergraduatemedical education systems, residencyleadership, and the basics of clinical EDmanagement. Building and maintainingstrong contacts throughout the emer-gency medicine community fostersmutually supportive relationships thatwill prove invaluable in learning aboutopportunities, assessing specific institu-tions, and providing references for thecandidate.

A potential chair may consider apply-ing for a position 2-3 years prior to whathe or she believes would be the idealtime for advancement. Going throughthe process allows the candidate to gaininterviewing experience, gather detailedinformation about specific institutions,learn different management strategies,and see what characteristics institution-al leaders are seeking in a chair. Initiat-ing the process early gets the applicant“on the radar screen” within the special-ty as someone who might be consideredfor future chair opportunities. For similarreasons, chair candidates should con-sider investigating open positions evenif the opportunity does not appear to behighly desirable. The experience will bevaluable when a more suitable opportu-nity becomes available.

The chair candidate must carefullyassess how closely a potential position

matches his or her professional and per-sonal strengths. While a candidate withan exceptional funding record might bean excellent match at a research-orient-ed institution, the same candidate maynot be a good fit at an institution thatdoes not highly value research or wherethe priorities are service-oriented. Thecandidate should determine the institu-tion’s development plans and carefullyassess whether he or she has the lead-ership skills to help the institutional lead-ers meet their goals. The applicant muststrive to find common ground with theinstitutional leaders and clearly under-stand their priorities. If the candidatefinds that his or her professional inter-ests and skills do not match the priori-ties of the institutional leaders, it is like-ly that he or she will not fit well at thatinstitution.

A well-positioned chair candidate willrecognize that egocentricity – doingwhat’s best for the department and theinstitution – is valued more highly thanegocentricity – doing what’s best forone’s self or one’s own career. Through-out the interview process, it is usuallyadvisable for prospective chairs to viewtheir mission as helping the department,its faculty, and the institution achievetheir goals. Candidates should general-ly not see themselves – or portray them-selves – as individuals who plan to“clean house” by reorganizing thedepartment infrastructure and purgingfaculty and staff. While novel approach-es to problems are welcome, proposingradical changes during the interviewprocess will usually be met with resist-ance from existing faculty and institu-tional leaders. A better approach is tocarefully assess the department’s exist-ing strengths and propose ways toleverage these assets to create a betterteaching environment, provide betterclinical care, enhance research activity,and help the institution grow.

The initial interview day is an inten-sive information-gathering experiencefor the candidate and for the institution-al leaders. Presenting grand rounds isan excellent way for the applicant to beintroduced to prospective faculty, resi-dents, and staff, and allows the candi-date the opportunity to demonstrateleadership by discussing an area of

expertise. Applicants should meet withas many faculty as possible, both duringformal interviews and informallythroughout the day. The candidateshould seek to learn the strengths andweaknesses of the department, the hos-pital, the medical school, and the institu-tional leadership. EM and non-EM facul-ty can often provide vital informationabout the supportiveness of the deanand the hospital leadership, and theregard with which the department isheld within the hospital and medicalschool. It is important that the candidateget a sense of the institution’s reportingstructure and the individuals to whomthe candidate will be directly account-able. The first interview is not, however,an ideal time to negotiate salary, bene-fits, and other concessions from theinstitution.

The second visit is an opportunity forthe applicant to round out his or herknowledge of the institution, outline astrategy for helping to achieve the insti-tution’s goals, and consider how well theinstitution’s agenda fits with the appli-cant’s own professional and personalgoals. Institutional chains of commandand the financial structure can be furtherexplored. This is the opportunity for thecandidate to initiate discussions of spe-cific assurances necessary from theinstitution and the criteria that will beused to assess the chair’s performance.Assuming both parties remain interest-ed in pursuing the position after the sec-ond interview, many of these issues willbe carried over for discussion in subse-quent meetings and calls. Salary andbenefits are usually the last items nego-tiated in putting together the chair pack-age.

The workshop touched on key ele-ments in securing the chair’s survivaland longevity. Deans and CEOs oftencome and go in relatively short order,but a well-prepared department chaircan weather these tides and have acareer spanning multiple changes ininstitutional leadership. It is vital tomaintain strong lines of communicationwith associate deans and chairs of otherdepartments. The chair needs to behighly selective in seeking sources ofreliable information, and recognize thatthere is no unbiased source of informa-

(continued on page 15)

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Academic AnnouncementsSAEM members are encouraged to submit Academic Announcements on promotions, rsearach funding, and other items of inter-st to the SAEM membership. Submissions must be sent to [email protected] by February 1 to be included in the March/Aprilissue.

Three emergency physicians have beenappointed to the Institute of Medicine:Georges C. Benjamin, MD, theExecutive Director of the AmericanPublic Health Association; John R.Lumpkin, MD, Senior Vice Presidentand Director, Health Care Group,Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, andRicardo Martinez, MD, Chief ExecutiveOfficer and President, SafetyIntelligence Systems.

Frederick C. Blum, MD, was electedpresident-elect of the American College of Emergency Physicians during theACEP Scientific Assembly in SanFrancisco in October. Dr. Blum isAssociate Professor of EmergencyMedicine and Pediatrics at the WestVirginia University.

Michael D. Burg, MD, Assistant ClinicalProfessor at the University of California,San Francisco is the founder and chairof the ACEP Section of MedicalHumanities. The Section will further theartistic and literary interests of emer-gency physicians.

E. Martin Caravati, MD, MPH,Professor of Surgery (EmergencyMedicine) at the University of Utah hasbeen elected to a three-year term on theBoard of Trustees of the AmericanAcademy of Clinical Toxicology.

Ten residency directors have been hon-ored with the ACGMEs 2005 Parker J.Palmer Courage to Teach award. Theannual award honors residency pro-gram directors for their dedication toteaching physicians in training. FrancisCounselman, MD, Department ofEmergency Medicine at Eastern VirginiaMedical School, was one of the tenrecipients, and the only recipient fromemergency medicine.

Lowell W. Gerson, PhD, has beenawarded the honor of ProfessorEmeritus of Epidemiology by the Boardof Trustees of the Northeastern OhioUniversities College of Medicine, effec-tive January 1, 2005.

Cherri D. Hobgood, MD, was electedto the Board of Directors of theAmerican College of EmergencyPhysicians in October. Dr. Hobgood isassistant professor of emergency medi-cine and Associate Dean for curriculumand Educational Development at theUniversity of North Carolina School ofMedicine.

Ramon W. Johnson, MD, was electedto the Board of Directors of theAmerican College of EmergencyPhysicians in October. Dr. Johnson isdirector of pediatric emergency medi-cine at Mission Hospital RegionalMedical Center in Mission Viejo,California.

Brian F. Keaton, MD, was elected vicepresident of the American College ofEmergency Physicians in October. Dr.Keaton is a Professor of ClinicalEmergency Medicine at NortheasternOhio University's College of Medicine.

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, has been namedDirector of Public Health Preparednessand Professor of Clinical EmergencyMedicine in the Department ofEmergency Medicine at the Universityof California, Irvine. She previouslyserved as National Director of theEmergency Management Office at theDepartment of Veterans Affairs.

Linda L. Lawrence, MD, was electedsecretary-treasurer of the AmericanCollege of Emergency Physicians. Dr.Lawrence is Commandant in the School of Medicine, Uniformed Services

University of the Health Sciences(USUHS). In addition, Dr. Lawrence, aLt. Col. In the US Air Force, is an asso-ciate professor in the Department ofMilitary and Emergency Medicine at theUSUHS.

Ronald Maio, DO, Professosr ofEmergency Medicine, has been namedthe Assistant Dean for Researach andRegulatory Affairs at the University ofMichigan.

Catherine A. Marco, MD, has beenpromoted to Professor, Department ofSurgery, Division of EmergencyMedicine at the Medical College of Ohioin Toledo.

Christina Schenarts, MD, has beennamed the director of the EmergencyMedicine Residency Program at EastCarolina University/Pitt CountyMemorial Hospital.

Sandra M. Schneider, MD, professorand chair of emergency medicine at the University of Rochester, has been elect-ed to the Board of Directors of theAmerican College of EmergencyPhysicians. Dr. Schneider is a pastpresident of SAEM.

Robert E. Suter, DO, assumed thepresidency of the American College ofEmergency Physicians in October dur-ing the ACEP Scientific Assembly. Dr.Suter is an associate professor of emer-gency medicine at the University ofTexas-Southwestern, the MedicalCollege of Georgia, and the UniformedServices University of Health Sciences.

Stuart Swadron, MD, has beenappointed Director of the EmergencyMedicine Residency Program at KeckSchool of Medicine at the University ofSouthern California.

Attention Department Chairs, Research Directors and Grant submitters!The NIH grant application process explained!

The Center for Scientific Review has a video download at their site, accessed at http://www.csr.nih.gov/video/video.asp. This40 minute video provides an excellent overview of the NIH grant application process, as well as recommendations aboutwhat submitters can do to improve their chances of a favorable review. Actual grant reviewers and NIH staff participate inthe video. Thanks to member Gary Krause for bringing this to our attention.

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2004 NAEPP Coordinating CommitteeCarlos A. Camargo, MD, DrPHMassachusetts General HospitalSAEM Representative to NAEPP 1998-2004

The 2004 meeting of the National Asthma Education andPrevention Program (NAEPP) Coordinating Committee washeld on September 19-20 in Bethesda, MD. Ms. Diana Sch-midt, NAEPP Coordinator, welcomed participants and intro-duced new representatives from the American Academy ofAllergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI), the American Col-lege of Physicians, the National Association of School Nurses,the Society for Public Health Education, and the U.S. Depart-ment of Education. Ms. Schmidt also announced that Dr. Les-lie Boss, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),is retiring. Rotating off the committee are Dr. Barbara Yawn,American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and Dr. Car-los Camargo, SAEM.

The meeting continued with an update on the NIHGuidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. Thefirst “Expert Panel Report” was released in 1991, and the sec-ond in 1997. A newly assembled expert panel will begin workon the third Expert Panel Report (EPR3) in late 2004, withrelease of the new, national asthma guidelines in early 2006.

Next, the group heard about implementation of the currentguidelines. The presentations included an innovative asthmamanagement program in New York City (www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/cmha/index.html) and a community-based approachcalled Yes We Can: Toolkit for Community-Focused ChronicCare from San Francisco. Dr. Camargo discussed a CDCWorkgroup on prehospital management of asthma exacerba-tion. Briefly, the Workgroup has conducted a literature reviewand designed a “model protocol” that can be made availablenationally. The workgroup will complete its report in the Fall,and submit it for journal publication. Finally, Dr. Kevin Weissdiscussed racial and ethnic disparities in asthma health careand his plans for a national Workshop to be held in Chicago inFebruary 2005.

Next, asthma data and surveillance were addressed, withpresentations on the asthma objectives in Healthy People2010; the Asthma Initiative of Michigan (AIM), a modelstate/local program; the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance

System (BRFSS) Adult Asthma Module; and the Environmen-tal Protection Agency (EPA)’s National Survey onEnvironmental Management of Asthma.

Dr. Robert Myer from the Food and Drug Administrationpresented an update on the ongoing transition from chloroflu-orocarbon (CFC) metered-dose inhalers to inhalers that usenon–ozone-depleting chemicals called hydrofluroalkane-134a(HFA). He discussed the importance of having a sufficientsupply of the new inhalers before the CFC-based deliveryinhalers could be considered nonessential. Companies areramping up and say they can supply the market adequately byDecember 5, 2005. According to the postmarketing data,there is little evidence of problems for HFAs in safety, efficacy,tolerability, and patient acceptance.

