Why AAEM?

by Mark Foppe, DO FAAEM, Membership Committee Member

Why AAEM? As AAEM continues to grow, the answer to this question continues to evolve. Every member has his or her own reasons for joining AAEM, and although there are sure to be a lot of common experiences, the membership committee would like to hear from you.

A new link has been added to the AAEM website, which the membership committee encourages you to click on, and not only read the responses, but submit a quote of your own. The link can be found on the opening page when you access www.aaem.org. Clicking on the "Why AAEM" tab takes you to a screen where you can read several quotes from leaders of emergency medicine. Take a look at them, and add one of your own by clicking on the tab located in the left column which says "Submit Your Quote." This takes you to a screen that allows you and other members to share thoughts and experiences as to why AAEM is important to the future of emergency medicine.

When the leadership from the state chapters met in Las Vegas at the last Scientific Assembly, almost every chapter discussed that an obstacle they have when trying to grow membership is to answer the question - why AAEM? The membership committee developed this idea for the website last fall, and after hearing from the leadership of the state chapters, it was implemented to gain the assistance from the membership in formulating responses to this question.

I am sure my story is not unique. As a resident, I attended a talk by Bob McNamara, MD, who was invited to speak to our program. I had been "bitten by the EM bug" during my training in medical school and knew that I wanted emergency medicine as my specialty. In residency, I developed a great love for emergency medicine, but I had no idea about the issues that faced my future profession. Upon hearing the The Rape of Emergency Medicine lecture from Dr. McNamara, I was relieved to hear about an organization that brought these issues to light and advocated for the "pit doc." I joined AAEM as a resident member that evening.

Since that time, I have attended what I consider to be the best Scientific Assemblies our profession has to offer. You cannot find better CME opportunities in emergency medicine; the value is unsurpassed. JEM: nothing more needs to be said about this quality journal provided to our members.

I have witnessed AAEM come to the aid of many of our members when faced with unfair practices and the corporate practice of medicine. I have seen other organizations change the way they elect leadership to allow for representation of the individual practioner because of the stance that AAEM took.

We currently face many challenges to the specialty of emergency medicine. The IOM statement that physicians do not have to be residency-trained in emergency medicine in order to practice emergency medicine is one of them 1. The attempt by AAPS to claim that they certify EM docs through a practice pathway and want recognition from state boards of their BCEM certification is another.

AAEM is the organization which best represents the "pit doc" and the one I can trust to take the position which protects and represents the interest of the board certified emergency medicine physician. AAEM is the organization we want to support and encourage our residents to join as our young specialty continues to grow and as we face new challenges.