The Pulse- Fall 2019

FALL 2019

ACOEP: LOOKING AHEAD TIMES CHANGE, FRIENDSHIPS REMAIN PG 7

PROUD PAST, STRONG FUTURE PG 16

SAVE THE DATE APRIL 14-17, 2020 WESTIN KIERLAND RESORT & SPA SCOTTSDALE, AZ

The Pulse VOLUME XLII No. 4

EDITORIAL STAFF Timothy Cheslock, DO, FACOEP, Editor Wayne Jones, DO, FACOEP-D, Assistant Editor Tanner Gronowski, DO, Associate Editor Justin Grill, DO, FACOEP John C. Prestosh, DO, FACOEP-D Christine F. Giesa, DO, FACOEP-D Erin Sernoffsky, Director of Media Services Janice Wachtler, Executive Director Gabi Crowley, Senior Communications Manager EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Timothy Cheslock, DO, FACOEP, Chair Justin Grill, DO, FACOEP John C. Prestosh, DO, FACOEP-D Roseanna Roundtree. DO, FACOEP Kaitlin Bowers, DO Tanner Gronowski, DO Dominic Williams, DO Erin Sernoffsky, Director of Media Services

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ACOEP is a registered trademark of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

PRESIDENTIAL VIEWPOINTS Christine F. Giesa, DO, FACOEP-D

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THE EDITOR'S DESK Tim Cheslock, DO, FACOEP

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S DESK Janice Wachtler, BAE, CBA

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THE ON-DECK CIRCLE Robert E. Suter, DO, MHA, FACOEP-D

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TIMES CHANGE, FRIENDSHIPS REMAIN John C. Prestosh, DO, FACOEP

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THE FOEM TABULA RASA Michael P. Allswede, DO

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OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN Erin Sernoffsky

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HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR ACOEP STAFF? ACOEP Staff

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PROUD PAST, STRONG FUTURE Rodney Fullmer, DO

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ACOEP’S COMMITTEE FOR WOMEN IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE UPDATE Nicole Vigh, DO, MPH

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ETHICS IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE: WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Bernard Heilicser, DO, MS, FACEP, FACOEP-D

PRESIDENTIAL VIEWPOINTS

Christine F. Giesa, DO, FACOEP-D

CHANGE OF SHIFT

I

t hardly seems like two years since I was sworn in as ACOEP’s 20th president. Being president of ACOEP has been an exciting, challenging, and yet humbling experience. I have been proud to represent our organization.

During my presidency I have collected 23 room keys. I have held on to them as a token, each of them represents one of many opportunities I had to represent ACOEP, the osteopathic profession and, most importantly, you, the members of the college. I had several opportunities to interact with ACEP president, Paul Kivela, MD. We engaged in lengthy conversations and shared many common ideas.

Paul appreciated our hospitality and sincerely enjoyed our talks and his visits to ACOEP. At the end of his presidency, Paul presented me with one of his presidential challenge coins. He explained that the coin is given to someone who was helpful

or influential to him during his term.

This was a unique gift that had never been given to an ACOEP president.

Although I interacted with many organizations, no organization’s staff has impressed me more than our own. ACOEP has an extremely talented staff and I have had the privilege of working closely with them and getting to know them.

I appreciate the trust that they placed in me, as well as their dedication to ACOEP. I have had a unique opportunity that only 12 other members of our college have experienced—the opportunity to work closely with an amazing executive director and to be part of her legacy. Janice Wachtler has been at the helm of ACOEP for 27 years and possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience. As the stabilizing force of ACOEP, she has shared her insights with the presidents and has helped educate us as we made decisions to best

keep our organization on course. I am truly grateful for her friendship and wisdom that she shared with me.

My fondest memories include the Top Gun Reception in San Diego, celebrating ACOEP’s 40th Anniversary in Chicago, the Mass Casualty Incident Simulation, and riding the mechanical bull for a full 11 seconds in Denver. Of all my accomplishments during my presidency, the most meaningful experience has been my relationship with each of the members of the Board of Directors, especially the executive committee. As the president of ACOEP it is easy to take credit for everything, but the real work is done behind the scenes with a lot of input from the Board, executive director, staff, and the membership. Thank you everyone for your dedication, hard work, and support over the past two years.