Subcommittee chairs then presented reports from the sub-committee meetings that took place the previous day. TheSchool Asthma Education Subcommittee discussed severalprojects, including a model protocol to encourage schools tohave available albuterol inhalers for students without inhalersat school; and new “tip sheets” to be posted on the NAEPPwebsite (e.g., for physical education teachers and coaches onexercise-induced asthma). The Professional Education Sub-committee described a partnership between the AAAAI andthe American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) thatwill develop an educational program directed to health careproviders in emergency departments who are involved in asth-ma care; a new EPA poster on air pollutants; and the work ofthe National Environmental Education and Training Founda-tion, which is developing a pediatric asthma initiative incorpo-rating the environmental management of asthma into pediatrichealth care. Finally, the Patient-Public Education Subcommit-tee focused on the teaching opportunity presented by the CFCtransition and their plans to create an ad hoc committee toexplore this further. The next NAEPP Coordinating Committeemeeting will be held in the Washington DC area on June 26-27, 2005.

tion. The value of fiscal savvy cannot beunderestimated. It is vital that the chairknows his revenue sources, under-stands the revenue streams, and knowswho makes fiscal decisions. In thisregard, a close relationship with one’sown department administrator and theinstitution’s financial leaders is invalu-able.

The workshop discussed elementsthat are critical to successfully leadingfaculty. It is important to define clearroles within the department and developan organizational structure. Good com-

munication between the chair and thefaculty is essential. The chair is usuallywell-served by identifying a core groupof faculty leaders with whom open andfrank discussions can be held, and whoin turn present a strong and confidentfront to the other faculty members. Thechair should strive to be fair, balanced,consistent, and direct in conflict resolu-tion, and should generally avoid a “myway or the highway” attitude. Anotherkey to success as a chair is maintaininginterest and involvement from all facultymembers. The chair should try to pre-

vent the emergence of a marginalizedgroup who feel that their interests andcareer development are of secondaryimportance.

Prospective department chairsshould consider reading these excellentreferences: Fisher and Ury’s “Getting toYes”, Maxwell’s “The 21 IrrefutableLaws of Leadership”, and “The Suc-cessful Medical School DepartmentChair”, published by the American Asso-ciation of Medical Chairs(www.aamc.org).

Advancement to Chair…(continued from page 13)

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ACADEMIC RESIDENTNews and Information for Residents Interested in Academic Emergency Medicine

Edited by the SAEM GME Committee

The Resident as a “Bedside Teacher”Jon Rittenberger, MDCharissa Pacella, MDUniversity of Pittsburgh For the SAEM GME Committee

Teaching can be thought of as a planned learning activity 1.By contrast, the Emergency Department (ED) is unpre-dictable. Clinical teaching in the ED frequently takes place ina busy, even chaotic arena, and requires a special approachto bedside teaching as compared with other, more controlledpatient-care settings. New emphasis has been placed onbedside teaching with the advent of the Accreditation Councilfor Graduate Medical Education Outcome Project 2. Resi-dents are often at the forefront of medical student interactionsin the ED, yet most residencies provide little, if any, formaltraining in effective bedside teaching techniques. This articleprovides an educational framework for resident teachers andspecific suggestions to improve bedside teaching interac-tions.

Set GoalsIt is prudent to spend a few minutes on each “first day” dis-cussing and developing some specific educational goals fornew students. Students need to know what is expected ofthem and what to expect in return. For example, third-yearmedical students generally focus on the initial approach tospecific, common ED complaints, and perhaps selected pro-cedures like suturing or drawing blood. Guide the studentthrough the process of focused patient evaluation and theregular assessment their understanding of key diagnosticand management decisions during their month in the ED.Fourth-year emergency medicine students are generallygiven an expanded role in patient care and begin to managepatients. Their focus may be on more complex differentialdiagnoses, higher acuity complaints and managing commonemergencies. Many students also expect and hope to per-form basic procedures in the ED and are grateful to have aresident teacher who will help identify potentially appropriatepatients.

In order to accomplish educational goals, both the studentand the teacher must be willing to invest their time. Studentsare expected to diligently attend their shifts, remain attentiveand inquisitive, and dedicate outside time to reading. Asteachers in an academic setting, residents must acceptappropriate responsibility for a student’ training, even whenhigh ED volumes or frustrating patient interactions mightseem to preclude effective teaching interactions.

Lead By ExampleBy nature, emergency medicine leaves physicians in thespotlight. From the moment a resident arrives in a patient’sroom, students are watching their demeanor and interactionwith others. Moreover, the attending physicians and resi-dents set the tone for the department. Generating an open

and positive learning environment will encourage others tobecome involved and teach. As academicians, residentsmust demonstrate an understanding of accepting praise andcriticism during training periods. Students expect appropriatefeedback, both positive and negative, as part of their educa-tion. However, resident teachers must also learn from theirstudents and actively seek out constructive feedback aboutteaching approaches and techniques. Educational interac-tions often leave the instructor with as many questions as thestudent, and these questions should be viewed as opportuni-ties to read and advance our own education.

Teach Students to DiagnoseThe ED provides an ideal milieu for evaluation of the undif-ferentiated patient, with specific attention to complaint-basedhistory-taking, examination and diagnosis. Students seepatients as they initially present, with physical findings thatare frequently pronounced and subsequently improve withtreatment. Dedicating time to observe and evaluate students’history and physical exam skills takes full educational advan-tage of the unique ED setting. A well-taught rotation in the EDcan help provide students with important skills necessary toprepare for the Objective Standardized Clinical Exam(OSCE) and Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA).

A number of recurring themes are identified in the ED (chestpain, altered mental status, e.g.) Residents can provide rele-vant clinical pearls and guidance to medical students at thebedside by recounting their our own approach to these com-plaints. Recurring patient complaints also allow us to assessstudent learning from one encounter to the next and reiteratekey points.

Diagnostic testing initiated in the ED can determine the dis-position for the patient’s hospitalization. Students should bechallenged to justify their choice of diagnostic test and deter-mine if and how it will change the diagnosis or treatment thatfollows. For example, when ordering a CBC on a patient withchest pain, a “good reason” might be that significant anemiacan contribute to myocardial ischemia, rather than the autopi-lot response, “because we always do.”

“Canned” LecturesMany academic physicians have several favorite topics theycan present on a moment’s notice. Just about any requiredlectures prepared by residents can be adapted to serve as a“mini” lecture in the ED modified to suit a particular patientencounter. These lectures allow a transition to the Socraticmethod of teaching and test student’s knowledge of both thephysiology and clinical application of their learning. These

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lectures add a final academic note to the end of a patientencounter or enlighten the rare slow moment in the ED.They also may prompt further reading for the student (andeven the instructor). A well timed didactic presentation canemphasize a clinical point. After teaching a session onblood gas interpretation, a blood gas from a patient seen inthe ED allows the student to how someone who is marked-ly acidotic or alkalotic “looks at the bedside.” 3

Socratic Question and AnswerSocratic questioning remains a cornerstone for evaluatingthe knowledge of both student and instructor. When stu-dents feel the purpose of a questioning session is to embar-rass, intimidate, humiliate, or demonstrate their ignorance,they will often refer to the session as a “pimping session”.These feeling lead to frustration, disdain for the instructorsand stunt the educational interaction. When the “student-instructor” relationship is built on trust and mutual respect,the “self discovery” encouraged by the Socratic method canlead to an indelibly useful academic encounter. Brief,open-ended questions allow the instructor to ascertain thestudent’s knowledge level and fill in the missing informa-tion. The questioning that occurs during a Socratic sessionis not designed to test the students knowledge per se, but

is designed to allow the student to discover than oneanswer build on another an clinical constructs can be codi-fied by the general principles elucidated when discussing aspecific patient. Another method of assessing a students’understanding is to ask the student why a patient is not like-ly to have disease x, y or z.

Each shift in the ED presents unique patients and theopportunity to learn from them and teach others. One ofthe challenges of academic emergency medicine is deter-mining the teaching points that can be derived from eachcase. By developing a plan and goals for students, resi-dent teachers can maximize the educational value of theunique ED environment.References1. D’Andrea V. Organising teaching and learning. In: Fry H,

Ketteridge S, Marshall SA, editors. Handbook for teach-ing and learning in higher education: enhancing aca-demic practice. London: Kogan Page. 1999: 41-57.

2. Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.ACGME, Outcomes Project. Website http://www.acgme.org/outcome/. Copyright 2000, ACGME.

3. Lockey AS. Teaching and learning. Emergency MedicineJournal. 2001;18:451-452.

Nominations Sought for Resident Member of the SAEM Board of DirectorsThe resident Board member is elect-

ed to a one-year term and is a full votingmember of the SAEM Board ofDirectors. The deadline for nominationsis February 4, 2005.

Candidates must be a resident dur-ing the entire one-year term on theBoard (May 2005-May 2006) and mustbe a member of SAEM. Candidatesshould demonstrate evidence of stronginterest and commitment to academic

emergency medicine. Nominationsshould include a letter of support fromthe candidate’s residency director, aswell as the candidate’s CV and a coverletter. Nominations must be sent elec-tronically to [email protected]. Candi-dates are encouraged to review theBoard of Directors orientation guidelineson the SAEM website at www.saem.orgor from the SAEM office.

The election will be held via mail bal-

lot in the Spring of 2005 and the resultswill be announced during the AnnualBusiness Meeting in May in New York.

The resident member of the Boardwill attend four SAEM Board meetings;in the fall, in the winter, and in the spring(at the 2005 and 2006 SAEM AnnualMeetings). The resident member willalso participate in monthly Board con-ference calls.

CPC Competition Submissions SoughtDeadline: Feburary 11, 2005

Submissions are now being accept-ed from emergency medicine residencyprograms for the 2004 Semi-Final CPCCompetition to be held May 21, 2005,the day before the SAEM AnnualMeeting in New York City. The deadlinefor submission of cases is February 11,2005 with an entry fee of $250. Casesubmission and presentation guidelineswill be posted on the CORD website atwww.cordem.org and it is anticipatedthat online submission will be required.

Residents participate as case pre-senters, and programs are encouraged

to select junior residents who will still bein the program at the time of the FinalsCompetition. Each participating pro-gram selects a faculty member who willserve as discussant for another pro-gram’s case. The discussant willreceive the case approximately 4-5weeks in advance of the competition.All cases are blinded as to final diagno-sis and outcome. Resident presentersprovide this information after completionof the discussants presentation.

The CPC Competition will be limitedto 60 cases selected from the submis-

sions. A Best Presenter and BestDiscussant will be selected from each ofthe six tracks.

Winners of the semi-final competi-tion will be invited to participate in theCPC Finals to be held Washington, DCduring the ACEP Scientific Assembly inSeptember. A Best Presenter and BestDiscussant will be selected.

The CPC Competition is sponsoredby ACEP, CORD, EMRA, and SAEM. Ifyou have any questions, please contactCORD at [email protected], 517-485-5484, or via fax at 517-485-0801.

