So, what’s with the history lesson? Even during a year of national turmoil, dissension, and violence not seen since the Civil War, the founders of ACEP brought the College to life by focusing on a singular common reason. The founders joined together with a shared common purpose to create an organization that would improve the care of patients seeking emergency care and to establish that those physicians who chose to practice emergency medicine would be recognized for their unique knowledge and skills. Somehow, despite all of the issues that were dividing the country, the founders were able to put aside personal opinions on those topics and work together to create the specialty of emergency medicine because that was the work that needed to be done for the greater good of the nation and future emergency physicians.
So here we are 56 years later. The nation is once again (or maybe still) divided on a number of issues. Some of the issues are new, and some remain wounds that refuse to heal. These divisive issues have hyperpolarized the nation, fueled by a 24/7/365 social media and news cycle that deliberately stoke the flames of discord and disagreement. Every day, it feels that both our society at large, and our community of emergency medicine are being pulled further apart, especially by those who choose to tear apart rather than build together.
And yet, every day the patients come … and every day we care for them. Despite the myriad of issues that divide us, both as a society, and as a College, everyone in this country needs the emergency care system to be there in their time of need. That’s the common thread that binds us … doing the incredibly hard but rewarding work of being the bedside healers of a nation. In a recent update of our Mission, Vision, and Values, the mission of the College now reads: “To support and advocate for emergency physicians and to promote quality emergency care for our patients and the public.” Seems like that although the words may be a little different (who doesn’t love a little wordsmithing), ACEP’s mission hasn’t significantly changed since 1968. Despite all of the difficult and divisive issues that we have faced since 1968, are facing today, and will face tomorrow, ACEP’s strength will always come from the work that we all do together, advocating for our patients and our profession. That’s why every emergency physician should be a member of the College … because just like in 1968, we have common work to do to enhance the specialty of emergency medicine and the support the physicians who provide it.
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