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Peer interaction in emergency medicine research: A semiannual event (at least)
Preface
Peer Interaction in Emergency Medicine Research: A Semiannual Event (At Least) Charles V. Pollack, Jr., MA, MD, FACEP Department of Emergency Medicine Pennsylvania Hospital Philadelphia, PA Chair, ACEP Research Committee Chair, 2001 ACEP Research Forum Task Force Copyright © 2001 by the American College of Emergency Physicians. 47/0/119620 doi:10.1067/mem.2001.119620
OCTOBER 2001
38:4
ANNALS OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Peer Interaction in Emergency Medicine Research: A Semiannual Event (At Least) [Pollack CV Jr. Peer interaction in emergency medicine research: a semiannual event (at least). Ann Emerg Med. October 2001;38(suppl):S1-S2.] The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Research Forum has evolved into an important and wellattended scholarly meeting in emergency medicine, accessible not only to researchers but to practicing clinicians as well. It is the College’s program to translate research from the bench to the bedside, with didactic, networking, and research sessions that truly put the “science” in Scientific Assembly. That evolution has been rapid and carefully directed and monitored. In 1996, then ACEP President Greg Henry and President-Elect Nancy Auer convened a meeting of eminent emergency medicine researchers to ponder, then determine the fate of the College’s annual Research Forum. Research Forum was originally envisioned as an educational event to foster academic interests within the College’s membership and to showcase research funded by the Emergency Medicine Foundation. Unfortunately, in its initial incarnation, meeting attendance was suboptimal and presentations appeared to have limited impact. It occurred each spring and therefore was not coordinated with the larger, well-established annual meeting of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), which was also a forum for emergency medicine researchers held in the spring. Given all of these concerns, ACEP leadership wished to reevaluate the value of this meeting. The group did not mince its words in giving its feedback to Dr. Henry. The existing format was deemed untenable and not constructive for the specialty. Although wide-ranging ideas for changing Research Forum were discussed and considered in this and subsequent meetings, the group at no time considered recommending dis-
S 1
PREFACE
continuation of Research Forum. In fact, the strongest sentiment that arose from the group’s discussions was that the specialty of emergency medicine was sufficiently mature, productive, academically strong, and fast-changing that it could support a second national meeting at which researchers could meet, present their work, network, and share ideas. The group also determined that a second national meeting should be scheduled that was complementary to, not competitive with, the SAEM meeting. With 2 spring meetings, research completed in the spring and summer could not be presented before an entire year passed, during which time the desire to publish a study often overcame the desire to present it. Given that autumn is complementary to spring and ACEP already hosts the largest meeting of emergency physicians in the world each autumn, Scientific Assembly, the group logically recommended that Research Forum be linked to Scientific Assembly. This approach allowed the College to sponsor a research meeting without creating a separate meeting targeted at academic emergency physicians. This change also provided an unusual and novel opportunity for nonacademic physicians to interact with the researchers in their own specialty before their work hit “prime time.” In reformulating the Research Forum concept, Dr. Henry’s group committed to 2 more important innovations: an emphasis on junior researchers and a focus on clinical, “real-world” research. Although in the group’s first few meetings the logistical details of the “new” Research Forum were still being debated, an overriding principle was that junior faculty, fellows, residents, and even medical students should feel comfortable discussing their work and ideas, knowing that they would receive constructive feedback from experts in their areas of interest. Joseph Waeckerle, Editor in Chief of Annals of Emergency Medicine, asked that the Annals’ Resident Fellow serve on the Research Forum Task Force, demonstrating tangibly the journal’s dedication to developing young researchers. The retention of moderated poster sessions at Research Forum reflects our dedication to the objective that all authors have the opportunity to present their work and receive direct, personal, and real-time feedback. By envisioning a meeting at which communitybased and academic emergency physicians would discuss research in a supportive and low-stress environment, the Task Force felt that all practitioners in our specialty would feel more involved with and interested in research issues. Although Research Forum continues to showcase excellent basic science research, most studies presented each
S 2
year have addressed current clinical and administrative issues of daily importance to all who practice emergency medicine. These issues are significant as “cutting-edge” concerns, but they also dovetail conveniently with didactic sessions at Scientific Assembly. Attendees can be assured of learning both the “state-of-the-art” and “peekat-the-future” aspects of their specialty. The actual structure of Research Forum continues to evolve. The Research Forum Task Force has been responsive to the evaluations provided by attendees each year. This group, many of whom participated in those original meetings, annually considers significant changes in format that aim to increase the opportunities for networking and feedback for presenters and attract nontraditional attendees to research meetings. In 1999, the Task Force seriously considered, then ultimately decided against, moving to an all-poster presentation format. This decision may be revisited in the future. This year, we have changed the oral presentation agenda, which in the past featured the studies we believed to be of the greatest potential significance to attendees, regardless of clinical area. Instead, we will focus the 2001 meeting on 2 practice areas that are not only important clinically but also reflect the particular excellence of this year’s submitted abstracts. Oral presentations will be presented in the specific topic areas of acute coronary syndrome and sedation and analgesia. These 2 areas have experienced perhaps the greatest growth and change in emergency medicine over the past 2 years. The traditional abstract presentations will be preceded by a brief summary of the “state of the art” in each area by a nationally recognized expert from our field. Most importantly, Research Forum is intended to appeal to all who work in our specialty and to all who attend Scientific Assembly, whether in academic practice or not. The quality and breadth of the abstracts being presented here are a continuing testament to the intellectual vigor of our field and to the promising future of patient care and provider interest and satisfaction in the emergency department. We encourage you to attend the Research Forum sessions this year, and join the Task Force and ACEP leadership in celebrating the maturity of a specialty that can support (at least!) 2 annual national research and peer interaction meetings.