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AAMC Annual Meeting ReportDavid P. Sklar, MDUniversity of New MexicoJames Hoekstra, MDWake Forest UniversitySAEM Representatives to the Council of Academic Societies of the AAMC

The 115th AAMC Annual Meetingwas held in Boston, November 5-10,2004. The title of the AAMC meeting ofNovember 5-10, 2004, was “Fulfillingthe Promise: Tomorrow’s Doctors,Tomorrow’s Cures.” SAEM and AACEMheld a joint session the morning ofNovember 6. The first presentation wastitled “New EMTALA Regulations andTheir Affect on Medical SpecialtiesCapabilities at Community Hospital: AThreat to Tertiary Care Centers.” Dr.Bob Bitterman, MD, JD began the ses-sion with an update of recent changesand interpretations of EMTALA and dis-cussed whether they would result in lessspecialty care courage for emergencydepartments. His overview highlightedthe strategies being utilized by specialtyphysicians to avoid call or instituteselective call, and its effects on tertiarycare centers. Dr. Timothy Flynn, a vas-cular surgeon from the University ofFlorida discussed the perspective of thespecialist, particularly the surgical spe-cialist. He noted that emergencydepartment patients generally have alower insurance rate than those visitingoffice-based practices and also repre-sent a high risk for lawsuits due to thelack of an established doctor patientrelationship and the uncontrolled natureof emergency surgical cases. Finally,as shortages of surgical specialistsdevelop due to an aging work force andincreased trends toward sub-specializa-tion, the new EMTALA regulations willlikely result in less ED specialty cover-age and hospital payments for the cov-erage that does occur. Dr. CharlotteYeh, the CMS Administrator from NewEngland described the history ofEMTALA and the role of the CMS andOIG in investigations concerning possi-ble violations. She linked the EMTALAtransfer rules with previously unaccept-able behaviors by hospitals with regardto transferring uninsured patients withsubsequent bad outcomes for thesepatients. Unfortunately the EMTALA lawhas contributed to the unintended con-sequence of overcrowding of our pres-

ent academic emergency departments.The next presentation focused upon

the phenomenon of observational or“acute care” medicine, which is becom-ing more prevalent in academic centerswho are dealing with ED overcrowdingdue to limited hospital resources longerstays of emergency department patientswho are either admitted or in observa-tion status are giving rise to acute careactivities by emergency physicians forconditions that would previously havebeen the responsibilities of inpatientphysicians. Such conditions as diabeticketoacidosis, pneumonia, pyelonephri-tis, and chest pain are now commonlytreated by emergency physicians frompresentation to discharge often in dedi-cated areas either adjacent to the ED oreven remote from the ED. This repre-sents both a threat and an opportunityto expand the practice of emergencyphysicians. Hospitalists were seen aspotential allies and competitors depend-ing upon the political forces of the insti-tution. The speakers included GabeKelen, Louis Graff, Sandra Schneider,and James Hoekstra.

The rest of the meeting providedsessions for deans, hospital administra-tors, resident and student representa-tives, and researchers in medical edu-cation. Themes of particular relevanceto emergency medicine can be summa-rized by the statement that clinical careand medical education both need radi-cal change. Medical education modelsstill focus on a few core specialty clerk-ships in hospitalized patients eventhough shorter stays, ambulatory servic-es, and technological changes havereduced the relevance and dependancyon such educational venues. Clinicalcare models that emphasize teams, dis-ease management, information sys-tems, patient autonomy, and reducedcost and safety are needed to replaceoutmoded, uncoordinated, provider cen-tered, unsafe systems of care. Corecompetencies for residents and stu-dents will drive some of this change aseducation programs are forced to

demonstrate achievement of skillsrather than presentation of material.The continuum of education from pre-medical education to continuing educa-tion for practicing physicians will be re-engineered to demonstrate competen-cies and to improve connectivity to adja-cent stages of education. Health dis-parities in minority and vulnerable popu-lations were identified as public healthand ethical deficiencies in the presenthealth care systems. Diversity in thephysician workforce was one solutionthat is seen as vulnerable due to thehigh cost of medical education and thedebt load it imposed on students.Public health concepts, such as injuryprevention and surveillance should beviewed as part of the basic education forall medical students rather as a part ofanother discipline.

The national election had justoccurred prior to the meeting. Althoughthe results will clearly influence prioritiesin health care, medical education andresearch, there was a general consen-sus that the budget deficit would be themost critical influence. To reduce thedeficit, it is likely that health care spend-ing will be severely limited, leading toreduced support to medical schools anda greater burden of uninsured patientsfor emergency departments.

Overall, the mood of the meetingwhat somewhat subdued, perhaps dueto the election and the venue of themeeting in Boston, but we also sensedapprehension concerning the effort thatwill be necessary to bring about thechanges that will be needed to reducecost and improve efficiency and safetyof our systems. Emergency medicinehas always been an innovative and cre-ative specialty, willing to adapt to chang-ing circumstances. We would suspectthat the coming years will witnessgreater leadership for emergency medi-cine academicians in the overall med-ical education system than in the pastas the skills that helped programs growand flourish are applied to the futurechallenges for academic medicine.

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The Patient Customer: Order’s UpJason Hughes, MDTexas Tech University

There has been an evolution of thenomenclature of patients, and onewould have to consider who is behindthe entire scheme. We called patients,oddly enough, patients back in the1980’s, but from there it seems like wefollowed a trail of tears in trying to find away in which we should not makepatients feel inferior. Thus, the “name-game” began.

Patients were then called consumersfor a while, and some still are; in fact,psychiatric patients seem to have beentagged with this name. Then we startedcalling patients clients, but the obviousproblem there was that the country’s lawprofessionals have used this name forthose wishing to obtain advice. Theadvice usually comes in the form of alawsuit and the medical field, for somestrange reason, has a distaste for law-suits.

In the 21st century, we now laud theuse of the word “customer” when refer-ring to patients. Apparently this nomen-clature enables patients to feel as if theyhave some control over their waitingtime in the emergency room, what med-ications they should have, and whatdoctor they should see. All physiciansrealize that spending time with patientsmay help avoid legal problems; howev-er, time usually needs to be spent withthose who have a more concerningproblem at the moment. Finally, theword customer seems to allow for therandomization of patients who do notlike the hospital, the food, the physicianor the nurse to complain and cause thePress-Ganey score for the hospitalemergency room to plummet.

The physician is now called a healthcare provider, and this name changeapparently alludes to the fact that weshould somehow provide excellent carefor all patients and this should be donein a timely fashion. It may be possible todo this in a fantasy world, but even thenthe patient’s perception may not be thesame as that of those administering themedical care.

There is an inherent problem with thesystem and the wording someone haschosen for it. A customer at a fast foodchain stands in line and expects to bewaited on when his or her turn comesup. This is not the case in emergencymedicine, as triage takes precedence inthis setting. The “customer is alwaysright” motto does not appeal to healthcare providers as our patients do nothave the right to ask for 125 mg ofmeperidine for a tension headache. Thewaiting time for seeing a patient andsending him or her home depends onthe complexity of the case and the con-cerns of the physician, not the speedwith which we should perform thesetasks. No patient or physician would likea premature decision to be made whenthe result could be a missed pulmonaryembolism.

The Press-Ganey Associates refer tothe patients as customers and also aresupposed to improve hospital care byshowing weaknesses and strengths;employees in areas that are less satis-factory are told to “bump their scoresup” or there will be problems. Nursesare shown where their percentile satis-faction lies with other hospitals, andphysicians see their scores as well.

The entire problem of “customeriza-tion” of patients is that physicians haveno power in the current emergencymedicine scheme to make a difference.In other words, leadership and powercannot be separated. An excellentleader in the emergency departmentcan make a certain difference, but theconcern should be centered around thequality of care given. If a leader has nopower, then leadership eventually col-lapses on itself. Many emergencydepartments where I have worked asthe sole physician have sent their nurs-es home early to save the hospitalmoney, used paramedics essentially asnurses, and had consultants leave thepatient “hanging” until enough phonecalls were made to beg for the patient’sadmission. Nurses have also had to beg

for patients to be accepted by nursingstaff upstairs. Usually they are put onhold or are told to call back after changeof shift.

The emergency department directorin many hospitals simply does not havethe power to stop the actions of otheremployees. Without it, as mentionedabove, the ability to transform patientsinto customers is even more limited.

We have an obligation to treatpatients through an appropriate triagesystem, explaining that system as bestas possible. We should treat patients asif they were our own family members;we should practice the best medicinewe can. Few relatives of mine would beangry at the wait for news about apotentially lethal medical problem.Besides, the only “order” that is up isusually mine, sitting in a rack for an hourwhile busy nurses try to battle entropy.

If we decide to use Press-Ganey asthe thermometer for the success of ahospital and customer satisfaction, thenwe must given the resources to attainthe appropriate equipment, number ofstaff, and number of rooms. Until aphysician and nurse can greet thepatient at the door, avoid all interrup-tions, and have numerous other staff totake care of other patients, the triagesystem will be the only system we have.It may not be the best, but it will at leastnot be misguiding those who are angrydue to a waiting period or the inability ofa physician to give large doses of nar-cotics to a patient who insists on havingthem.

Patients certainly have rights, but inthe general scheme it would seem that ifwe use the word customer, they mightfeel as if they have the right to intrudeupon the care of those who have a moredifficult problem. Using such terminolo-gy is a slippery slope unless those withpower to institute change can repair orrebuild a system that is already movingdownhill.

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Compiling a Database of Principal Investigators in Emergency MedicineJason Haukoos, MD, MSDenver Health Medical CenterAmy Kaji, MD, MPHHarbor - UCLAJesse Pines, MD, MBAUniversity of PennsylvaniaKevin Terrell, DO, MSIndiana UniversitySAEM Research Sub-Committee Members

Ever since the SAEM January/February 2002 Newsletter, the SAEMResearch Committee has compiled anannual, list of federally funded emer-gency medicine investigators. Last year,the list included 77 National Institutes ofHealth (NIH)-funded grants (18 careerdevelopment awards and 59 projectgrants) and 45 non-NIH grants. Onlyprincipal investigators were included.The list was compiled from varioussources, including the ComputerRetrieval of Information on ScientificProjects (CRISP) database available atwww.nih.gov. CRISP is a searchabledatabase of federally funded biomedicalresearch projects conducted at universi-ties, hospitals, and other research insti-tutions and is maintained by the Officeof Extramural Research at the NIH. Theprojects that are listed include NIH ,Substance Abuse and Mental HealthServices Administration (SAMHSA),Health resources and Services Adminis-tration (HRSA), Food and Drug Adminis-tration (FDA), Centers for Disease Con-trol and Prevention (CDC), Agency forHealthcare Research and Quality(AHRQ), and Office of Assistant Secre-tary of Health (OASH) funded projects(http://ott.od.nih.gov/textonly/crispdb1.html accessed August 24, 2004).

Prior to this year, “EmergencyMedicine” could not be entered as aquery term into the CRISP search form.Entering the query today will return 36hits. While the CRISP database cap-tures some of the investigators, it is notcomprehensive. Moreover, last year,even after a thorough internet search ofhttp://fdncenter.org, as well as fromword-of-mouth, self-report, and elec-tronic mail sent to the members ofSAEM, we were unable to identify manyof the emergency physicians who weregrant recipients.

