PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS Andra Blomkalns, MD University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas SAEM President 2016-2017
A Year in Review
"It has been an honor and privilege to serve all of you."
What a year! I cannot believe that it has been nearly a year since SAEM16—our annual meeting in New Orleans. A lot has happened for the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine in this short year.
time and year-round networking and collaboration. Take a look…click around! I have been looking forward to something like this for SAEM for over 10 years and it is finally here!
May started off with sudden and full court press involvement within the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Standardized Video Interview (SVI) pilot program. SAEM and the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine (AACEM) were central in convincing the AAMC that the effort needed to start as a voluntary research pilot instead of a full operational launch in May 2016. The intent of establishing a voluntary pilot program was to work through the process, get student feedback, establish and begin validation of a grading rubric, establish stakeholder understanding and buy-in. This residency application year, the SVI program will expand to include all emergency medicine applicants while continuing to improve the system and follow outcomes. I hope this productive relationship with the AAMC continues into the future.
The New Year also brought the launch of SAEM’s new companion journal, Academic Emergency Medicine Education and Training (AEM E&T), with Editor Susan Promes. AEM E&T is a quarterly, peerreviewed journal dedicated to publishing information relevant to education and training in emergency medicine, including original education research contributions, case reports, education case conferences, book media review, and personal features such as narratives, art, and photographs.
In September 2016, the SAEM office moved to a new location at 1111 East Touhy Ave., Ste. 540 in Des Plaines, Illinois. SAEM can now host small meetings and courses. This year the AACEM Chair Development Program conducted their January session in that location. The staff has an office where they can easily collaborate and thrive.
On a more somber note, January was also when the academic emergency medicine community learned of the failed negotiations for the academic emergency department and residency training program at Summa Health. After an unsuccessful appeal, ACGME rendered a withdraw of accreditation decision effective July 1, 2017 for the emergency medicine program and a probation decision for the Summa sponsoring institution. SAEM and AACEM assisted in finding new homes for the existing residents. SAEM has also committed to undergo an advising program for emergency medicine faculty in Akron, OH with the potential of submitting a successful application for a new ACGME approved residency in 2-3 years.
In January, SAEM revealed a new information technology platform: new website, a microsite for each of the academies, directories for residencies, medical student clerkships, and fellowships. Included in this project are a bolstered social media presence (SAEM Facebook and SAEM Twitter @SAEMonline) Online communities for interest groups, committees, and academies foster real
It has been an honor and privilege to serve all of you and I want to publicly thank the exceptional SAEM Board of Directors and excellent SAEM staff. The Program Committee for SAEM17 has been hard at work all year to furnish a program I am sure will not disappoint! If you have not already, please register, and be sure to download the SAEM17 mobile app. I look forward to seeing all of you in Orlando!
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