Remember ACOEP, we still got this! –•–

AS THE PRESIDENT OF ACOEP IT IS EASY TO TAKE CREDIT FOR EVERYTHING, BUT THE REAL WORK IS DONE BEHIND THE SCENES WITH A LOT OF INPUT FROM THE BOARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STAFF, AND THE MEMBERSHIP.”

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THE EDITOR’S DESK

Tim Cheslock, DO, FACOEP

BUILDING FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE

A

s we gather in Austin for ACOEP’s 2019 Scientific Assembly, I think it is important for us to reflect on where we have been, where we are currently, and what our future holds.

If you haven’t noticed by now, there has been a lot of change in our organization over the last few years. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Board, staff, and

landscape of emergency medicine training has yet to fully form.

ACOEP has met these changes head-on by reevaluating what we offer our members, modernizing our operations, and ensuring that we are not merely reacting to the changes around us, but preemptively creating an efficient, proactive organization that stands as a leader in the medical community.

IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE, WE NEED THE SUPPORT OF YOU, OUR VALUED MEMBER. YOUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AND MEMBERSHIP WITHIN ACOEP IS ESSENTIAL.” members, ACOEP enjoyed rapid growth in recent years, including increased membership, many new DOs entering the profession, growing conferences, online CME, and highquality education.

A little over four years ago, the AOA decided to merge our graduate medical education programs with the ACGME, a decision met with trepidation by many in the osteopathic community. Most emergency medicine residencies that transitioned are now three year programs instead of four, and the new

Efficiencies in operation and infrastructure, while critical, are only one aspect of ensuring our success.

In order to continue to thrive, we need the support of you, our valued member. Your active participation and membership within ACOEP is essential. We count on your continued membership, your voice to spread ACOEP’s message to your colleagues, your participation in our conferences and committees, and your unique view and experiences.

Our college is a specialtybased organization of like-minded

emergency physicians. Surely there is a colleague that you work with who is not a member of our organization that could benefit from being a member of ACOEP. Talk to them about what appeals to you about our organization, share with them your stories of the family atmosphere of our meetings, our high-quality CME, and our dual accreditation for CME to fulfill both AOBEM and ABEM requirements. Above all, tell them why you are proud to be an ACOEP member and bring them on board. If we all recruited one new member this year, the result would be amazing! The future of ACOEP is ours to make. It is up to each one of us to do our part to make sure ACOEP is positioned to continue to be a force for advocacy, medical advancement, and support of emergency medicine physicians across the country.

In closing, I would like to personally acknowledge Jan Wachtler for her many years of service to our organization. Jan has been the rock of ACOEP for many years and has touched all of our lives.

I wish her well in retirement and thank her for her many years of tireless effort on behalf of ACOEP. I am confident that as we move forward with Adam Levy as the Interim Executive Director our college will continue to flourish and he will lead us on the continuing path of success for the future. –•–

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S DESK

Janice Wachtler, BAE, CBA

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

C

hange arrives in all fashions.

They can be health-related or age-related but, regardless the reason, change comes. And so, it is time for change at ACOEP. As I retire from my position, I look back at 27 years that I would never want to change, except maybe for a little time here and there. I have enjoyed working side-by-side with hundreds of physicians and watched students move onto residencies and then become valued members. I’ve met families and watched children grow into adults before my very eyes.

I have seen things that we predicted for the osteopathic profession become reality and am proud to have been part of this growing, dynamic family of emergency physicians.

Time has a way of passing by without notice and, thus, we miss out on much of what happens around us.

Are we blinded by the speed at which time passes? Maybe. But mostly we miss the passing of time because we are in its maelstrom, busy with life, work, family, and friends. Suddenly, you look in the mirror and say who is that person? Is that me? When did I get white hair? When did I get that frown line? When did I miss seeing the wolf that waits beyond the door? Time does that to all of us, and so, with this last article, I’d like to look at what was achieved since 1992.