Non-NIH grants are even more diffi-cult to identify because there is no cen-tral database. The NIH database doesnot include funding from other largesources such as The Department ofDefense (DOD), Robert Wood JohnsonFoundation (RWJF), and the PediatricEmergency Care Research Network

(PECARN). RWJF projects are avail-able at www.rwjf.org/programs/grant.Detail. Created in October 2001,PECARN is the first federally fundednational network for research in emer-gency medical services for children(EMSC). Other major organizations thatare currently funding researchers inemergency medicine include the Ameri-can Heart Association (AHA), the Amer-ican Geriatric Association (AGA), theFirearm Injury Center (FICAP), the Chil-dren’s Health Insurance Project (CHIP),and the American Lung Association(ALA). As there are many foundationsthat are interested in providing financialsupport for emergency medicineresearche, the SAEM research commit-tee has made it a priority to maintain anup-to-date list of funded researchers inemergency medicine to provide infor-mation about potential resources forinvestigators.

Obtaining research funding isextremely competitive. Many considerthe ability to obtain funding as a markerof a successful researcher. Noviceresearchers look to the more experi-enced for guidance in writing grants. Aninstitution’s funding is often correlatedwith the level of expertise in a givenstudy area. Thus, identifying projectsand investigators who are funded maydelineate the types of grants offered,areas of interest, and centers of aca-demic excellence.

This year, we set out to provide amore comprehensive list of researchersin emergency medicine than last year.First, Dr. Jesse Pines, a member of ourcommittee, set up an interactive websitefor the chairpersons of all 132 USACGME accredited emergency medi-cine residency programs, in which theywere asked to list the federally fundedinvestigators at their institution. TheURL link is: http://intercom.virginia.edu/SurveySuite/Surveys/SAEMSurvey/index2.html. After contacting the Chairs byelectronic mail 5 times over a period of4 months, members of our subcommit-tee then contacted the chairs individual-ly either via telephone, facsimile, oranother electronic mail, in which we

stated:“As one of the objectives for the

SAEM Research Committee, we areattempting to identify projects and prin-cipal investigators who are federallyfunded in Emergency Medicine. Bydoing so, we hope to maintain a currentdatabase of on-going projects that maybe utilized as a resource for both noviceand experienced investigators. Whilewe have received a response from alarge number of department chairsthrough our electronic survey, we arenow contacting the non-respondents viae-mail. We have just a few questionsthat we would like to ask. Specifically,we need to know the following informa-tion regarding the PIs within yourdepartment:

1. The Principal investigator’s name 2. The Award Title3. The Grant Amount4. The Project Start and End Date5. The Awarding Institution (National

Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute(NHLBI) within the NIH, AHA, CDC,DOD, etc.)”

We chose to contact the chairper-sons of each department, because theywould be able to identify the federallyfunded investigators among their facul-ty. The final list is organized by stateand ACGME institution in Table 1, “Listof Federally-funded Investigators inEmergency Medicine,” below. Throughour survey, we identified 85 emergencymedicine researchers who had activefederally funded grants as of July 1,2004. Unfortunately, we were unable toreach many chairpersons and institu-tions. Of the 132 ACGME programs,there were 44 non-respondents, 14 pro-grams that answered “yes” to whetherthey had investigators but did not dis-close any further information, and 29programs that stated that they did nothave any researchers who received sig-nificant funding. We realize that we mayhave overlooked investigators. If youwish to provide information regardingyour research or experience with grantwriting or reviewing, please contact theResearch Committee [email protected].

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Table 1: List of Federally-funded Investigators in Emergency Medicine

State/Institution Investigator Grant Title Granting Agency Grant amount Start Date End DateAlabama University of Alabama at Birmingham Thomas E. Terndrup Southeastern Resuscitation Consortium NHLBI U01 $3,500,000 09/01/04 07/01/09

Innovative Strategies for Bioterrorism and Emerging Infection Education AHRQ $1,100,000 10/01/00 09/30/04Rural Access to Emergency Devices. HRSA; co-P.I $750,000 10/01/01 09/30/06

California UCLA - Olive View-UCLA Larry Baraff Family Intervention for Suicidal Youth Emergency Care,

Emergency Medicine Centers for Disease Control $900,000 06/24/05 06/27/05Steven Rottman UCLA Center for Public Health and

Disasters (CDC funded Center for Public Health Preparedness) Centers for Disease Control $1,100,000 09/01/04 08/31/05 Curriculum Development in Bioterrorism for Health Professions Schools HRSA $343,000 10/01/03 09/01/04

David Schriger Maintenance Contract for www.needlestick.mednet.ucla.edu website CDC $15,000

Steve Starkman Field Administration of Stroke Therapy National Institutes of Health-(FAST-MAG) NINDS $15,300,131 09/30/03 06/30/07Specialized Program of Translational Research in Acute Stroke (SPORTRIAS) National Institutes of Health $5,000,000 01/01/04 presentCombined Approach to Lysis utilizing Eptifibatide and rt-PA in Acute Ischemic Stroke National Institutes of Health-(CLEAR) NINDS $188,673 07/01/03 present

Jerome Hoffman Interactive ELSI Curriculum for Primary National Human Genome Care Residents Research Institute $1,433,783 09/01/04 08/31/06Interventions to Improve Shared Decision Making:Prostate Cancer Screening CDC $2,594,630 09/01/04 08/31/08

Other researchers with funding not listed: William Mower, Eric SavitskyUniversity of California, Samuel Stratton The Field Administration of Stroke Therapy – Irvine Medical Center Magnesium (FAST-MAG) Phase 3 Trial NIH/NINDS $15,100,000 05/01/04 06/30/06

Other researchers with funding not listed: Federico VacaUniversity of California, Nathan Kuppermann Childhood Head Trauma: A NeuroimagingDavis/Emergency Department/ Decision Rule Maternal and Child Health Bureau $1,637,000 01/01/04 12/31/06U.C.D. Medical Center

Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Network Development Demonstration Projects (NDDP) for the development of a Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) Maternal and Child Health Bureau $2,470,000 09/01/01 09/30/05

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Kelly Young Posttraumatic stress and pain in children undergoing painful medical procedures: Ethnic differences and their effect on the benefit of interventions for alleviation NIH NCRR $618,284

Colorado Denver Health And Hospitals Steve Cantrill Bioterrorism Training and Curriculum Development

Program (BTCDP): Colorado BNICE WMD Training Center DHHS HRSA $ 2,151,439 09/30/04 09/29/05Standardized 'Real Time' National Hospital Bed Availability and Patient Tracking System DHHS AHRQ $ 692,585 07/01/04 06/30/05

Jason Haukoos Improving Identification of Patients Infected with HIV Using Rapid Testing in the Emergency Department: A Systems-Based Approach CHPHE $ 75,000 10/01/04 12/31/04

Other researchers with funding not listed: Kelly BroderickConnecticut Yale-New Haven Medical Center Gail D'Onofrio Emergency Physician Brief Interventions for Alcohol NIAAA $2,216,157 09/13/01 07/31/05

NASD Yale New Haven Hospital Emergency Department 2004 NIAAA $40,875 01/01/04 12/31/04

Sandy Bogucki Prefers not to publish informationOther researchers with funding not listed: Linda Degutis

Georgia Emory University Heilpern, Katherine Emergency IDNET Subcontract to UCLA - CDC 09/30/96 10/31/04

Emergency Nurse Practitioner Program HRSA 07/01/03 06/30/05Georgia emergeing infections program Georgia Dept. of Human Resources 02/01/04 12/31/04

Heron, Sheryl Group intervention for black female suicide attempters CDC 10/01/02 09/30/05Domestic Violence and child maltreatment in black families CDC 09/30/01 09/29/04

Houry, Debra Grants for Violence-Related Injury Prevention Research:PIV & SV CDC 09/01/03 08/30/06Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health Issues NIH/NIMH 12/01/03 11/30/08

Isakov, Alexander Intergovernmental Personnel Agreement CDC 07/01/01 09/30/04Kellermann, Arthur Progesterone treatment of blunt traumatic

brain injury NIH/NINDS 08/01/01 07/31/05Project safe neighborhoods/Research Partner/Crime Analysis Prgm US Dept of Justice 10/01/02 09/30/05Graduated drivers licensing system:A Georgia Analysis Nat'l Hwy Traffic Safety Admin NHTSA) 09/11/03 11/15/04SACSI Research Partnership with Northern District of Georgia US Dept of Justice 10/01/00 08/31/04Nat'l Alcohol Screening Day: Academic EM Collaboration NIH/NIAA 04/15/04 03/31/05

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State/Institution Investigator Grant Title Granting Agency Grant amount Start Date End DateLowery, Douglas/Heilpern, Katherine Surveillance for Bioterroirism State of Georgia 08/01/03 01/31/05Sasser, Scott Intergovernmental Personnel Agreement CDC 09/23/02 07/31/05Stein, Donald The Effects of Progesterone and its

metabolites on TBI NIH/NINDS 12/15/01 11/30/04Progesterone after traumatic brain injury NIH/NINDS 01/01/01 01/31/05

Wright, David Neurorehabiliation with progesterone and pregnenolone NIH/NICHHD 08/01/03 07/31/04

Illinois Northwestern University Courtney, Mark Pretest probability assessment and D-dimer

testing for PE NHLBI 500,000 07/01/04 06/30/09Lance Becker Optimizing Heart And Brain Cooling During

Cardiac Arrest NHLBI 07/31/07Apoptosis And Oxidants After Murine Cardiac Arrest NHLBI 07/31/06

Other researchers with funding not listed: Karin Rhodes, Terry Vanden Hoek, David BeiserUniversity of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria/OSF St. Francis Medical Center John W. Hafner Jr Injury Free Coalition for KidsIndiana Indiana University School of Medicine Dan Rusyniak MDMA:Hyperthermia and the DMH to 0 Biomedical Research Grant,

Indiana University $40,000 07/01/04 06/30/05MDMA:Hyperthermia and the Hypothalamus Society for Academic Emergency

Medicine, Neuroscience Research Fellowship Grant $50,000 07/01/04 06/30/05

Mitochondrial effects of the drug Ecstasy (MDMA) to Clarian Values Fund Grant $96,397 02/02/04 07/04/04

Kevin Terrell Dennis W. Jahnigen Career Development Scholars Award American Geriatrics Society,

John A. Hartford Foundation and Atlantic Philanthropies $200,000 07/01/04 06/30/06

Iowa The Iowa Emergency Medicine Program Eric W. Dickson MD Hormonal Opioids in ischemic Preconditioning NHLBI $491,508 06/01/02 06/01/06

Perfluorocarbon Ventilation in the Treatment of Francisella Pneumonia NIAID-RCE pilot grant $84,321 01/01/04 01/01/05

Maryland University of Maryland Jon Mark Hirshon Geographic Variability In ED Use For Pediatric

Asthma Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08) National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute $663,500 09/03/04 09/08/04

Unexplained Diarrhea Sentinel Surveillance National Center for Infectious Diseases/Association of American Medical Colleges Cooperative Agreement $1,045,150 09/01/04 09/04/04

Johns Hopkins Guohua Li Pilot Aging And Aviation Safety National Institute on Aging 06/30/08Rothman, Richard Evaluation Of Febrile Iv Drug Users--

Guidelines For Emergency Management National Center For Research ResourcesRegional Center NIH grant for excellence:bioterrorism preparedness National Center For Research Resources

