Globally, emergency physicians transformed emergency departments into front doors of hospitals and key access points throughout the community via free standing sites. Granularly, emergency physicians leveraged ultrasound equipment utilized by others to provide patients with immediate results while under our constant bedside care. Innovation is essential to the future of emergency medicine. As emergency physicians, we are well positioned to identify gaps in care where the system has failed our patients, embrace opportunities to meet their needs, and reimagine the delivery of our unique skillset in service to patients.

The compensation of care and measurement of quality are critical to our specialty, making advocacy essential to the future of emergency medicine. ACEP must be at the table, leading discussions around reimbursement models, speaking to the value of the care we provide, and developing metrics that support evidence-based practices translating to the best outcomes for our patients. Advocacy on behalf of our members is key to preserving our reputation as fierce patient advocates.

As emergency physicians, we are subjected to the harshest of circumstances and held to the highest of standards, which can undermine even the most resilient emergency physicians. While providing individual resources for emergency physicians to foster wellness, ACEP must step up to provide solutions for system-level issues that undermine the positive mindset, physical health, and connectivity to others necessary for emergency physicians to thrive. Career fulfillment where emergency physicians feeling appreciated, free to explore a variety of career options, and fully supported when things are less than ideal, is essential to maintaining a healthy culture of emergency medicine. Providing opportunities for career fulfillment should highlight diversity as ACEP has members with a variety of interests, pursuits, backgrounds, and practice environments.

Engagement and trust highlights the value of every individual member of ACEP, milestones of our careers, and opportunities for growth and mentorship as part of a greater community of emergency physicians. When we engage with one another in meaningful College activities, there is a level of mutual support that positions ACEP as a vital force for wellness for emergency physicians.

Both the future of emergency medicine and the culture of emergency medicine cannot be optimized without appropriate infrastructure; thus, resources and accountability are an essential component of addressing all other areas of the strategic plan.

The future of emergency medicine is bright with innovation and advocacy efforts that highlight the importance of the value and contribution of emergency physicians in service to our patients. The culture of emergency medicine is being restored as we learn to address systems level issues that affect us collectively and individually, care for ourselves and one another, and discover opportunities for growth on our journeys as emergency medicine physicians.