In 1992, we had an office ensconced in an emergency room educational office. One person worked part time to get things done and ACOEP had 365 members, one for every day of the year. We had members who had not paid dues in more than five years, who gladly

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TODAY, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF YOUNG EDUCATORS, WE HAVE STATE-OF-THE-ART CME WHICH IS DUALLY ACCREDITED BY AOA AND ACCME...” and collectively sent in more than $10,000 of back dues in two weeks when contacted about their lapse in membership. We had a set of bylaws that had gone untouched for more than 12 years, which Dr. Becher and I went through over the phone for a week or two just to bring up to date.

We had a baby organization.

As we worked, we became one of the “Big Five” osteopathic specialties, driven somewhat by the great advertisement of “ER” on TV and the need for these frontline physicians to man the growing number of emergency rooms popping up across the US. Timing is everything and it was time for ACOEP. Membership grew at an astonishing rate of 5% annually, certification shot to a record high, and our residency programs were held to the same standard as our MD counterparts.

We had dynamic, young physicians coming into the presidency who brought ideas that inspired young and older physicians alike.

Over time the average age of our members dropped from 42 to 35 and we continued to grow. Today, under the leadership of young educators, we have state-of-the-art CME which is dually accredited by AOA and ACCME and we should be proud of the fact that we are as good or better than many other organizations when it comes to education.

Today, we have a dedicated

staff of young, dynamic, qualified professionals who work daily to achieve and maintain excellence in our products. We also have a cadre of members who support these efforts daily by endorsing our programs and educating the emergency medicine community that smaller doesn’t mean mediocre – smaller means we know our physicians and their needs and we provide them with wonderful educational and research opportunities.

So even though I may not be in the leadership chair, I know that success is not made by one person, it takes a community to make an organization successful, meaningful, and dynamic. I urge you to be involved, be vocal, challenge the norm as we have always done, push that boundary as far as you can to achieve what you want, and never give up.

I will never give up on you, and so I thank all those people with whom I worked for these many years. I thank the Boards and the board members who worked without pay and recognition to make the College successful. I thank the young leaders who created programs for their peers and became mentors to students who will hopefully give back to the College in the future. And I thank you for the support and love you shared with me as a second family. You can always reach me at janwachtler@yahoo.com.

See you and God bless. –•–

THE ON-DECK CIRCLE

Robert E. Suter, DO, MHA, FACOEP-D

J

ust before his death in 2005, Peter Drucker was celebrated

by Businessweek as “the man who invented management.”

That description makes you think of some form of corporate management and, in fact, improving the performance of both for-profit and non-profit entities was a big part of his life’s work. But what really drove Drucker was a desire to try to create “a better functioning society.”

My move from the On Deck Circle to the Presidential “batter’s box” coincides with a time of great change for our College, our society of osteopathic emergency physicians. Unfortunately, most of the changes, even those with profound impact on our College, have not been of our own choice or making. Changes to Osteopathic GME, CME, certification, and AOA membership requirements are all radically different than they were when you elected your current ACOEP Board. For the most part we

OUR BEST DAYS ARE AHEAD OF US have had to react to changes rather than make or even shape them.

While we may not be able to undo any of the changes that have occurred to our professional world, our College can refuse to be victims of them. And you can rest assured, we will.

ACOEP’s plans, operations, and management over the past quarter century were all predicated on the rules, conditions, and expectations that existed prior to all of the recent changes. The focus was on growth rather than on the potential for financial challenges. At the conclusion of Scientific Assembly your Board of Directors and I will meet for a strategic planning session to determine what we want our organizational future to look like. Then, together with our staff, we will challenge all of our prior assumptions, review our operations, and make any changes necessary to achieve our desired end.

Regardless of anything else that

THE BEST WAY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE IS TO MAKE IT.”

we decide to be or become, ACOEP will always be the professional home of choice for all emergency physicians who identify with the osteopathic emergency medicine community by degree or by choice.

We need to remain a community of friends and family united by shared experiences where all feel welcome and valued. ACOEP will be the favorite place where all of us want to come together throughout our professional career.

As we redefine the future of our College, we need each and every member of our family to be a part of our success. We need your feedback, your input, and, most of all, your active participation in our programs, events, committees, and work groups. I invite you to contact me or any of our Board of Directors to give us your thoughts, opinions, and interests.