Massachusetts Boston Medical Center/Boston University Fernandez, William Brief Intervention to Reduce Alcohol Use

in ED Patients NIH/NIAAA 30,324Bernstein, Ed National Alcohol Screening Day Data

Coordinating Center NIH/NIAAA 26,315 03/01/04 02/28/06ED National Alcohol Screening Day Alcohol Education Program NIH/NIAAA 237, 721 02/01/04 01/31/05ED National Alcohol Screening Day Alcohol Education Program - Supplemental Grant NIH/NIAAA 100,000 09/01/04 03/31/05Center Grant Project RAP (Reaching Adolescents for Prevention) NIH/NIAAA 2,573,358Project SAFE/ SSBNI - Brief Intervention to Reduce STDs in ER NIH/NIDA 04/01/04 03/31/09Cooperative Agreement of Public Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism CDC/HRSA

University of Massachusetts Medical Center Karin Przyklenk Role of inositol trisphosphate in

preconditioning , 12/2001 - 11/2005 NIH/NHLBI, RO1 Award 12/01/04 11/05/04Edward Boyeredward Examining the relationwhip between the internet

and drug use NIH DA-14929 $456,000 10/01/01 09/30/04Michigan University of Michigan John Younger C5a in defense against Gram-negative pneumonia NIGMS. R01 $1,200,000 07/01/04 06/30/09

Susan Stern Optimizing Resuscitation for the Casualty with Combined Hemorrhagic Shock and Traumatic Brain Injury DOD - Navy $1,250,962 07/01/99 10/31/05

Phillip Scott Combination approach to Lysis utilizing Eptifibatide And rt-PA in acute ischemic stroke (CLEAR trial) NIH/NINDS

Brian Zink Short Term Training In Health Professional Schools NHLBI 04/30/06Other researchers with funding not listed: Ronald Maio, Jim Weber, Samuel McLean

Wayne State University/Sinai-Grace Hospital Gary S. Krause Suppression of Protein Synthesis in the

Reperfused Brain NINDS 2,146,442 06/21/05 06/26/05Cell Survival & Translation Control in Brain Reperfusion NINDS 1,068,000 06/23/05 06/27/05

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State/Institution Investigator Grant Title Granting Agency Grant amount Start Date End DateMinnesota Regions Hospital/Healthpartners Institute of Medical Education Brent Asplin Emergency Department Crowding:

Causes and Consequences AHRQ 616,790 06/24/05 06/29/05Brad Gordon NIH Repayment Program Grant NIH Variable

New Jersey Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center Steve Trzeciak Career Development Grant EMF 50,000 06/26/05 06/27/05

Brigitte Baumann ED Screening & Interventions for Hazardous Alcohol Use NIAAA/NIH 32,525 06/26/05

Ed Boudreaux Tobacco Treatment Initiated in the ED NIDA/NIH 830,000 06/25/05 06/30/05Tobacco Treatment Initiated in the ED UMDNJ 25,000 06/25/05 06/26/05

New York Jacobi/Montefiore Emergency Medicine Program Affiliate of Albert Einstein College of Medicine Polly Bijur Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Acute Pain Control AHRQ 670,380 06/25/05 06/28/05Mount Sinai School of Medicine Integrated Residency Lynn Richardson, MD Research without Consent – the community

perspective NIH 07/15/03 06/30/06University of Rochester/Strong Memorial Hospital Jeff Bazarian Epidemiology of Traumatic Brain Injury NINDS 09/01/01 09/30/06

Brian Blyth Mechanisms of Egr-1 Mediated Neuroprotection SAEM Training Grant $150,000 07/01/04 06/30/06Manish Shah Dennis W. Jahnigen Career Development

Scholars Award--Prehospital Screening to Prevent Injuries and Illnesses American Geriatrics Society,

John A. Hartford Foundation and Atlantic Philanthropies $200,000 07/01/04 06/30/05

Janet Williams New York State Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program - Strong Memorial Hospital New York State Bioterrorism

Hospital Preparedness Program - Strong Memorial HospitalNew York State Department of Health/HRSA $1,245,000 01/01/03 08/31/05

State University of New York - Upstate Callahan JM et. al. EMSC Network Developmental Demonstration Project Health Resources and Services

Administration, Maternal Child Health Bureau 06/23/05 06/27/05

Other researchers with significant funding not listed: Brooke Lerner, Sharon Humiston, Sabine Brouxhon, Lynn CimpelloNorth Carolina University of North Carolina Greg Mears EMS Performance Improvement Center,

Medical Director The North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services from The Duke Endowment $753,000 06/26/05 06/29/05

North Carolina Bioterrorism Preparedness and Surveillance Project with Maintenance of the North Carolina PreHospital Medical Information System (PreMIS) North Carolina Department of

Health and Human Services,Division of Public Health via the National Centers for Disease Control and Injury Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Human Resource Services Administration (HRSA),Hospital Bioterrorism Program $4,500,000 06/24/05 06/28/05

National EMS Information System Project (NEMSIS) The National Association of State EMS Directors by the U.S.Department of Transportation (DOT),National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA), Division of Emergency Medical Services $475,000 06/24/05 06/27/05

Other researchers with significant funding not listed: Anna Waller, Charlotte Weaver, Brenda Cooper

Carolinas Medical Center Jeffrey Kline Surrogate Markers for Severe Pulmonary Embolism NHLBI $1,084,007 07/08/03 07/31/06Alan E. Jones Diagnostic significance of emergency

department hypotension EMF Career Dev Award $50,000 07/01/04 06/30/05Michael Runyon Pulmonary Vascular Hyperplasia in

Pulmonary Embolism EMF $75,000 07/01/04 6/31/05Wake Forest University David M. Cline TS-0769 Cardiovascular Surveillance via a

Hypertension Registry Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Association of Teachers of Preventative Medicine COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT $630,754 09/30/03 09/29/05

William Bozeman Injuries Produced by Law Enforcement Use of Less Lethal Weapons: A Prospective Multicenter Trial” $104,071 Empiric Thrombolytic Use in Sudden Cardiac Death Unresponsive to Advanced Cardiac Life Support Measures $40,500 Changes in Intracranial Pressure and Cerebral Metabolism During Rapid Sequence Intubation $8,200

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State/Institution Investigator Grant Title Granting Agency Grant amount Start Date End DateOhio University of Cincinnati Medical Center Laurie Beth Gesell Complementary Hyperbaric Oxygen for Brain

Radionecrosis NIH R21 09/02/03 08/31/05Arthur Pancioli The Combined Approach To Lysis Utilizing

Eptibatide And Rt-Pa: The Clear Stroke Trial NINDS 2007 *Other researchers with significant funding not listed: Edward Jauch

The Ohio State University Brain Hiestand BNP in pre-eclampsia. Strategic Initiatives Grant (internal Ohio State program) $47,500 06/01/04 12/31/04

Serial BNP measurements in congestive heart failure patients. January 2004 - December 2004. Strategic Initiatives Grant

(internal Ohio State program) $63,800 01/01/04 12/31/04Mark Angelos SAEM Institutional Training Grant SAEM $150,000 07/01/03 06/30/05Other researchers with significant funding not listed: Craig Key, Jason Stoner

Summa Health System/ Northeastern Ohio Universities Scott Wilber Prediction of Short-term Functional Decline

and Service Needs in Older ED patients American Geriatrics Society / Hartford Foundation 07/01/03 06/30/05

Wright State University James Olson Cell Volume Regulation in Neurons and Glia NINDS $213,750 07/01/02 06/30/07Regulation of the Neuronal Taurine Transporter Wright State University $10,000 04/01/04 03/30/05Enhancing Efficiency of Radiotherapy Wallace-Kettering Neuroscience

Institute $40,000 04/01/03 06/30/05Oregon Oregon Health and Science University Robert Lowe Emergency Prehospital Investigative Consortium National Heart, Lung and Blood

Institute $2,998,698 09/01/04Impacts of Benefit Reduction and Increased Cost Sharing in a Medicaid Program Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Changes in Healthcare Financing and Organization Initiative $194,871 06/01/04 08/31/09

A Quantitative Model to Determine the Causes of and Solutions for Hospital Overcapacity Emergency Medicine Foundation $50,000 07/01/03 05/31/06

Craig Warden A Pediatric Falls Prevention Project in the Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Area Robert Wood Johnson Foundation $156,000 11/01/03 2006 *

K. John McConnell Surviving the Perfect Storm: Impacts of Benefit Reductions and Increased Cost Sharing in a Medicaid Program (Economics of Benefit Design Substudy) Robert Wood Johnson Foundation $181,000 07/01/04 10/31/06A Quantitative Model to Determine the Causes of and Solutions for Hospital Overcapacity Emergency Medicine Foundation $50,000 07/01/03 06/30/06Predictors of Emergency Department Overcrowding Medical Research Foundation of

Oregon $29,766 06/01/03 05/31/05Other researchers with significant funding not listed: Jerris Hedges, Jonathan Jui, Kenneth Bizovi, Harold Thomas

Pennsylvania Thomas Jefferson University Hospital/Emergency Medicine Raymond Regan Effects of Inducible antioxidants on hemoglobin

toxicity NIH/NINDS R01 NS042273-01A1 12/01/02 11/30/06Ma Xin-liang Role of peroxynitrate in myocardial

reperfusion injury NIH/NHLBI R01 HL-63828 06/10/01 05/31/05University of Pittsburgh Clifton Callaway Hypothermia And Gene Expression After

Cardiac Arrest NINDS 06/30/06Other researchers with significant funding not listed: Henry Wang, James Menegazzi, Donald Yealy, Paul Paris, David Hostler, Thomas Auble, Ted Delbridge, Vince Mosesso

University of Pennsylvania Emergency Medicine Residency Bob Neumar Mechanisms of Cell Death after Traumatic Brain

Injury NIH/NINDS $950,000 09/01/00 08/01/05Pathology of traumatic Injury to CNS Axons NIH/NINDS $175,000 12/01/02 11/01/07Caspase-Mediated Cell Death after Brain Trauma NIH/NINDS $46,000 07/01/02 06/01/07Calpain-Mediated Cleavage of the NMDA Receptor NIH/NINDS $19,000 02/01/03 01/01/07Caplain-Mediated Injury in Post-Ischemic Neurons NIH/NINDS $200,000 07/01/00 05/01/05Brain Resuscitation Research Fellowship SAEM $75,000 07/01/04 06/01/06

Jesse Pines CERT Training Grant - Center for Epidemiology and Biostatistics ARHQ/CERT $160,000 10/01/04 06/30/06

Other researchers with significant funding not listed: Steve ThomRhode Island Brown University Angela Anderson Emergency Medical Services for Children Rhode Island Department of Health 10/01/96 02/28/05

Gregory Jay Lubricin Function in Articulating Joints Case Western Reserve University 07/01/03 06/30/08Pulsus Paradoxus Monitor NIH/NHLBI 09/01/04 08/31/06

Michael Mello Injury Free Coalition for Kids Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 11/01/02 10/31/04Risk Watch National Fire Protection Association 04/01/01 IndefinitePhone Intervention for ETOH Use in MVC ED Patients NIH/Center for Disease Control 10/01/03 09/29/06Providence Safe Communities Partnership Rhode Island Department of

Transportation 04/12/04 04/11/05SOS: Screening for Our Safety AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety 04/01/04 10/01/05

Ronald Merchant Rapid HIV Testing for Emergency Department patients NIH/National Institute of Allergy and

Infectious Diseases 07/01/04 03/31/05Lynne Palmisciano Science Based Substance Abuse Prevention

Programs Rhode Island Department of Mental Health 06/01/04 06/30/05

Kenneth Williams Rhode Island Disaster Initiative - Phase II Battelle 02/01/03 09/30/04RIDI Phase III Battelle 10/30/03 09/30/04

