Advocacy for the specialty and advancing the interests of emergency medicine are paramount. I’m committed to working with you and our team to address our key advocacy priorities: protecting physician autonomy, combating insurer tactics like downcoding and narrow networks, ensuring fair reimbursement, addressing violence in emergency departments, and tackling the boarding crisis. I look forward to new and innovative ways to amplify your voice in Washington, D.C., in state capitals with our chapter leaders, and in every venue where decisions are made that affect your practice and your patients. ACEP has a powerful voice, exceptional thought leadership, and a grassroots network that spans the entire country. Together, we can ensure that emergency physicians have the autonomy, support, and resources needed to provide the highest quality care.

A member of the Board shared with me that his measure of my first-year success will be whether the Board strongly agrees with the question: “Did we make the right decision hiring Mike, and does he fully understand our organization and the specialty?” That’s the bar I’ve set for myself. I’m not here to have all the answers on day one. I’m here to learn from you, to work alongside you, and to build on ACEP’s strong foundation to position our organization and the specialty for the future.

I look forward to meeting you in the months ahead. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to share your thoughts, concerns, or ideas. This is your organization, and my job is to serve you and advance the specialty we all deeply care about.

With gratitude and commitment,

Michael Fraser, PhD, MS, CAE