In the spirit of Peter Drucker, we will improve the functioning of our ACOEP society to best meet your needs and desires and together we will achieve our desired organizational outcome. We can predict that our best days are still ahead because we will make our future with your feedback and active participation. – • –

- PETER DRUCKER

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TIMES CHANGE, FRIENDSHIPS REMAIN

By John C. Prestosh, DO, FACOEP Immediate Past President

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T

ime has a way of moving on, even when we do not recognize it in the moment. I believe that as we grow older time quickens its pace to a frenetic level. I know I have found this to be true in my own life. It seems like just a few years ago (it was actually in the mid-1980’s) that I attended my first ACOEP sponsored function and little did I realize that would be the beginning of a fulfilling career in this college.

When I joined, I was proud to be associated with a group of physicians who not only cared about Emergency Medicine but also the membership of ACOEP. From the very beginning, I was made to feel at home and that sense has never changed. ACOEP is truly a family organization.

I always admired the time and talents the Board of Directors dedicated to ACOEP. For many years, I never considered being in a position of leadership in our organization, however a sense of “giving back” to ACOEP stirred my feelings and I became more

involved. I know I would be remiss and forget to mention someone if I tried to name all those board members, who, as busy as they were with the work of the college, always had time to stop and chat for a few minutes either at Scientific Assembly or Spring Seminar.

During my journey with ACOEP, I have been tutored and guided by physicians who were present when help was needed. I have enjoyed my term on the Board of Directors and I was especially honored to be the “face of ACOEP” during my term as President. As my time of being the Immediate Past-President comes to an end, I want to give a great big thank you to everyone I had the privilege to work with while on the board. I also want to thank the members of the college for their confidence in having me represent ACOEP at the national and international levels, interacting with the other members of the House of Emergency Medicine.

The completion of my board term coincides with another individual who is retiring from our college. I met this person many years ago and she was one of the many smiling faces that was always available to offer advice and guidance when needed. Of course, I am referring to Jan Wachtler, our long-time executive director. I have many stories about Jan, as I am sure most of you do. I can remember one specific event when we were in Scottsdale at the Doubletree Resort. My wife and two sons accompanied me on that trip and my oldest son was in need of a specific item to complete a school project due prior to our leaving Scottsdale. While walking down one of the hotel’s corridors, I saw Jan coming out of a board meeting and she must have noted the concerned look on my face and asked what was wrong. I explained about my son’s dilemma and, without hesitation, she informed me she had what we needed.

She allowed me to use ACOEP’s equipment and my son was able to complete his project. To Jan, this was probably not

a big deal; however, it was to me and certainly made the remainder of our stay in Arizona much more relaxing. Jan has done many similar acts of kindness over the years. It did not matter if you were a member of the board, a new member, long-standing veteran of the college, a resident, or a student; Jan was always ready to lend a helping hand.

As our friendship grew over the years, as well as my upward movement in the college, Jan was always there to provide sound advice and to help explore new directions and ideas when that was what ACOEP required.

I know change happens, but sometimes it does catch us off guard. I have no doubts that Jan will keep herself busy with writing and I am quite sure we will see her author another book in the not too distant future. I wish Jan good health and happiness as she begins a new path in her life. I know I speak for many college members when I say that we will miss her and that we all wish her the best.

Jan has given so much to ACOEP and it will take some time to adjust to her not being at the helm. Her tireless efforts to promote ACOEP over her career should not go quietly by the wayside. So I say, BRAVO JAN! On behalf of ACOEP, I am profoundly thankful for everything you have done and achieved for our organization through your hard work and dedication.

As my term on the ACOEP Board of Directors comes to an end, I feel a sense of camaraderie in that I am stepping down at a time when Jan has also made her retirement known. I cannot think of a better way to finish my time on the board than in joining Jan as she completes her position as our executive director.

Change is inevitable, whether we like it or not.

Nevertheless, there is one fact that will not change; the friendship that Jan and I have shared for so many years will continue forward. –•–

TIME DOESN’T TAKE AWAY FROM FRIENDSHIP, NOR DOES SEPARATION.” - TENNESSEE WILLIAMS

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THE FOEM

Tabula asa R 9

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By Michael P. Allswede, DO President, Foundation for Osteopathic Emergency Medicine

T

he Latin term “tabula rasa” translates to “erased slate.”

