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Happy 50th Anniversary, FCEP
By Jonathan Dolan, MA
Executive Director
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Dear Members,
Just before I have the privilege of completing my first year as your Executive Director, FCEP will celebrate 50 years as a chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians. No specialty has done more in those five decades to define and treat the needs of the patient and address their acute undifferentiated care needs, anytime, anywhere, and without regard for the ability to pay.
I know the past two years have been exceedingly difficult and often disheartening. Please know, however, that so many people appreciate what you do and the difference you make in the lives of your patients, families and community. From the early days of the specialty to these challenging times of this global pandemic, you have much to be proud of and look forward to in the bright years ahead.
Many of you have been so kind to comment on the success of the “50 Years 50 Voices” campaign. Some have asked, “how did you come up with the idea?” As I began my service to you last fall, the first surge was on the move, and I was in the office far more than I could be with you. My days and nights were occupied with learning about FCEP and emergency medicine. But files, pictures and emails can only go so far. So, in thinking about what to do for the 50th anniversary, and as I began to learn these amazing stories, I thought of the project. Then we planned and executed it by hitting the road and coming to you. The objective was to hear your story and listen to your voice. And, from young to old, east to west and north to south, members welcomed me in, made the difference and told the story.
The presentation of the 50 Years 50 Voices compilation video at Symposium by the Sea 2021 was very impactful for all who attended. Linking it and adding the mini episodes you can view on our website and YouTube, has enabled all our member physicians and their families, as well as our many collaborators, to share in our journey and experience our joy.
Thank you to our FCEP leadership for supporting the project and all who participated by returning the questionnaires and/or sitting for an interview. A special thank you to our videographer Ryan Bale of The Rescue Company 1 for filming and editing so diligently to make it perfect. A very special thanks to Samantha League, Director of Communications. Her exceptional talent in production by watching, transcribing and choosing the footage was the best, most graceful and inclusive handling of “your story” anyone could ask for, and made this the most impactful and outstanding project possible.
For me, it was just what a new leader needs to see, hear, learn and feel. I will take your priceless stories and meaningful lessons with me as I serve you over what I am confident will be many more successful decades for FCEP. Happy 50th Anniversary! ■
THE 50 YEARS, 50 VOICES PROJECT
Episode 1: FCEP’s 50th Anniversary Tribute to Emergency Medicine
Debut: August 6, 2021 at SBS 2021 Featuring: Rajiv Bahl, MD, MBA, MS; Ashley Booth-Norse, MD, FACEP; Daniel Brennan, MD, FACEP; Elizabeth Calhoun, MD; Damian Caraballo, MD, FACEP; Jordan Celeste, MD, FACEP; Bill Davison, MD, FACEP; Arthur Diskin, MD, FACEP; Jay Edelberg, MD, FACEP; Caral Edelberg, CPC, CCS-P; Jay Falk, MD, FACEP; Kelly Gray-Eurom, MD, MMM, FACEP; Erich Heine, DO; Phyllis Hendry, MD, FACEP; Saundra Jackson, MD, FACEP; Steven Kailes, MD, FACEP; Wayne Lee, MD, FACEP; Michael Lozano, MD, FACEP; Kristin McCabe-Kline, MD, FACEP; Ernest Page, MD, FACEP; David Orban, MD, FACEP; Russ Radtke, MD, FACEP; John Stimler, DO, FACEP; Josef Thundiyil, MD, MPH, FACEP; Chrissy Van Dillen, MD, FACEP, FAEMS; David Vukich, MD, FACEP; Frederic Wurtzel, MD, FACEP
Episode 2: FCEP’s Leadership Academy Episode 3: The ALS/BLS Competition at CLINCON Episode 4: The Evolution of Critical Care Episode 5: Advocacy at Emergency Medicine Days
Scan to watch online at fcep.org/50years
-Dr. Richard Slevinski (FCEP President 1983-85)
OUR HISTORY:
1968: ACEP is founded by eight physicians & recruits its first 29 members, including Dr. William Haeck (first FCEP President 1971-72; ACEP President 197475)
October 15, 1971: The Florida Chapter of ACEP is established. “Bill drove throughout Florida and literally knocked on ER doors to recruit our first members,” says
1972: “I decided to organize and manage a series of annual conferences to address the severe lack of emergency physician training and skills,” says Dr. Findeiss. “Under the banner of FCEP, I found support from the University of Miami medical school. The physician demand for training was so great that our basic EM annual conferences drew up to 1,000 attendees each year for several years. These conferences created revenue for FCEP, which enabled us to hire Garry Briese as our first chapter executive and rent office space in Orlando.”
1974: FCEP hires its first executive director, Garry Briese
Dr. Cliff Findeiss (FCEP President 1975-76)
1968: ACEP founding members
1971: Dr. Bill Haeck (left) accepting FCEP’s charter
An early Florida Chapter of ACEP Board Meeting (date unknown)
-Dr. John Stimler (FCEP President 1997-98)
1975: The first emergency medicine residency program is established at UF Health Jacksonville
1976: ACEP establishes the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM)
Dr. Stimler in 1977
1977: Dr. John Stimler (FCEP President 1997-98) is part of the first class to graduate from Florida’s first emergency medicine residency program at UF Jax
1980: ABEM certifies its first emergency medicine physicians
1982: Dr. Jay Edelberg becomes the first FCEP president (1982-83) to be trained by an emergency medicine residency program
1986: The federal Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA) is enacted
1979: The independent ABEM receives specialty board approval as the 23rd medical specialty in the U.S. from the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) – but as a conjoined board
Dr. Edelberg in 1982
Beth Brunner, Dr. Cliff Findeiss, Lt. Governor Buddy MacKay, Dr. David Orban and Dr. Harvey Rohlwing at an EM Days in the 1990s
1987: The first Symposium by the Sea conference, offering free CME and hosting the annual Board meeting of elections, was held in Marco Island. Beth Brunner begins her 33-year career as FCEP’s executive director
1989: A decade later, ABEM is granted “Primary Board Status” by ABMS and can now pursue the development of subspecialty certifications
1991: In its 20th anniversary year, the Florida Chapter of ACEP closes on its first office building, becomes the first chapter to change its name to the Florida College of Emergency Physicians, and creates the the Florida Emergency Medicine Foundation (FEMF) as a separate entity from FCEP to house educational and research initiatives
1996: FEMF receives ACGME accreditation as a primary sponsor of continuing medical education for physicians
2001: In its 30th anniversary year, FEMF becomes the third organization to receive accreditation from the CECBEMS (now CAPCE) to provide CEU’s to pre-hospital care providers across the nation. The Capital Campaign for a proposed new building is also revealed
2006: FCEP celebrates its 35th Anniversary at the SBS Past-Presidents’ Luncheon
2013-14: “After many years of planning, we finally picked up shovels and broke ground on the new building. The old space was full of memories of good times spent together, but its useful days had run out.” – Dr. Michael Lozano, Jr. (FCEP President 2013-14)
January 2015: FCEP moves into the Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center (EMLRC). “My year was also memorable for the tremendous growth in the educational programs offered by the college and the foundation.” – Dr. Ashley Booth-Norse (FCEP President 2014-15)
This is a condensed version of the timeline that originally debuted at Symposium by the Sea 2021. Find more online at fcep.org/50years
Dr. Eileen Weimerskirch (1988-89) and Dr. Emmett Ferguson (1991-92) outside of FCEP’s first office building
Past Presidents’ Luncheon (2006)
EMLRC Groundbreaking Ceremony (2014)
