PRESIDENT’S REPORT Robert E. Suter, DO, MHA, FACOEP-D, FIFEM

PRESIDENT’S REPORT Robert E. Suter, DO, MHA, FACOEP-D, FIFEM

OUR BEST DAYS ARE AHEAD OF US

The textbook on an outgoing President’s message is that, among other things, it summarizes the term and provides the foundation for how the organization is positioned for success going forward. While reflecting on these things it is impossible to ignore the cloud that COVID-19 has draped over us individually, on ACOEP and our community. Never could I have imagined when elected four years ago that the focus of my President-Elect term would be stabilizing our financial future, and the focus of my term as President would be our surviving the impacts of COVID-19 on our meetings and governance.

Just a few short weeks ago we thought that we would be able to gather in Washington, DC to celebrate surviving the pandemic. But with the surge in the Delta variant among the unvaccinated, your Board made the very painful decision to go virtual with our 2021 Scientific Assembly and cancelled the in-person portion of the meeting. Our decision was based on projections and recommendations of experts. We also realized that even those willing to risk attending an in-person gathering would not have enough control over their clinical schedules to make last-minute decisions about attending when working under employer prohibitions that prevent us from traveling and require us to work extra hours during COVID peaks.

Though we wanted to provide the opportunity for any sub-group that might have been able to gather in spite of these obstacles, the hotel was not interested in providing us with that option.

Cancellation of the in-person Scientific Assembly is only the most recent of the litany of challenges that we must overcome with your loyalty and support. During the past two years we have been challenged by significant financial issues and devastated by the loss of friends, family and colleagues who were close to us.

So, what are the positives and what have we accomplished over the past two years? 1. We saved our house and kept our Family together. By making some very difficult decisions we markedly reduced expenses and

insured the viability of ACOEP going forward. There were disagreements and frustrations along the way, but ultimately we found a path that allowed us to do so while keeping our Family intact. Over a period of just a few days we also executed a world class pivot to virtual meetings that enabled us to not cancel a scheduled meeting. Few other associations or societies can make this claim. 2. We published an enduring

Strategic Plan for ACOEP.

After struggling with the second and third order effects of the decisions made by the AOA concerning residency training, certification and membership we definitively and for all time defined ourselves as a Family and Community of like-minded emergency physicians who share

SOME DAYS YOU WIN, SOME DAYS YOU LOSE, SOME DAYS IT RAINS.”

Tim Robbins as “Nuke” Laloosh in the movie Bull Durham

AS I TURN THE GAVEL OVER TO JOE, I KNOW THAT THROUGH THE HEROIC EFFORTS OF OUR ENTIRE LEADERSHIP TEAM WE KNOW THAT IT RAINED A LOT AND THAT WE DID NOT LOSE. ”

a respect for, or dedication to, the core philosophy of Osteopathic

Medicine and who identify themselves as our brothers and sisters. 3. We facilitated inclusion and opportunity for more of our members. We made and continue to make Bylaws adjustments to facilitate inclusion and opportunity for more members of our Family to serve in leadership roles that will benefit both themselves and

ACOEP. While the final impact of this accomplishment will only be realized through your enhanced participation in our community, we have unquestionably put the mechanisms in place to do so.

As emergency physicians we know that in any critical situation there are priorities and that the “nice to dos” sometimes must wait. As much as we have, and continue to, dream big about what ACOEP can do for our community this is where we found ourselves over the past two years. We hope and pray that the cancellation of the in-person portion of our Scientific Assembly is the last active damage control measure that we need to do and that we can get back full-time to the “nice to dos.”

Anticipating that, I look forward to serving as your Past President and working with you to make sure that we go fast and far during Dr. Beirne’s presidency. I will reach out to former Board members and Presidents to help him, and us, rebuild and re-populate our structures and to re-seed them by bringing in younger members to take over the reins of leadership at every level as quickly as possible.

Jesus communicated the wisdom of human history when he concluded, “Truly I tell you no prophet is accepted in his hometown.” (Luke 4:24). While I am no prophet (let alone Jesus!) I have always been keenly aware of the fact that the ACOEP community is my natural hometown, and that my selection to be your President was unique due to my prior success in non-Osteopathic venues. Frankly, this gave me a bit of anxiety. So, that you give me the opportunity to serve as the leader of our hometown for the past two years was an incredible honor, and more meaningful to me emotionally than you could ever know. Thank you.

As I turn the gavel over to Joe, I know that through the heroic efforts of our entire leadership team we know that it rained a lot and that we did not lose. Whether we scraped out an ugly victory or merely got to the beginning of the fifth inning ahead by a run in a rain delayed and then postponed game is yours to decide.

Regardless of the call, I am very proud of what our Team, our Family, our ACOEP Community has done and continues to do. I hope to see you all in person very soon…. –•–

Robert E. Suter, DO, MHA, FACOEP-D, FIFEM Outgoing ACOEP President

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S DESK Katie Geraghty Executive Director

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Dear ACOEP Community,

More than ever, we turn to our communities to lift us up. That is why it was so difficult making the decision to move this year’s Scientific Assembly from an in-person gathering to a virtual event. The human connection is powerful, and the ACOEP community is a refuge for so many. That said, I look forward to connecting with the EM community virtually for the conference, and in person again just as soon as possible. I am also heartened to learn that there are “viewing parties” for the event being held around the country so that those essential connections are still being made. The ACOEP community is strong and resilient, and it shows.

I was happy to join ACOEP as Interim Executive Director this summer and was warmly welcomed by the ACOEP Finance Committee in Dallas and by the full Board via Zoom. I cannot wait to meet more of you to better understand your priorities and how ACOEP can support you. I want you to know that can reach out to me at any time.

I hope to “see” many of you at the Scientific Assembly, and hope to meet with you face-to-face at our 2022 Spring Seminar in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (April 10-13). Oh, and while you have your calendar open, be sure to save the date for ACOEP’s 2022 Scientific Assembly too, scheduled for October 24-28, in Las Vegas, Nevada!

If you’re looking for other ways to connect and learn, check out ACOEP’s online partner – DocMatter. Your ACOEP membership includes access to this great facilitator of virtual engagement that provides you with tailored content and interaction opportunities.

We appreciate your ongoing support and dedication to the EM profession and ACOEP. Each one of you makes us stronger. –•–

Sincerely, Katie Geraghty

I CANNOT WAIT TO MEET MORE OF YOU TO BETTER UNDERSTAND YOUR PRIORITIES AND HOW ACOEP CAN SUPPORT YOU.”