“The network it helped me build was invaluable for the support, for those challenging moments as an educational leader, while also reinforcing key skills to be the best educator I could be for my trainees,” said Matthew Stull, MD, director of emergency critical care, University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., TF class of 2015.

A Teaching Community

A strong sense of community forms among TF participants. They can learn together, share their work, collaborate on shared projects, and occasionally provide medical care. During a recent teaching fellowship, a group of participants leaving the fellowship encountered a traveler at the airport who went into cardiac arrest in front of them. The group immediately performed CPR and resuscitated him before the paramedics arrived. TF alumni also often continue to stay in touch, meet up at conferences, or support each other in many ways.

As we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the ACEP/CORD TF, we also celebrate the community it has fostered: a national network of educators dedicated to enhancing the way we teach, lead, and ultimately care for patients. The program’s longevity and the success of its alumni are a testament to the power of investment in faculty development.