Tabula rasa is a term used in the fields of philosophy and psychology to express the sense that one’s mind begins with no rules or pre-conceptions. With respect to the Foundation for Osteopathic Emergency Medicine (FOEM), we are challenged by a changing academic ecosystem in which the traditional FOEM role of research support for the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (ACOEP) and research competitions for students and residents may not be the best use of FOEM assets.

As FOEM president, I wish to engage the ACOEP membership in a frank discussion about the future of FOEM. To fully explore our alternatives, we must adopt a tabula rasa approach in which we are able to freely synthesize a new and better FOEM. FOEM has traditionally supported resident and student research competitions in service to the AOA requirements for a resident “publication quality” paper prior to graduation. While the AOA standard sets a high bar for scholarly work, the actual performance has historically been somewhat less impressive.

Relatively few actual publications are produced from historically osteopathic programs. There are many reasons for this, but chief among them are: • The challenges of residency training in community settings.

• The lack of academic productivity by traditionally osteopathic residency faculty.

• The traditionally osteopathic residencies produce good clinicians, but not many academicians.

• The ecosystem of academic osteopathic emergency medicine has changed.

With the transition to the single pathway Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirements, the emphasis changes from resident to faculty scholarly productivity.

Not only publications but also presentations of research at national and regional conferences count as ACGME faculty scholarly activity. Osteopathic emergency medicine faculty have struggled with this new requirement. In fact, approximately one third of our previously osteopathic emergency medicine residencies have closed or merged.

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FOEM has responded by producing and delivering the Faculty Research and Academic Skills course and opened FOEM paper review and research competitions to all faculty of all residencies. These efforts have met with rather tepid response from the ACOEP membership.

FOEM is not only a research competition sponsor, but also a funder of research projects. Compared to the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF), and the Scientific Academy of Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Research Fund (RF), FOEM is by far the smallest and least productive.

In comparison, FOEM endowments are approximately 3% of either the ACEP, EMF, or SAEM RF. Our research competitions are the smallest and have failed so far to attract ACGME programs other than the historically osteopathic programs. To remain relevant, the FOEM must take a tabula rasa approach to increase its participation, endowment, and productivity.

The previous practices of FOEM are non-sustaining in the new academic ecosystem.

Although FOEM is the smallest of the three organizations, FOEM is still a national organization with national research competitions, a paper reviewing apparatus, the FOEM Research Network (FRN), and a relationship with the WestJEM. The historically osteopathic ergo new ACGME residencies need scholarly activity opportunities for their faculty and the residents. The colleges of osteopathic medicine have students interested in emergency medicine who are inclined to engage with the ACOEP Resident Student Organization (RSO) and participate in FOEM competitions.

FOEM must change with the changing environment. The FOEM Board is planning changes with the following priorities:

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• To improve the FOEM financial status, our research competitions will charge a participation fee commensurate with other research organizations. This fee schedule will go into effect for the 2020 Spring Seminar. Medical students will be exempt from these fee schedules.

• To increase faculty participation in research competitions, FOEM will actively recruit faculty participation from all community-based emergency medicine residencies.

Community based residencies all share common hardships. This is a potential growth niche for the FOEM. • FOEM will end its small grant program to sponsor larger research projects that utilize the FRN to recruit participation from the membership. This sort of community-based, directed research will operate similar to the National Emergency X Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS), or the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) utilizing common protocols and multiple site data collections.

To actualize these planned changes, FOEM must have support from ACOEP. This is a critical year of transition.

Good leadership and strong funding are crucial elements for FOEM. Please consider involving yourself with FOEM and/or please consider a monthly gift to FOEM at foem. org/donate.

The FOEM Board and I will be discussing these plans in greater detail with the attendees at the FOEM Gala in Austin, TX, this November. Please consider attending the Gala along with the regular ACOEP programming. Your support now will allow FOEM to remain viable and to meet the academic and scholarly needs of ACOEP. Thank you for your time and your support. –•–

Have You Seen the FOEM Research Network?

