Uniting for Global Health in Emergency Medicine: Insights from the Virtual Midyear ACEP International Ambassador Conference

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) International Section is at the forefront of fostering innovation, research, and collaboration among emergency medicine professionals worldwide. As we navigate through the complexities of global healthcare challenges, the necessity for continuous dialogue and the exchange of ideas has never been more critical. It is with great enthusiasm that I share my experiences and reflections on the recent Virtual Midyear ACEP International Ambassador Conference, an event that underscored the section’s unwavering commitment to its global community of emergency care providers.

This year's conference, serving as a precursor to the highly anticipated 2024 Las Vegas ACEP ambassador conference, was a testament to the adaptability and resilience of our community. Transitioning to a virtual format did not diminish the spirit of collaboration and exchange; if anything, it amplified our ability to connect, share, and learn from one another across continents. The presence of many familiar faces from the leadership of ACEP International in the virtual conference was a heartening sight, reinforcing the sense of a tightly-knit global emergency medicine community.

The conference kicked off with a warm welcome by the Ambassador Program Director Dr. Alexandra Asrow, setting the tone for exciting presentations and insightful discussions. Country updates from India, Norway, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Qatar, Colombia, Italy, and more highlighted the diverse challenges faced by emergency medicine professionals in different regions. Their inclusion provided a rich canvas for understanding the global landscape of emergency medicine and the critical role of service, education, research, and innovation in advancing our field.

Among the myriad of innovative topics discussed, my presentation on "innovatED! Bridging gaps in global emergency medicine" resonated with the participants. I pitched a transformative approach to integrating Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship (I|C|E) with traditional Emergency Medicine practices in LMICs, using our work from the Aga Khan university in Pakistan as a case study. innovatED! is a multipronged approach that includes among others careED - a human centered (empathetic) design thinking intervention for the low resource ED; ACEP International has published about this work of ours in a past edition of its newsletter.

The presentation on Conceptos a startup from Chile with the mission to disseminate quality emergency medicine education in South America was also reminiscent of innovatED! especially our Medjack Webinar series, the digital educational component of innovatED! written about in ACEP’s Section on Telehealth Winter Newsletter. Hopefully, this can be an opportunity for me to partner with the Conceptos team to synergize further. The conference also included a regional breakout, allowing for more intimate discussions and the fostering of new partnerships for future projects and initiatives.

As we wrapped up with the closing remarks, I was reminded of the power of our community's dedication and passion for emergency medicine. The Virtual Midyear ACEP Ambassador Conference was not just an event; it was a celebration of our collective commitment to improving emergency patient care worldwide. It served as a vibrant platform for activating and expanding section membership, exploring new collaborations, and discussing global successes and challenges.

As we look forward to convening in Las Vegas for the next ACEP ambassador conference, we carry with us the insights and inspirations from this virtual gathering. The road ahead is filled with opportunities to make a tangible impact in emergency medicine, and I am eager to see how our collaborations today will shape the future of emergency care around the globe.