We’re also moving forward on some issues for medical-legal reform and in psychiatric care that will hopefully translate, in a very short period of time, to improved care and make the lives of emergency physicians better.

I’ve spent time working to unify the specialty. There’s some, unfortunately, duplication within our specialty and there are many challenges that we face. I’ve reached out to work with organizations where our missions either overlap or sometimes conflict. I‘ve reached out to NAEMSP [National Association of EMS Physicians], AAEM [American Academy of Emergency Medicine], SAEM [Society for Academic Emergency Medicine], and ACOEP [American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians]. I’m really working to coordinate the issues that we can agree on so that we are not reinventing the wheel on each one of these issues. I think I want to try and make things less competitive between the organizations and more collaborative. I think that‘s hopefully moving the specialty in a better direction in the end.

ACEP dues are not an inconsequential amount of money. I hope when people look at their dues statement that every emergency physician will be able to say, “I received my value from my ACEP membership.”

KK: Every good president makes certain they have really done their very best to show the value of membership and dues dollars spent. You are certainly making good on that promise. Paul, thank you for your service and for your time. I know that you will have left ACEP in a better place following your presidency.