Calling all researchers and research sites!

The FOEM Research Network is a state-of-the art, easy-to-use website that connects researchers and research sites for easily accessible multicenter studies! Users can search by research topic, location, and more to help get their finger on the pulse of the most cutting-edge research in EM.

Find us at frn.foem.org!

Oh Captain, My Captain

By Erin Sernoffsky, ACOEP Staff

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was nervous. It was a freezing November morning in Chicago and my feet were numb as I entered the office of the executive director for my second interview at ACOEP. I clutched my writing samples and ran through practice questions in my head as I extended my hand.

Jan greeted me with a warm smile and a “hiya kiddo!” as if she were a cousin I hadn’t seen since the last family reunion. Her office was bedecked in Cubs regalia and her own photography and she sat back comfortably in her chair as we began to chat. At the time I felt hopeful, like my potential new boss and I had an immediate connection. But in the nearly 11 years since that day I’ve come to realize that this is simply Jan—a woman who has never met a stranger.

Within my first week I knew for sure that ACOEP was the “house that Jan Built.” It is an association centered on camaraderie, support, and collegiality. Just as the osteopathic principles dictate that no patient is merely a chart and a list of symptoms, to Jan members are not merely dues and attendance numbers.

ACOEP’s members are students realizing a life-long dream of becoming doctors, residents finding their footing in a competitive field, and

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attendings working to change their communities.

To Jan, ACOEP’s members are our responsibility.

We owe them our time and talent as they place their careers and faith in us to provide them with education, support, and dedication.

This became all the more apparent at my first conference, Scientific Assembly in Boston.

I was amazed at the number of members who came up to the registration desk just to say hi to Jan. I saw residents searching her out to thank her for personal help with their matches. I remember seeing Jan literally climb across a table to hug a physician she hadn’t seen in years. “That’s Jan!” then-Events Director Kristen Wattonville said with a smile and a shrug. When working the registration desk at every conference not an hour goes by that someone does not come up to staff and ask, “where’s Jan?” The Jan-Era of ACOEP began in 1992 when the College was home to 365 members, did not hold independent conferences, and could only support one part-time staff member. It is incredible to think about this as we finalize plans for the 2019 Scientific Assembly which boasts doctors Judith Tintinalli and JD Polk as keynote speakers, hands-on workshops, the burgeoning RSO, the growing NPIP, the industry-changing

Women in EM committee, breakout lectures, a gala, and so much more.

As her staffer I am not merely a cog in the machine, I am family. She gave me the space to test myself, allowed me the safety to try and fail, and helped me find the confidence to try again. When I began working remotely her faith in me inspired me to redouble my efforts and contribute more. The fact that she never makes me feel like I have to choose between work and family creates a deep sense of motivation and loyalty and is part of the

reason I have been her employee for almost 11 years. Jan has been there for the biggest changes in my life—marriage, parenthood, buying my first home, loss, and births. I was an early reader for Jan’s debut novel, came to know her family, and was here as she conquered breast cancer.

As Jan transitions into her retirement I know that ACOEP will never be the same, but I also know her legacy is secure through the friendships amongst the staff and the bonds members share. Jan is the reason we are all here, and I will continue to work to make her proud. –•–

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HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR ACOEP STAFF?

Y

ou’ve seen us at meetings. You’ve emailed us. You’ve asked us how to claim your CME. But how well do you really know your ACOEP staff?

We’re a group of hard-working, creative, motivated individuals, but we also enjoy some fun! Take this handy quiz to see how well you know your dedicated staff! –•–

1

2

Which ACOEP staffer has a healthy interest in true crime documentaries and says they would bring a notebook and a pen if stranded on a deserted island?

3

4

This staff member loves pasta, traveling, and is currently preparing for a trip to Dubai.

5

This New York City native’s favorite book is Anne of Green Gables.

6

Although this staffer once dreamed of being a backup dancer for Janet Jackson, these days she dreams of a day off spent watching Law and Order: SVU.

8

B

C

This person’s favorite movie is Sweet Home Alabama and would pick a steak dinner with a brownie sundae for their last meal.