ANNALS OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE
38:4 OCTOBER 2001
Peer Interaction in Emergency Medicine Research: A Semiannual Event (At Least) Charles V. Pollack, Jr., MA, MD, FACEP Department of Emergency Medicine Pennsylvania Hospital Philadelphia, PA Chair, ACEP Research Committee Chair, 2001 ACEP Research Forum Task Force Copyright © 2001 by the American College of Emergency Physicians. 47/0/119620 doi:10.1067/mem.2001.119620
OCTOBER 2001
38:4
ANNALS OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Peer Interaction in Emergency Medicine Research: A Semiannual Event (At Least) [Pollack CV Jr. Peer interaction in emergency medicine research: a semiannual event (at least). Ann Emerg Med. October 2001;38(suppl):S1-S2.] The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Research Forum has evolved into an important and wellattended scholarly meeting in emergency medicine, accessible not only to researchers but to practicing clinicians as well. It is the College’s program to translate research from the bench to the bedside, with didactic, networking, and research sessions that truly put the “science” in Scientific Assembly. That evolution has been rapid and carefully directed and monitored. In 1996, then ACEP President Greg Henry and President-Elect Nancy Auer convened a meeting of eminent emergency medicine researchers to ponder, then determine the fate of the College’s annual Research Forum. Research Forum was originally envisioned as an educational event to foster academic interests within the College’s membership and to showcase research funded by the Emergency Medicine Foundation. Unfortunately, in its initial incarnation, meeting attendance was suboptimal and presentations appeared to have limited impact. It occurred each spring and therefore was not coordinated with the larger, well-established annual meeting of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), which was also a forum for emergency medicine researchers held in the spring. Given all of these concerns, ACEP leadership wished to reevaluate the value of this meeting. The group did not mince its words in giving its feedback to Dr. Henry. The existing format was deemed untenable and not constructive for the specialty. Although wide-ranging ideas for changing Research Forum were discussed and considered in this and subsequent meetings, the group at no time considered recommending dis-
S 1
PREFACE
continuation of Research Forum. In fact, the strongest sentiment that arose from the group’s discussions was that the specialty of emergency medicine was sufficiently mature, productive, academically strong, and fast-changing that it could support a second national meeting at which researchers could meet, present their work, network, and share ideas. The group also determined that a second national meeting should be scheduled that was complementary to, not competitive with, the SAEM meeting. With 2 spring meetings, research completed in the spring and summer could not be presented before an entire year passed, during which time the desire to publish a study often overcame the desire to present it. Given that autumn is complementary to spring and ACEP already hosts the largest meeting of emergency physicians in the world each autumn, Scientific Assembly, the group logically recommended that Research Forum be linked to Scientific Assembly. This approach allowed the College to sponsor a research meeting without creating a separate meeting targeted at academic emergency physicians. This change also provided an unusual and novel opportunity for nonacademic physicians to interact with the researchers in their own specialty before their work hit “prime time.” In reformulating the Research Forum concept, Dr. Henry’s group committed to 2 more important innovations: an emphasis on junior researchers and a focus on clinical, “real-world” research. Although in the group’s first few meetings the logistical details of the “new” Research Forum were still being debated, an overriding principle was that junior faculty, fellows, residents, and even medical students should feel comfortable discussing their work and ideas, knowing that they would receive constructive feedback from experts in their areas of interest. Joseph Waeckerle, Editor in Chief of Annals of Emergency Medicine, asked that the Annals’ Resident Fellow serve on the Research Forum Task Force, demonstrating tangibly the journal’s dedication to developing young researchers. The retention of moderated poster sessions at Research Forum reflects our dedication to the objective that all authors have the opportunity to present their work and receive direct, personal, and real-time feedback. By envisioning a meeting at which communitybased and academic emergency physicians would discuss research in a supportive and low-stress environment, the Task Force felt that all practitioners in our specialty would feel more involved with and interested in research issues. Although Research Forum continues to showcase excellent basic science research, most studies presented each
S 2
year have addressed current clinical and administrative issues of daily importance to all who practice emergency medicine. These issues are significant as “cutting-edge” concerns, but they also dovetail conveniently with didactic sessions at Scientific Assembly. Attendees can be assured of learning both the “state-of-the-art” and “peekat-the-future” aspects of their specialty. The actual structure of Research Forum continues to evolve. The Research Forum Task Force has been responsive to the evaluations provided by attendees each year. This group, many of whom participated in those original meetings, annually considers significant changes in format that aim to increase the opportunities for networking and feedback for presenters and attract nontraditional attendees to research meetings. In 1999, the Task Force seriously considered, then ultimately decided against, moving to an all-poster presentation format. This decision may be revisited in the future. This year, we have changed the oral presentation agenda, which in the past featured the studies we believed to be of the greatest potential significance to attendees, regardless of clinical area. Instead, we will focus the 2001 meeting on 2 practice areas that are not only important clinically but also reflect the particular excellence of this year’s submitted abstracts. Oral presentations will be presented in the specific topic areas of acute coronary syndrome and sedation and analgesia. These 2 areas have experienced perhaps the greatest growth and change in emergency medicine over the past 2 years. The traditional abstract presentations will be preceded by a brief summary of the “state of the art” in each area by a nationally recognized expert from our field. Most importantly, Research Forum is intended to appeal to all who work in our specialty and to all who attend Scientific Assembly, whether in academic practice or not. The quality and breadth of the abstracts being presented here are a continuing testament to the intellectual vigor of our field and to the promising future of patient care and provider interest and satisfaction in the emergency department. We encourage you to attend the Research Forum sessions this year, and join the Task Force and ACEP leadership in celebrating the maturity of a specialty that can support (at least!) 2 annual national research and peer interaction meetings.
ANNALS OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE
38:4 OCTOBER 2001