Between regulatory burdens of health care reform, the quality movement, and ICD-10—on top of increasingly busy emergency departments—it can be tough to look beyond the next patient and the end of this shift to think of the growth and future of the specialty. And that’s where the Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF) steps in.

EMF is dedicated to ensuring emergency medicine’s bright future through its grants and awards programs, which support both the career development of emergency medicine researchers and innovative research that ultimately improves the care that patients receive in the emergency department.

There are many ways that ACEP members contribute their time and money to the EMF, and one is through joining the Wiegenstein Legacy Society. Named in honor of John Wiegenstein, MD, one of ACEP’s founders, the Society recognizes individuals and their families who include the EMF in their estate plans.

Recently, Wiegenstein Society member and EMF Board member John Proctor, MD, MBA, FACEP, sat down with the Chair of the EMF Board of Trustees, Vidor E. Friedman, MD, FACEP, to discuss the work the EMF is doing for emergency medicine and why he chose to include the Foundation in his will. Here are some highlights from their conversation.

Visit Emergency Medicine Foundation to learn more about the Foundation’s activities and how you can get involved.

VF: Tell us about your service to the EMF.

JP: I’ve served the EMF Board for about five years, and I’m currently in my second year as Secretary Treasurer. It’s been an honor to serve the EMF Board. I’ve certainly gotten more from that experience than I’ve provided back to EMF.

VF: We appreciate your service. You’ve done a great job. How long have you been at TeamHealth, and what is your role there?

JP: I began my career at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where I served as director of emergency department operations under Dr. Corey Slovis. I joined TeamHealth in 1996, serving as emergency department medical director for an urban emergency department in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve served as a regional medical director for over a decade, and my current position is president of TeamHealth, Emergency Medicine Central Group.

VF: Why did you decide to join the Wiegenstein Society at this time in your life?

JP: It’s something I considered doing a number of years back. I honestly procrastinated and then got around to it. The crux of the decision is that I’m simply giving something back to my specialty, emergency medicine, that gives so much to me. Most important, emergency medicine provides me the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives and in my community. It makes perfect sense that I plan a contribution to the EMF upon my death.