This staffer once dreamed of being an astronaut and keeps that passion alive through an avid interest in aviation, space, and astrophysics.

7

A

D

E

F

G

When not summiting Kilimanjaro, this staff member also masters aerial tricks in her silks classes.

This staff member originally moved to Chicago to pursue a passion for theater and can regularly be found hiking through the woods.

H

ADAM LEVY Interim Executive Director 312.445.5710 ALevy@acoep.org

JENNA SOPKO Events & Marketing Coordinator 312.445.5713 JSopko@acoep.org

SONYA STEPHENS Director of Member Services 312.445.7504 SStephens@acoep.org

LINDSEY RODEN Senior Coordinator, Resident and Student Organization and Member Services 312.445.5717 LRoden@acoep.org

ERIN SERNOFFSKY Director, Media Services 312.445.5709 ESernoffsky@acoep.org

GABI CROWLEY Senior Media Coordinator 312.445.5715 GCrowley@acoep.org

KEFAH SPREITZER Educational Programs Manager 312.445.5702 KSpreitzer@acoep.org

TY JACKSON Manager, CME Accreditation and Compliance 312.445.5706 TJackson@acoep.org

Answer Key: 1–F, 2–B, 3–A, 4–D, 5–G, 6–H, 7–C, 8–E 15

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MARK MITCHELL, DO, FACOEP-D, FACEP

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PROUD PAST,

STRONG FUTURE

By Rodney Fullmer, DO Chair, ACOEP’s New Physicians in Practice

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s the New Physician in Practice Chair, I was asked to share my thoughts on ACOEP’s past, present, and future. As I reflected on what to write, a common theme continued to surface: ACOEP has a proud past and strong future!

In 1975, a small group of Emergency Medicine physicians saw the necessity for a specialty college to support their educational and professional needs.

ACOEP was born and launched a storied legacy. ACOEP, like emergency medicine physicians, has adapted to the ever-changing emergency medicine field of practice, advocacy, and education through the years.

ACOEP’s forefathers fought for equality for osteopathic emergency medicine students, residents, and attendings. For example, they created osteopathic-specific residencies in 1979 for the growing DO emergency medicine family. ACOEP members also helped to develop AOBEM written and oral board certifications equal to our allopathic counterparts. Our founding members’ perseverance propelled our specialty college to 1,000 members strong by 1997.

Since the inception of ACOEP many changes have occurred in the medicine and education fields alike, and ACOEP has met these changes head on. The college saw the importance of opening up conferences and educational assemblies to more than osteopathic physicians, leading to dually accredited Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits. The college is a leader in working to eliminate gender disparity among emergency medicine physicians by electing strong female leadership to the executive board, including the role of ACOEP president, and through the creation of ACOEP’s

Committee for Women in Emergency Medicine. The committee was designed to provide a support network that cultivates leadership and resources, develops policies to represent the female emergency medicine physician, and to deliver information pertinent to women in medicine such as gender disparities, pay/contractual differential, leadership opportunities, sexual harassment, being a working mother, and work/life balance, as well as many other topics specific to the female physician.

The New Physicians in Practice (NPIP) Committee was created as an answer to senior residents and new physicians in practice seeking help in navigating their first few years as attending physicians.

ACOEP’s NPIP was created for physicians who have graduated from residency within the past five years, helping members traverse this major career transition. This group continues to support members through difficult job selection decisions, financial guidance, contract negotiation, work/life balance, and more. The NPIP committee is continually looking for engaging speakers and new ways to support our members.

ACOEP has adapted to the everchanging landscape in emergency medicine and has a storied and proud past. As ACOEP enters 2020, celebrating 45 years since its inception, we have a strong future as evident through ACOEP’s new leadership. This next generation of trailblazing leaders are putting an emphasis on senior residents, specialty groups within the college, and new physicians in practice, while still maintaining the integrity of our past. ACOEP understands that these groups are the key to the future of ACOEP and emergency medicine. Proud Past, Strong Future! –•–

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ACOEP’S COMMITTEE FOR

WOMEN IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE UPDATE

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COEP’s Women’s Committee is proud to share some exciting updates regarding our upcoming events and growing presence in the ACOEP community!