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State/Institution Investigator Grant Title Granting Agency Grant amount Start Date End DateRobert Wollard Reducing Injury ETOH & THC Use

Among ED Patients NIH/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 08/01/03 07/31/07

SBIRT With At-Risk Drinkers in the Emergency Department NIH/National Institute on Alcohol

Abuse and Alcoholism 03/22/04 02/28/05Tennessee Vanderbilt University Hospital Seth Wright National Center for Emergency

Preparedness 04/01/04 09/30/04Robin Hemphill HRSA 04/01/04 08/30/04

Texas University of Texas Southwestern Ahamed Idris Circulatory Compromise: Opportunities to

Improve Outcome DODVirginia University of Virginia Health Sciences Center Marcus Martin Use of Computerized Simulation in

Medical EducationClaude Moore Charitable Foundation $180,000 07/01/04

Medical College of Virginia Hospitals/Virginia Commonwealth University Joseph Ornato HRSA bioterrorism grant. HRSA $3.5 million 06/26/05 06/27/05

Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium,Co-Chairman. $38,500 per year NIH/NHLBI $38,500 per year 06/26/05 07/01/05

Other researchers with significant funding not listed: Kevin Ward, R. Wayne Barbee, Kyle Gunnerson, Marsh CuttinoWisconsin Medical College of Wisconsin Tom Aufderheide Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium NHLBI $4,000,000 09/01/04 06/30/09

ResQValve Trial SBIR/NHLBI $3,000,000 09/01/04 06/30/07Other researchers with significant funding not listed: Steve Hargarten

EMF Grants AvailableThe Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF) grant applications are available on the ACEP web site at www.acep.org. From thehome page, click on “About ACEP,” then click on “EMF,” then click on the “EMF Research Grants” link for a complete listing of thedownloadable grant applications. The funding period for all grants is July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006 unless otherwise noted.

EMF Directed Research Reducing Medical Errors AwardThis request for proposals specifically targets research that isdesigned to reduce medical errors in the Emergency Depart-ment setting. Although all clinical proposals will be considered,the highest priority will be given to proposals that directly eval-uate interventions to reduce medical errors and utilize quanti-tative outcome measures to assess effectiveness. Proposalsmay focus on specific patient populations, disease processesor hospital system components. Studies that propose to onlyidentify errors without a plan to evaluate outcomes or investi-gate interventions will not be considered. Applicants mayapply for up to $100,000 funding. The funds will be disbursedsemi-annually over the two-year cycle. Deadline: December20, 2004. Notification: April 11, 2005.

Research Fellowship GrantThis grant provides a maximum of $75,000 to emergencymedicine residency graduates who will spend another yearacquiring specific basic or clinical research skills and furtherdidactic training research methodology. Deadline: January10, 2005. Notification: April 11, 2005.

Neurological Emergencies GrantThis grant is sponsored by EMF and the Foundation for Edu-cation and Research in Neurological Emergencies (FERNE).The goal of this directed grant program is to fund researchbased towards acute disorders of the neurological system,such as the identification and treatment of diseases and injuryto the brain, spinal cord and nerves. $50,000 will be awardedannually. Only clinical applications will be considered - nobasic science applications will be accepted. Deadline:January 10, 2005. Notification: April 11, 2005.

Medical Student Research GrantThis grant is sponsored by EMF and the Society for Academ-ic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). A maximum of $2,400 over 3months is available for a medical student to encourageresearch in emergency medicine. Deadline: February 7,2005. Notification: April 11, 2005.

ENAF Team GrantThis request for proposals specifically targets research that isdesigned to investigate the topic of ED overcrowding. Propos-als may focus on a number of related areas, including: defini-tions and outcome measures of ED overcrowding, causes andeffects of ED overcrowding, and potential solutions to theproblem of ED overcrowding. The applicants must provide evi-dence of a true collaborative effort between physician andnurse professionals and must delineate the relative roles ofthe participants in terms of protocol development, data collec-tion, and manuscript preparation. A maximum of $20,000 willbe awarded. Deadline: January 10, 2005. Notification: April11, 2005.

Directed Research Acute Congestive Heart Failure Award This grant program is sponsored by the Emergency MedicineFoundation (EMF) and Scios, Inc. This request for proposalsspecifically targets research that is designed to improve thecare of patients who present to the Emergency Departmentwith acute congestive heart failure. Only clinical science pro-posals will be considered. Proposals may focus on methods offacilitating treatment through early diagnosis, intervention andtreatment of acute congestive heart failure patients. Deadline:January 10, 2005. Notification: April 11, 2005.

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Call for AdvisorsThe inaugural year for the SAEM Virtual Advisor Pro-

gram was a tremendous success. Almost 300 medicalstudents were served. Most of them attended schoolswithout an affiliated EM residency program. Their “virtu-al” advisors served as their only link to the specialty ofEmergency Medicine. Some students hoped to learnmore about a specific geographic region, while otherswere anxious to contact an advisor whose special inter-est matched their own.

As the program increases in popularity, more advi-sors are needed. New students are applying daily, andover 100 remain unmatched! Please consider mentoringa future colleague by becoming a virtual advisor today.We have a special need for osteopathic emergencyphysicians to serve as advisors. It is a brief time com-mitment – most communication takes place via e-mail atyour convenience. Informative resources and articlesthat address topics of interest to your virtual adviseesare available on the SAEM medical student website. Youcan complete the short application on-line athttp://www.saem.org/advisor/index.htm. Please encour-age your colleagues to join you today as a virtual advi-sor.

great ideas NOT to pursue. We are an organization of volun-teers, all whom are busy people already. Our membershipdues are reasonable. While our organizational overhead per-haps sets an efficiency standard, there will be only so manymembers willing and capable of providing their valuable timeand energy, and there are only so many dollars in our operat-ing budget. We hope to use the membership survey to assistfuture BOD’s in making the decisions about allocation of mem-ber resources (time and effort as well as money). If you areinvited to serve as part of the survey sample, I hope that the20 minutes will be considered time well spent.

Over the summer and the fall the BOD has quietly interact-ed with the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Committee working onthe project “The Future of Emergency Care in the UnitedState’s Health Care System”. For those who are not aware ofthis project, or who wish to follow developments, I stronglyencourage you to visit their web site athttp://www.iom.edu/project.asp?id=16107. Past IOM Commit-tee reports have heavily influenced policymaking and fundingof health care initiatives, and this promises to be no different.It is anticipated that this committee report will significantlyimpact EM from many facets, including education andresearch. SAEM has been very careful to avoid “lobbying”efforts, which are believed to be counterproductive. Instead,we have sought to provide the committee with informationalresources illuminating issues that impact the educational andresearch aspects of EM. Both our immediate Past President,Don Yealy, and I have attended open sessions, and SAEMmembers have made presentations to the committee. TheBoard of Directors compiled a series of informationalresources (with assistance of many members who respondedon very short notice!) for the committee. These examine thestatus of EM education in medical school curricula, clinical

research and basic science research endeavors within thespecialty, and special operational features associated withacademic EDs. The BOD will continue to closely monitor IOMactivity, and provide information as requested or needed.

The BOD also reviewed all of the organization’s policystatements (these describe the process for decision making)and position statements (these describe beliefs about select-ed issues of importance to academic emergency medicine andSAEM’s mission). Look for updates soon in the next Newslet-ter, as well as on our web site. Each will now carry its ownreview date and will undergo periodic examination by futureBODs. This process included BOD 3-member subcommit-tees, discussion of subcommittee recommendations by theentire BOD, and subsequent revision by subcommittee work-groups if consensus was not reached. The BOD will finalizeaction during our December meeting.

Planning for the Annual Meeting in New York City is pro-gressing wonderfully. SAEM is anticipating its largest meetingever. Remember the January 5 deadline for your abstract sub-missions! Some new features include a Silent Auction (pro-ceeds will go to the Research Fund) and a “Breakfast with theBoard” Q&A session.

Finally I’d like to draw your attention to the Research Fundbrochure that you’ve recently received. Please take an addi-tional minute to read through this brochure. In building a foun-dation, one important component in convincing externaldonors that the cause is worthwhile is the percentage of mem-bers who contribute. To those who have already made a com-mitment, we thank you. To those who are uncertain, I’d askyou to make the commitment, as every contributor makes adifference not only in dollars, but in reaching that importantmember contributor percentage.

President’s Message…(continued from page 1)

West Virginia University School of Medicine has outstanding open rank opportuni-ties available for BE /BC Emergency Medicine Physicians. Practice opportunitiesinclude a high volume community hospital (Level 2 Trauma Center - 42,000 annualED/fast track visits). Duties include direct patient care, teaching, and supervisingmedical students, and Emergency Medicine / Family Medicine Residents withample opportunity for quality clinical research. The department has efficient sup-port systems including twenty-four hour radiology readings, rapid lab and x-rayturnaround times, bedside registration, template-based charting, and generousmid-level and nursing coverage. Opportunities are also available in the newly ren-ovated Emergency Department at West Virginia University Hospitals (40,000 annu-al ED/fast track visits). Duties include direct patient care, teaching and supervisingpost graduate physician assistant masters students, medical students, and resi-dents in a Level 1 Trauma Center that also houses a busy aero medical programand serves as the Regional EMS Medical Command Center. Significant researchopportunities exist in the areas of stroke and injury prevention. Faculty physiciansenjoy the benefits of practicing in a progressive tertiary care facility, state-of-the-arttechnologies, and a collaborative academic atmosphere conducive to professionalgrowth. North Central West Virginia offers culturally diverse, large-city amenities ina safe, family-like setting with excellent school systems and an abundance of recre-ational opportunities. Salary and academic rank will be commensurate with expe-rience. WVU offers a highly competitive and comprehensive employment packagewhich includes occurrence based malpractice. If interested, please submit a letterof interest, electronic curriculum vitae, and three references to:

Faculty Search Committeec/o Ann S. Chinnis, M.D., ChairWVU Department of Emergency MedicinePO Box 9149Morgantown, WV 26506-9149(304) 293-2436

[email protected]

West Virginia University is an Affirmative Action /Equal Opportunity Employer.

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FACULTY POSITIONSCOLORADO: Denver Health Medical Center academic attending staff position.Applicants must be ABEM certified and EM residency trained. Experience in EMresearch is strongly preferred. Denver Health Medical Center is a level I traumacenter, paramedic base-station and receiving facility for the City and County ofDenver, and the base hospital for a PGY 1 – 4 EM residency. Denver HealthMedical Center is an equal opportunity employer. If interested, please send CVto: Vince Markovchick, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, DenverHealth Medical Center, 777 Bannock Street, Mail Code 0108, Denver, Colorado80204, Tel: (303) 436-7144, Email: [email protected].

INDIANA: Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of EmergencyMedicine is recruiting a clinician teacher to provide care at public hospital EDlocated on medical center campus. Wishard Hospital is Level One TraumaCenter, base for busy pre-hospital emergency transport services, and regionalburn center. The ED recorded 108,000 visits in 2003. Wishard complementsMethodist in providing clinical experiences for IUSM EM residents. Enthusiasmfor medical education, clinical research, and patient care in busy public hospi-tal ED are expectations. Residency training, certification/preparation in EM arerequired. Rank and tenure dependent upon qualifications. Apply to Jamie JonesMD ([email protected]) or Rolly McGrath MD ([email protected]), FAX(317)656-4216. IU is an EEO/AA Employer, M/F/D.

