CAEP 2015 Academic Symposium: Current State and Recommendations to Achieve Adequate and Sustainable Funding for Emergency Medicine Academic Units

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the current state of academic emergency medicine (EM) funding in Canada and develop recommendations to grow and establish sustainable funding. Methods: A panel of eight leaders from different EM academic units was assembled. Using mixed methods (including a literature review, sharing of professional experiences, a survey of current EM academic heads, and data previously collected from an environmental scan), 10 recommendations were drafted and presented at an academic symposium. Attendee feedback was incorporated, and the second set of draft recommendations was further distributed to the Canadian Association Emergency Physicians (CAEP) Academic Section for additional comments before being finalized. Results: Recommendations were developed around the funding challenges identified and solutions developed by academic EM university-based units across Canada. A strategic plan was seen as integral to achieving strong funding of an EM unit, especially when it aligned with departmental and institutional priorities. A business plan, although occasionally overlooked, was deemed an important component for planning and sustaining the academic mission. A number of recommendations surrounding philanthropy consisted of creating partnerships with existing foundations and engaging multiple stakeholders and communities. Synergy between academic and clinical EM departments was also viewed as an opportunity to ensure integration of common missions. Education and networking for current and future leaders were also viewed as invaluable to ensure that opportunities are optimized through strong leadership development and shared experiences to further the EM academic missions across the country.Conclusions: These recommendations were designed to improve the financial circumstances for many Canadian EM units. There is a considerable wealth of resources that can contribute to financial stability for an academic unit, and an annual networking meeting and continuing education on these issues will facilitate more rapid implementation of these recommendations. RÉSUMÉObjectifs: L'étude visait à décrire l'état actuel du financement des unités d'enseignement de la médecine d'urgence (MU) au Canada et à élaborer des recommandations sur l'accroissement et la durabilité du financement. Méthode: Un groupe composé de huit chefs de file provenant de différentes unités d'enseignement de la MU a été formé. S'appuyant sur diverses méthodes de recherche (examen de la documentation, mise en commun d'expériences professionnelles, enquête menée parmi les directeurs actuels d'unité d'enseignement de la MU et étude de données provenant d'une analyse environnementale antérieure), le groupe a formulé 10 recommandations préliminaires qui ont été présentées au cours du symposium sur les affaires universitaires. Après avoir tenu compte des observations faites par les participants, le groupe a modifié en conséquence les recommandations préliminaires, qu'il a ensuite transmises à la section des affaires universitaires de l'Association ...

An environmental scan of academic pediatric emergency medicine at Canadian medical schools: Identifying variability across Canada

“…15,16 We found that PEM has a presence in patient care and teaching at 14 of the 17 Canadian medical schools. While university status varies across the country, sites are involved in teaching: undergraduate clerkship programs (8), RCPSC residency programs for PEM (10), off-service residents (14), fellowships (10), and CPD (7). Education scholarship is becoming established, with some sites providing salary support for this endeavour.…”

“…The 2015 Academic Symposium on leadership provided recommendations for current leaders, regarding leadership strategies, governance, and funding. [12][13][14] Although the need for these recommendations is generally accepted among academics, an environmental scan that characterizes each PEM unit in the areas of leadership, administration, education, research, and funding would clearly articulate to the individual sites their specific strengths to build on and weaknesses to address, when comparing themselves to the national averages. Indeed, an environmental scan of (adult) EM academic units was recently published and identified EM academic units without a university status.…”

CAEP 2015 Academic Symposium: Recommendations for University Governance and Administration for Emergency Medicine

“…These recommendations on the governance of the academic units of EM aim to support the evolution of academic EM and complement the recommendations provided by the funding and leadership panels. 29,30 The Leadership Working Group of the CAEP Academic Section will be addressing each recommendation and will present an update at its next Academic Leadership Symposium to be held in 2018.…”

CAEP 2016 Academic Symposium: How to have an impact as an emergency medicine educator and scholar

“…The three committees of the CAEP Academic Section take turns leading a symposium on education, 6-8 research, [9][10][11][12] or leadership at the CAEP annual conference to present their latest findings and recommendations. [13][14][15] At CAEP 2016, the area of focus was education scholarship with the theme: "The Pathway to Success." The goal of the 2016 Academic Symposium on Education Scholarship was to provide pragmatic recommendations in three areas: 1) recommended training for those pursuing academic roles in EM education, 2) recommendations on how to make an impact in medical education, and 3) the specifics on how to publish in the area of education scholarship.…”