As we celebrate the 45th anniversary of EMRA by recognizing 45 exceptional young leaders in the specialty of emergency medicine, it’s worth taking a step back and reflecting on one of the greatest accomplishments of the organization.
Of course, we’re talking about EMRA publications.
Since its first print-only newsletter iterations, EM Resident has grown into the largest resident-led publication in the country, with nearly 20,000 individual print subscribers and more than 30,000 unique monthly visitors to the online edition. We earned recognition on a national stage this year for our plea to address gun violence in America, earning the highest honors among a pool of entries that included commentary from U.S. ambassadors and massive, influential groups such as the AARP.
This publication not only offers a forum for clinical education and discussion of current events in the world of emergency medicine, but also paves the way for the advancement of the specialty through original research and scientific discovery. It is a channel through which EM’s newest authors can develop their skills, find their voices, and contribute a vital perspective to the house of medicine.
Far from the early days as a one-person operation, EM Resident now has a high-functioning team of resident and fellow editors who work together every month to create the magazine in your hands. Each article we receive undergoes a rigorous peer revision process that ensures the content is not only up-to-date and accurate, but high-yield and easy to read on the go. Our team is lucky to include generous faculty members who donate their time and expert perspective on critical topics such as emergency cardiology and toxicology to ensure that residents are reading the most clinically sound, cutting-edge, evidence-based material. With such a passionate and talented group, it will be exciting to see how far EM Resident will go in the next 45 years.
Magazines aside, the real magic of EMRA publications comes in the form of our popular clinical guides.
From the iconic Antibiotic Guide (a staple in every teaching ED) to new offerings like the smash-hit Ortho Guide, EMRA owes our great success with these resources to our volunteer authors and chief editors, whose dedication to helping residents succeed is unmatched.
Incredibly, every clinical resource we produce starts off as a simple pitch from a passionate EMRA member. Through a series of pilots and drafts, these wild ideas go on to become bedside references used to make life-and-death decisions. As clinicians ourselves, we understand the gravity of this and put every page of each guide through a painstaking peer review process that includes multiple rounds of edits and ongoing revisions to ensure that the most current evidence is reflected.
That vaunted EMRA box you receive when you join the EMRA family is more than just a few quick-reference guides to make every shift easier; it represents a collective dedication to lifting up the specialty in so many ways. As with EM Resident magazine, our clinical library is built with the help of medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty all working together to distill complex, nuanced concepts into clear, actionable guidance. EMRA staff members offer support and assistance, and the end result is a collection that helps you become a better doctor.
So, as I conclude my term as Secretary of the Board of Directors and Editor-in-Chief of EM Resident, I would like to express my most sincere gratitude for the privilege of working with the incredible authors, editors, and staff that make EMRA publications world-class.
Here’s to another 45 years!