OHIO: The Ohio State University - Assistant/Associate or Full Professor.Established residency training program. Level 1 Trauma center. Nationally rec-ognized research program. Clinical opportunities at OSU Medical Center andaffiliated hospitals. Send curriculum vitae to: Douglas A. Rund, MD, Professorand Chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine, The Ohio State University,146 Means Hall, 1654 Upham Drive, Columbus, OH 43210, [email protected], or call (614) 293-8176. Affirmative Action/EqualOpportunity Employer.

OREGON: TOXICOLOGY FELLOWSHIP: Oregon Health & Science University– Two-year Toxicology Fellowship. Fellowship includes EM residency program,EM observation unit to admit Tox patients, weekly Tox didactic conferences,Toxicokinetics course, Pediatric EM and PEDs Tox. We also have linkages withEMS, HAZMAT, AHLS course, certificate program or MPH in research, and pes-ticide surveillance program. The Oregon Poison Center serves Oregon, Nevada,Guam and Alaska, and receives 70,000 calls/year. For a full description see ourwebsite: http://www.ohsu.edu/som-EmergMed/fellowship/tox/index.htm. For anapplication please call 503-494-8600 or email Dr. Zane Horowitz at [email protected]

PENNSYLVANIA: University of Pittsburgh: Full-time emergency medicine fac-ulty positions are available at the Instructor through Associate Professor levels.Candidates must be residency trained and board certified/prepared in emer-gency medicine. We offer career opportunities as a clinician-investigator or cli-nician-teacher. Our faculty have local, national and international recognition inresearch, teaching and clinical care. The ED serves a primarily adult populationwith a volume of approximately 50,000 per year, and is a Level I trauma centerwith both toxicology and hyperbaric medicine treatment programs housed with-in our Department. Salary is commensurate with experience. For further infor-mation write to: Donald M. Yealy, MD, Vice Chair, Department of EmergencyMedicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 230 McKee Place, Suite500, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action,Equal Opportunity Employer.

WASHINGTON, DC: Washington Hospital Center (WHC), GeorgetownUniversity Hospital (GUH), Franklin Square Hospital (FSH), and UnionMemorial Hospital (UMH) in the Washington, D.C. – Baltimore, MD corridorseek physicians board-certified or residency-trained in emergency medicine tojoin their faculty. WHC is the largest Washington, DC hospital, seeing more than67,000 annual visits; GUH is a renowned academic institution; and FSH andUMH emergency departments in Baltimore are very busy. Contact Mark Smith,MD, FACEP, Chairman of Emergency Medicine, at 202-877-0808, fax 202-877-2468 or write to him at the Washington Hospital Center, Department ofEmergency Medicine, 110 Irving Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20010.

EMERGENCY MEDICINEAcademic Positions

Available in the

Department of Emergency Medicineof

Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Emergency Medicine in Western Pennsylvania’sMost Dynamic Emergency Department

✩ Emergency Medicine Residency Training Program✩ Level I Trauma Center✩ Level I HAZMAT Receiving Facility✩ 20% Pediatrics✩ Medical Toxicology Treatment Center✩ Fellowships - EMS, Sports Medicine, Administration, Research,

Toxicology, Patient Safety✩ Salary Commensurate with Experience

Contact:Fred Harchelroad, M.D.via Michelle Malsch, Executive Asst.(412) [email protected]

✩✩ West Penn Allegheny Health System, an Equal Opportunity Employer ✩✩

University of PittsburghThe Department of Emergency Medicine offers fellowshipsin the following areas:

• Toxicology• Emergency Medical Services• Research• Education

Enrollment in the Graduate School is a part of all fellowshipswith the aim of obtaining a Master’s Degree. In addition,intensive training and interaction with the nationally-knownfaculty of the Department of Emergency Medicine, withexperts in each domain, is an integral part of the fellowshipexperience. Appointment as an Instructor is offered and fel-lows assume limited clinical responsibilities in theEmergency Department at the University of PittsburghMedical Center and affiliated institutions. Each fellowshipoffers the experience in basic and/or human research andteaching opportunities with medical students, residents andother health care providers. The University of Pittsburgh is anEqual Opportunity Employer, and will welcome candidatesfrom diverse backgrounds. Each applicant should have anMD/DO background or equivalent degree and be board certi-fied or prepared in emergency medicine (or have similarexperience). Please contact Donald M. Yealy, MD, Universityof Pittsburgh, Department of Emergency Medicine, 230McKee Place, Suite 500, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 to receiveinformation.

The SAEM Newsletter is mailed every other month to approximately 6000 SAEM mem-bers. Advertising is limited to fellowship and academic faculty positions. The deadlinefor the March/April issue is February 1, 2005. All ads are posted on the SAEM web-site at no additional charge.

Advertising Rates:Classified ad (100 words or less)

Contact in ad is SAEM member $100Contact in ad non-SAEM member $125

Quarter page ad (camera ready)3.5" wide x 4.75" high $300

To place an advertisement, email the ad, along with contact person for future correspon-dence, telephone and fax numbers, billing address, ad size and Newsletter issues inwhich the ad is to appear to: Carrie Barber at [email protected]

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Yale University School of Medicine,Section of Emergency Medicine

The Section of Emergency Medicine at Yale University School of Medicineis currently seeking qualified candidates to join its faculty at both theAssistant and Associate Professor levels.

The Section of Emergency Medicine, established in 1991, has become aleader in resident education and research. The Residency Program (1-4) wasestablished in 1996 and has 10 residents per year. Fellowships in Ultrasoundand EMS are also offered. The Research Division, supported by doctoratelevel scientists, is actively engaged in several NIH studies and other researchfunded by foundations, such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.Faculty practice at Yale New Haven Hospital, an urban level I trauma centerwith over 70,000 Adult ED visits, and at a satellite ED on the Connecticutshoreline.

Candidates must be Emergency Medicine trained, board eligible or boardcertified. Positions are available for both new graduates and faculty withexperience to join either the education or research divisions. Senior facultyshould have a record of excellence in teaching, demonstrated leadershipskills, strong interpersonal skills, and a strong commitment to medical edu-cation and clinical excellence. Rank and salary will be commensurate witheducation, training and experience.

For more information, contact Dr. Gail D’Onofrio at (203) 785-4404 [email protected]. To apply, please forward your CV and cover lettervia fax at (203) 785-4580, email: [email protected], or mail at YaleUniversity School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Section ofEmergency Medicine, 464 Congress Ave, P.O. Box 208062, New Haven, CT06519-1315.

Yale University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer andwomen and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply.

University of Virginia Department of

Emergency MedicineUVa Department of Emergency Medicine is seeking aboard certified faculty member who is interested in an aca-demic career in Emergency Medicine. Opportunity exists fora new faculty member who has an interest in teaching res-idents, medical students and pre-med students (academicresearch associates) and computerized simulation educa-tion. The position carries a faculty appointment in theSchool of Medicine at the University of Virginia. Tenure andnon-tenure clinical tracks are options in the rank ofAssistant or Associate Professor commensurate with quali-fications, etc. There is an annual ED census of 60,000. Thedepartment includes a chest pain center, adult and pediatricED, fast track (Express Care), active air and ground trans-port programs and a poison control center/center for clinicaltoxicology. There is an established emergency medicineresidency program, fellowships in EMS, Toxicology andCardiovascular Emergencies and an associates degreeparamedic training program. The UVa Health System is atertiary care and level 1 trauma center located at the foot ofthe Blue Ridge Mountains. Position is open until filled. SendCV, letter of interest, list of references to: Marcus L. Martin,MD, Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Universityof Virginia Health System, P. O. Box 800699, Charlottesville,Virginia 22908-0699, E-mail: [email protected], minorities, disabled persons, and veterans are encouraged to apply. TheUniversity of Vi rginia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmat ive Action Employer.

Emergency MedicineAcademic

University Physician Associates, the faculty practice planfor the University of Missouri-Kansas City School ofMedicine, is recruiting for faculty physicians in theDepartment of Emergency Medicine. Opportunities existat the Assistant or Associate Professor level for residency-trained and board-eligible or board-certified emergencyphysicians to join a growing department. A fully-accred-ited EM residency was established in 1973 and currentlyaccepts 9 residents per year. Truman Medical Center, theprimary clinical site, is undergoing an extensive ED reno-vation that will nearly double its capacity and create amodern, state-of-the-art facility. Research areas of focusand/or need include EMS, medical simulation, asthma,cardiovascular disease, and ultrasound. UniversityPhysician Associates offers competitive salary and bene-fits. Contact: Robert A. Schwab, MD, Professor andChair, Department of Emergency Medicine, 2301 HolmesStreet, Kansas City, Missouri [email protected].

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Department ofEmergency Medicine - Faculty

JR #7236

NEW MEXICO: Department of Emergency Medicine,University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center,Albuquerque, seeks additional faculty in either the clinicianeducator or tenure track. Clinical responsibilities includedirect patient care and attending supervision in the UniversityHospital Emergency Department. Academic responsibilitiesinclude full participation in the teaching and research activi-ties of the department. Minimum requirements: board certi-fied or board eligible in emergency medicine. Preferencewill be given to candidates with strong clinical skills in emer-gency care, demonstrated experience in teaching, demon-strated experience in EMS and/or disaster medicine, and priorresearch productivity. Applicants should demonstrate clinicalcapabilities, teaching potential, interest in EMS and/or disas-ter medicine, and potential for original research. These posi-tions may be subject to criminal records screening in accor-dance with New Mexico law. Qualified applicants are invit-ed to send a signed letter of interest, CV, and three letters ofrecommendation to: David Sklar, M.D., Professor & Chair,Department of Emergency Medicine, MSC10 5560, 1University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001.Position(s) will remain open until filled. For best considera-tion, submit application materials before January 31, 2005.EEO/AA

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The Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, is pleased to announce a national and international search for Vice Chair for Research. This opportunity includes:• Extensive research opportunities;

• Dedicated research staff• Collaboration with extensive Mayo Clinic research laboratories

and programs• Access to the Rochester Epidemiology Project, a unique population-based

patient database• Dedicated time for research activities;• Full departmental, administrative and secretarial support;• Practice in a high-acuity, high-volume tertiary hospital ED with a wide variety

of patient pathology;• Leadership of dynamic faculty with ongoing clinical research.

The successful candidate must be an established investigator with a track record of publications and extramural funding, be board certifi ed in emergency medicine and have demonstrated ability to implement and grow research programs.

Competitive salary with an outstanding benefit package and academic appointment through the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.

To learn more about Mayo Clinic and Rochester, MN, please visit www.mayoclinic.org

For further information, contact:

Wyatt Decker, M.D.Chair, Department of Emergency MedicineMayo Clinic College of Medicine1216 Second Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902Phone (507) 255-6501 email: [email protected]

Mayo Foundation is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer and educator. Post offer/pre-employment drug screening is required.

