Welcome to a new academic year, and congratulations to all of our new residents that have joined the ranks in emergency medicine. I am honored and excited to be your next EMRAF president. I have big ideas for this upcoming year, but will need your assistance and enthusiasm to make them a success.

First, I want to share a bit about why I wanted to be your EMRAF president. Residency is one of the most challenging, albeit rewarding, times we experience in our medical careers. We share the experience of completing an emergency medicine residency in the state of Florida; thus, we should have more opportunities to reflect and build that unique bond we share. Although COVID may have put a damper on events in the recent past, it is important to unify our programs moving forward.

We represent one of the larger factions of EM residents in the country. As a cohesive group, we can advocate for the change we want to see in our specialty. Serving one year as your EMRAF president does not offer the luxury of time to be able to find solutions for problems we face in emergency medicine, which is why it is important for all of us, including our newest residents, to become involved and to hear their concerns so that we can carry on the legacy to promote change within our specialty.

Emergency medicine is hurting — not only in Florida, but across the country. As a specialty we are reeling from the negative economic and mental health factors produced by the recent pandemic. Private equities have infiltrated our profession and turned our community’s safety net into a profit generating business at the expense of patients, physicians, and our communities. Physicians are being replaced by cheaper, far less qualified extenders to increase the bottom line for these large corporations. As resident physicians, we have spent years studying and working tirelessly to become the best we can be, for ourselves and our patients. We must continue to work with FCEP and ACEP to bring public awareness to this issue and educate our legislators at the state and national level on the distinct and incomparable skills of a trained emergency physician.

We also need to address ominous warnings regarding the future of our job market. Advocating for a physician-led emergency department is only a part of fixing the problem. With the establishment of new residencies by these large hospital corporations, there has been a surplus of new physicians without appropriate job opportunities. We must continue to hold these corporations accountable for ensuring quality education and training for all residents while discouraging the establishment of new programs for the sake of the cheap labor of residents.

Many of our emergency departments are also feeling the lingering effect the pandemic has caused on our nursing staff and the challenges that rise as staffing shortages continue. Limited staff has caused longer wait times and the development of “waiting room medicine,” with higher liability for physicians trying to provide healthcare to these patients. Disadvantaged populations that rely on the emergency room now have even more limited access to proper evaluation and treatment. A cohesive team is essential to a functional emergency department and to delivering proper patient care. While it is important to advocate for quality nursing to return to our EDs, it is also imperative to stand behind our nurses and unify our voices to help improve working conditions and demand safe nursing ratios within our emergency departments.

To all my fellow residents, it is now your time to have your voice heard. I want to know what changes you want us to advocate for on a state and national level. What opportunities do you want to see within our state chapter of ACEP? Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at NJDiers14@gmail.com. EMRAF will only be as strong and effective as our residents make it. Together, we can affect a positive change for ourselves, our patients, and future residents. ■