As a relatively new committee, we would like to explain who we are and what we stand for.

The ACOEP Women’s Committee is made up of a diverse population of individuals, including women and men in various levels of training – from medical students to residents to attending physicians – with vastly different experiences who have come together for a common cause.

The committee provides a supportive network ••• that promotes female leadership, addresses the NOV 2, 2019 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM unique needs of female COMMITTEE MEETING physicians, and develops ••• policies that represent NOV 4, 2019 • 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM the female emergency WOMEN’S LECTURE TRACK medicine physician.

••• We have cultivated a NOV 5, 2019 • 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM strong presence at both ANNUAL LUNCHEON the Scientific Assembly and Spring Seminar where we have our semi-annual committee meeting and our women’s lecture track. The lecture track provides information

By Nicole Vigh, DO, MPH

2019 SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY EVENTS

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pertinent to women in medicine, including gender disparities, leadership opportunities, sexual harassment, and work/life balance.

The newest installment in the women’s lecture track at the Scientific Assembly in Austin, TX, will be held on Monday, November 4th, from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm. This lecture series is in collaboration with Physicians Against Trafficking of Humans (PATH), founded by the American Medical Women’s Association. The mission of PATH is to help medical professionals improve the care of victims of sex trafficking by increasing awareness of the problem, helping providers identify at-risk patients, providing trauma care, and connecting providers and hospitals with available resources for patients. This incredibly valuable event is open to all conference attendees and everyone is encouraged to join us.

Anyone interested in becoming a part of the Women’s Committee is encouraged to attend our committee meeting on Saturday, November 2nd, from 1:00 pm -2:00 pm at Scientific Assembly. During the meeting we will be discussing important topics, including the possibility of having childcare set up at future conferences for attendees to utilize, as well as planning for the 2020 Spring Seminar.

Our annual luncheon will be held on Tuesday, November 5th, from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm. We are excited to be joined by two leading voices

in the advancement of women in medicine, Dr. Dara Kass and Dr. Judith Tintinalli. Dr. Kass is the founder of FEMInEM, an organization devoted to gender equality in emergency medicine. Dr. Kass is dedicated to the support of female physicians and promotes career development and the success of women in medicine. Dr. Kass is joining us from New York where she is the assistant clinical professor of emergency medicine at Columbia University Medical Center.

Dr. Tintinalli is well known as being the editor in chief of the world’s best-selling emergency medicine textbook, Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine. Dr. Tintinalli is joining us from North Carolina where she is the professor and chair emeritus of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We are honored to be joined by such strong female leadership in the field of emergency

medicine. All are welcome and encouraged to attend the luncheon, so please bring your friends and colleagues!

Lastly, we are proud to partner with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to support breast cancer awareness, treatment, and research. We are excited to share that we will be selling products during Scientific Assembly at our women’s luncheon and proceeds from these sales will go directly to the BCRF, a nonprofit organization committed to achieving prevention and a cure for breast cancer by providing funding for the world’s most promising cancer research. BCRF is the highest-rated breast cancer organization in the world.

Follow us on Facebook to stay informed regarding the events at the Scientific Assembly, as well as to purchase some ACOEP swag to support breast cancer awareness! –•–

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Bernard Heilicser, DO, MS, FACEP, FACOEP-D

What Would You Do?

Ethics in Emergency Medicine Our patient was a 62-year-old male who had a court order to be transported to Hospital B for psychiatric evaluation. The patient was unable to care for himself and was covered with maggots. The tragic social situation is obvious.

EMS loaded the patient and the patient started wheezing, which got worse. The on-scene police demanded the patient be transported to Hospital B, which was not the closest, as ordered by the judge. Hospital B instructed that the patient be diverted to the closest, Hospital A. EMS transported to Hospital B, obeying the court and police.

Was this the right decision and what might you have done in this situation as medical control?

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Please visit www.acoep.org/newsroom and share your thoughts on this case. –•–

If you have any cases that you would like to present or be reviewed in The Pulse, please email them to us at esernoffsky@acoep.org. Thank you.

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Our culture rocks.

Here’s how we roll.

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Discover USACS where every full-time physician is given ownership. Culture matters. Find out why at USACS.com.

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