Vice Chair for ResearchRochester, Minnesota

EMERGENCY MEDICINEOPPORTUNITY IN

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

Central California Faculty Medical Group, affiliated with the Universityof California San Francisco Fresno Medical Education Program is seek-ing additional core faculty members as we expand to open a new Level1 Trauma Center. These positions are located in Fresno at UniversityMedical Center and will move to a new 30,000 sf ED upon completion.A new UCSF Fresno 70,000 sf education and research building opens inearly 2005. Fresno’s Medical Education Program is home to approxi-mately 180 residents. The EM Residency began in 1974 and is a fullyaccredited 1-4 program, graduating 6 residents/ year. The ED seesapproximately 60,000 culturally diverse patients / year. The hospital is aLevel 1 trauma and burn center serving the Central San Joaquin Valley.We are also the major Base Station for the Fresno EMS System and pro-vide medical control to the adjacent Sequoia/Kings Canyon NationalParks. We are seeking faculty with interest in (but not limited to) clini-cal teaching and research, postgraduate medical education, toxicology,wilderness medicine, and pediatric emergency medicine.Must be Board Eligible/ Certified in Emergency Medicine

Send CV and 3 references to:Gene Kallsen, M.D., Chief

C/o Shirley White, CCFMGFAX: (559) 453-5233

E-mail: [email protected] our websites at www.ccfmg.org

and www.ucsfresno.eduUCSF undertakes affirmative action to assure equal employment opportunity for

underutilized minorities and women, for persons with disabilities and for Vietnam-era veterans and special disabled veterans.

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Newark Beth Israel Medical CenterAn Affiliate of the St. Barnabas Health Care System

Department of Emergency Medicine

EM Teaching Attending Position

We are seeking a dynamic, experienced clinician BC EMto join our diverse, energetic faculty. Fully accreditedEM residency training thirty emergency physicians.82,000 patients per year, one-third children. We are ded-icated to teaching, research, and clinical excellence andseek to deliver the highest quality emergency medicalcare in an way that patients leave with an experienece ofbeing cared for and valued as human beings. Very com-petitive salary and benefits. Please submit resume andletter of interest via mail, fax, or e-mail:

Marc Borenstein, MD, FACEP Chair and Residency Program DIrector

Department of Emergency Medicine Newark Beth Israel Medical Center

201 Lyons Avenue Newark, New Jersey 07112

973-926-7562 office 973-282-0562 fax

[email protected]

Take Pride. Take Ownership. Deliver Excellence. Patients 1st.

The Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, isseeking a full-time Academic Emergency Physician.

The opportunity includes:• Practice in a 70,000 visit/year, high-acuity tertiary referral center, with over

12,000 pediatric visits;• Teaching in an emergency medicine residency program, as well as teaching of

off-service residents and medical students;• Extensive prehospital/aeromedical program including paramedic base station,

3 rotor and 1 fixed wing aircraft;• Numerous opportunities in research, with administrative support and

intramural funding available;• Dynamic faculty with commitment to practice, education and research.The successful candidate must be an individual with a demonstrated interestin academic emergency medicine as proven by performance in residency orfellowship training or faculty positions. EM residency trained, ABEM/ABOEMboard certification/preparednesss and eligibility for Minnesota medical license required.

Competitive salary with an outstanding benefit package and academicappointment through the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.

To learn more about Mayo Clinic and Rochester, MN, please visit www.mayoclinic.org

For further information, contact:

Wyatt Decker, M.D.Chair, Department of Emergency MedicineMayo Clinic College of Medicine1216 Second Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902Phone (507) 255-6501 email: [email protected]

Mayo Foundation is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer and educator. Postoffer/pre-employment drug screening is required.

Academic Emergency PhysicianRochester, Minnesota

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Orlando Regional Medical CenterFaculty Positions – Pediatric Emergency MedicineEmergency Physicians of Central Florida, a stable democratic multi-hospitalgroup of over 30 emergency physicians, is seeking 4 board-certified or board-prepared pediatric emergency medicine physicians. Double-boarded emer-gency medicine/pediatric emergency physicians will have the opportunity towork in both the children and adult emergency departments. The OrlandoRegional Medical Center Emergency Medicine faculty are preparing to migratefrom our current conjoined pediatric emergency / adult emergency departmentto a new pediatric ED with Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. The newdepartment will have a total of 33 beds (13 acute care, 16 urgent care, and 4trauma/resuscitation rooms), and expected to have a volume of more than40,000 visits within the first two years. The new Children’s EmergencyDepartment will be a level 1 trauma center with air transport. Subspecialtycoverage is excellent.This career will include academic appointments with the University of FloridaCollege of Medicine and Florida State University College of Medicine. Full-timeteaching duties will be with Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children PediatricResidency Program (41 residents - 34 pediatric and 6 internal medicine/pedi-atric, 1 chief) and Orlando Regional Medical Center Emergency MedicineResidency Program (36 residents with currently14 full time faculty, 2 double-boarded in em/pem). The amicability and stability of our democratic partner-ship, community hospital teaching with eight established residency programs,academic appointments, research opportunities, and a beautiful location withaccess to year-around outdoor activities and natural resources offers a won-derful opportunity. Compensation and benefits are excellent. Please call MarkClark, MD FACEP, FAAP at (321) 841-1518 or email [email protected].

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Call for Abstracts9th Annual SAEM New England

Regional MeetingApril 27, 2005

Shrewsbury, Massachusetts

The Program Committee is now accepting abstracts forreview for oral and poster presentations. The meeting willtake place April 27, 2005, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm at theHoagland-Pincus Conference Center in Shrewsbury, MA.For information: www.umassmed.edu/conferencecenter/. The deadline for abstract submission is Wednesday,January 5, 2005 at 3:00 pm Eastern Time. Only elec-tronic submissions via the SAEM online abstract submis-sion form at www.saem.org will be accepted. Acceptancenotification will be sent mid-March 2005. Send registration forms to: Linda Quattrucci, ResearchAssistant, Department of Emergency Medicine; RhodeIsland Hospital, Coro West, Suite 106, One Hoppin Street,Providence, RI 02903. Email contact is [email protected] Fees: Faculty = $100; Residents/Nurses =$50; EMTs/Students = $25. Late fee after April 8, 2005 =add $25. Make checks payable to Brown Medical School,Department of Emergency Medicine.

Call for AbstractsSoutheastern SAEM Regional Meeting

April 8-9, 2005Chapel Hill, NC

The 2004 Southeastern Regional SAEM Meeting will beheld at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina onApril 8-9, 2005. The program committee is now acceptingabstracts for review for oral and poster presentations.Abstracts may be submitted electronically via the SAEMweb site at www.saem.org until January 5, 2005 at 5:00pm Eastern Time. Please use the SAEM submission formfound at www.saem.org.There will be oral and poster research presentations, ses-sions for medical students, hands on workshops, roundtable discussions with leaders in Academic EmergencyMedicine, keynote presentations by Dr. Glenn Hamiltonand Dr. Ian Stiell, and time to socialize with colleagues inthe southeast. Registration: medical students and residents are particu-larly encouraged to attend, and receive a discounted reg-istration fee: $50 (medical students) and $75 (residents ornurses). Registration for attending physicians is $125.For assistance with registration contact: Julie Vissers at(866) 924-7929 or (503) 635-4871 or via fax: (404) 795-0711 or email [email protected].

Call for AbstractsWestern SAEM Regional Meeting

April 9-10, 2005Marina Del Rey Marriott

Marina Del Rey, California

The program committee is now accepting abstract sub-missions for poster and oral plenary sessions. Acceptedposters will be previewed on Saturday April 9, 2005 andmoderated poster sessions will be on Sunday, April 10.There will also be an oral plenary session for the region’sbest 4 or 5 abstracts. The deadline for abstract submis-sions is January 31st at 5pm PST. Only electronic sub-missions using the SAEM online abstract submission format www.saem.org will be accepted. Acceptance notificationwill be sent mid-March, 2005.

This conference’s didactic segments will focus onunderstanding and managing the role of uncertainty inmultiple aspects of clinical and academic EM practice. Formore information, contact Dr. Pam Dyne [email protected]. The conference will conclude with anfun and interactive game-show format of audience partici-pation.

Please send registration forms to: Mr. Wayne Hasby,Residency Coordinator, UCLA/Olive View-UCLA EM Res-idency, 924 Westwood Blvd., suite 300. His email is [email protected].

Registration fees: $125 for faculty, $50 for residents,nurses, and paramedics, and $10 for medical students.Please make checks payable to UCLA Division of Emer-gency Medicine.

Call for Abstracts5th Annual New York State

SAEM Regional Meeting April 3, 2005Brooklyn, NY

The program committee is now accepting abstractsfor review. All accepted abstracts will be for oralpresentation. The meeting will take place on Sun-day, April 3, 2005, 8:00 am-4:00 pm at StateUniversity of New York, Downstate Medical Center,450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203.

The deadline for abstract submission isJanuary 5, 2005 at 3 pm Eastern Time. Onlyelectronic submissions via the SAEM onlineabstract submission form at www.saem.org will beaccepted. Acceptance notifications will be sent inlate February.

Registration forms are available from Richard Sin-ert, DO, Department of Emergency Medicine, Box1228, SUNY-Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clark-son Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203 [email protected]

Registration Fees: Faculty--$35; Other health careprofessionals--$30; Fellows/residents $25 Charge.Late fee after Tuesday, March 1, 2005: add $10.For questions or additional information, call 718-245-2973.

Page 32: January-February 2005

Call for Abstracts2005 Annual Meeting

May 22-25, 2005New York, New York

Deadline: January 5, 2005

The Program Committee is accepting abstracts for review for oral and poster presentation at the 2005 SAEM AnnualMeeting. Authors are invited to submit original research in all aspects of Emergency Medicine including, but not limitedto: abdominal/gastrointestinal/genitourinary pathology, administrative/health care policy, airway/anesthesia/analgesia,CPR, cardiovascular (non-CPR), clinical decision guidelines, computer technologies, diagnostic technologies/radiology,disease/injury prevention, education/professional development, EMS/out-of-hospital, ethics, geriatrics, infectious dis-ease, IEME exhibit, ischemia/reperfusion, neurology, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry/social issues, researchdesign/methodology/statistics, respiratory/ENT disorders, shock/critical care, toxicology/environmental injury, trauma,and wounds/burns/orthopedics.

The deadline for submission of abstracts is Wednesday, January 5, 2005 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time and will bestrictly enforced. Only electronic submissions via the SAEM online abstract submission form will be accepted. Theabstract submission form and instructions will be available on the SAEM website at www.saem.org in November. For fur-ther information or questions, contact SAEM at [email protected] or 517-485-5484 or via fax at 517-485-0801.

Only reports of original research may be submitted. The data must not have been published in manuscript or abstractform or presented at a national medical scientific meeting prior to the 2005 SAEM Annual Meeting. Original abstracts pre-sented at national meetings in April or May 2005 will be considered.

Abstracts accepted for presentation will be published in the May issue of Academic Emergency Medicine, the official jour-nal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. SAEM strongly encourages authors to submit their manuscripts toAEM. AEM will notify authors of a decision regarding publication within 60 days of receipt of a manuscript.

Board of DirectorsCarey Chisholm, MDPresident

Glenn Hamilton, MDPresident-Elect

Katherine Heilpern, MDSecretary-Treasurer

Donald Yealy, MDPast President

Leon Haley, Jr, MD, MHSAJames Hoekstra, MDJeffrey Kline, MDMaria Raven, MDRobert Schafermeyer, MDSusan Stern, MDEllen Weber, MD

EditorDavid Cone, [email protected]

Executive Director/Managing EditorMary Ann [email protected]

Advertising CoordinatorCarrie [email protected]

“to improve patient care byadvancing research andeducation in emergencymedicine”

The SAEM newsletter is published bimonthly by the Society for AcademicEmergency Medicine. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the

authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAEM.

Society for AcademicEmergency Medicine901 N. Washington AvenueLansing, MI 48906-5137

PresortedStandard

U.S. PostageP A I D

Lansing, MIPermit No. 485

SAEM

Newsletter of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine