It's official. EMS is now a subspecialty of Emergency Medicine

The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) approved the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM)  application for subspecialty certification in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) yesterday at their meeting in Chicago.  This effort was led by Dr. Debra Perina, Immediate Past President of ABEM.

Unofficial reports are that the first exam will be scheduled for 2013.


The American College of Emergency Physicians kicks off it's Scientific Assembly tomorrow in Las Vegas, Nevada.  As part of the week-long conference members of the ABEM Board will attend the EMS committee meeting on Tuesday, September 28th in the Las Vegas Convention Center.


It is especially fitting that EMS gain recognition as a subspecialty on the 50-year anniversary of the publication of the first scientific research in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a basic skill for all involved in pre-hospital care.

Greetings from Chicago

I’m here in Chicago for the next four days to attend the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine meeting. This month marks the one year anniversary of my admission to the Ivory Tower of Academia, so I think it fitting that I mark the occasion with this opportunity to observe the lives of “real” academics. I was hoping to go unnoticed at this meeting and objectively observe (and report, naturally) the course of the meeting.

So much for good intentions. I ran into Dr. Matt Walsh, former Chair of EM at Texas Tech El Paso, at registration. He invited me to go to dinner with him and Dr Brian Nelson, also former Chair of EM at Texas Tech El Paso ……and my residency director…… and long-time mentor. I arrived at dinner to find a whole table of rowdy Texans, and all plans for anonymity were trashed.

In spite of a sudden change of plan, today has been great. The meeting is well-attended and well-executed. The Executive Committee of ACEP had the opportunity to meet with the EMRA (Emergency Medicine Resident’s Association) Board at noon. We met with the ABEM (American Board of Emergency Medicine) Board this afternoon. We have more meetings with various groups of emergency physicians still to come. It is exciting to be in the midst of such intelligent, thoughtful and dedicated professionals.

More details in the days to come…………

LLSA Expiration Reminder

Just a quick note to remind you that the 2004 LLSA will expire at 11:59 EDT today, March 31, 2007. If you have done the reading, it is not too late to attempt the exam. You will have three attempts to pass the exam, and you must have a score of 90% to pass.

For more information, go to the American Board of Emergency Medicine web site at www.abem.org.

Good luck!