News and views from the EMSAS Chair
It’s that time of year once again when the Emergency Department gets busier than ever, and you wonder how summer disappeared so quickly. I have some good and bad news, although the darker evenings have only just begun, there is a way to brighten up your enthusiasm for work and shake up any monotony – our EMSAS Conference!
I’m so excited that it is nearly here (13-14 November), and if you have not seen all our promotion of the event on the socials during SAS Week and are yet to get your ticket then it’s still not too late because we have virtual tickets available until 13 November.
The best part about a virtual ticket is that if you enjoy your home comforts then you can have it all while watching our incredible lineup of speakers, earning CPD points at the same time. Although I’m slightly envious of not being able to wear my slippers during the opening speech of the conference, I’m very excited to be able to meet our ever-growing membership in person and speak to you over a cup of chai!
The conference kicks off with a welcome address from myself, followed by a series of insightful keynotes. Dr Ed Smith will discuss the acute medical model in a newly built UECC, and Dr Steve Lord will explore opportunities for EM doctors in the army. The morning sessions also include talks on hypotension in the ED, human factors in emergency care, and a unique perspective on EM by the beach from Dr Andrew Volans.
After a networking lunch, the afternoon sessions will feature interactive discussions on teaching patient safety, the challenges and opportunities of EM in Africa, and a case presentation on paediatric hypertension. The day concludes with the prestigious Andrew Newton Cup presentations and a talk on sustainable careers by Dr Ian Higginson, Vice President of RCEM.
EMSAS Conference Social Event
But the first day doesn’t stop there for those who have signed up for our EMSAS Conference Social Event and Dinner. I’m excited to join all our delegates and speakers in the evening at the Crown Spa Hotel for a nice meal and some friendly banter.
Day two begins with an RCEM update from Dr Higginson and Catherine Feast (RCEM’s Director of Engagement and External Affairs), followed by a critical discussion on the NHS financial crisis by Mr Andrew Bertram. The morning continues with lessons from multi-professional simulation, insights into AI in medicine, and a talk titled ‘Not just cellulitis!’ by Dr Joan Clancy.
The afternoon sessions include a fascinating case report on tubercular dactylitis, a presentation on pulled elbow, and a discussion on sickle cell crisis in the ED. The day wraps up with a look at the future of EM by Dr Ratna J Merugumulla and the EMSAS AGM.
This conference is an excellent opportunity to learn, network, and advance your career in Emergency Medicine. I look forward to seeing you there!
I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Dr Agnes Ngassa, an Emergency Associate Specialist at Hillingdon Hospital, for the SAS Week celebrations as part of their radio and podcast broadcast. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr Paul Bisnar and Dr Agnes Ngassa for their invaluable contributions as they also shared their insights across the week for each day of the NHS Employer themes for our socials.
Highlights
During the interview, I shared my educational journey and how my experiences shaped my career in Emergency Medicine. I explained my responsibilities as the EMSAS Chair and the competitive process that led me to this position. I also highlighted the unique challenges faced by SAS doctors in Emergency Medicine and the importance of support and opportunities for skill demonstration. Furthermore, I delved into the role of EMSAS within RCEM and how it advocates for SAS doctors, providing insights into the development opportunities for SAS doctors within RCEM.
One of the significant points we discussed was the importance of recognising the contributions of SAS doctors in the NHS. We play a crucial role in maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of EDs across the country.
We also talked about the initiatives EMSAS is undertaking to improve your work. For instance, we are working on creating more structured career pathways and providing more opportunities for professional development. This includes workshops, mentorship programs, and advocating for policy changes within RCEM to better support SAS doctors.
You can catch the full interviews on YouTube:
You can also hear the entire podcast from The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
As the EMSAS Chair, my dedication to representing SAS doctors in Emergency Medicine ensures their voices are heard at the College. In addition to this, now as SAS Committee Vice Chair, I am honoured to represent all SAS doctors in the UK across all specialties. SAS Week and the EMSAS Conference are both brilliant ways to make sure that together we keep emphasising the crucial role of SAS doctors, discuss the challenges they face, and advocate for the support and opportunities they need to thrive.
Now, back to writing my inaugural EMSAS Conference opening speech as EMSAS Chair! I can’t wait to see you all.
Best regards,
Dr Immad Qureshi
A huge hello to you all,
It’s wonderful to once again share some great news and invite you all to get involved with the College. In this update, I have some important events for you to register for so we can meet up, learn and network, a few progressive EMSAS developments to share, and an invite to get involved in SAS Week on 14-18 October.
SAS Week
Let’s begin with a brilliant reason to celebrate – SAS Week! This is our opportunity to share the passion of our members far and wide, and I want this year to be even bigger than the last when we created a SAS Week Journal.
I know that many of you want to share the joys of our work and encourage the next generations of doctors, and this is the perfect time to do that as, with RCEM’s support, sharing your videos or writing for us has never been easier. For more details, please contact emsas@rcem.ac.uk at your earliest convenience and with as much room before the end of September as possible so we can edit and publish everything.
EMSAS RCEM events
Another reason I’m counting down the days is because of the EMSAS RCEM events. This year’s EMSAS Conference, which has a superb speaker line-up, is being held in Scarborough on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 November and is a hybrid event. You can join us virtually or attend onsite at the Crown Spa Hotel venue, so don’t miss out! It will be great to see as many of you there as possible for a few exciting days of knowledge sharing and networking.
Have you also got your Annual Scientific Conference tickets? As well as the huge range of interesting Emergency Medicine talks happening from 8 – 10 October, an important part of the conference for us is the EMSAS session on Day One, which features four speakers you absolutely do not want to miss.
Dr Jo-Anna Robson will be presenting ‘Trauma, pain and Parkinson’s’, followed by Dr Lara Menon with ‘Lessons from multiprofessional simulation: There’s something for everyone’ and then ‘Shaping the culture of PoCUS training in the ED’ will be jointly presented by Dr Qazi Zia Ullah and Dr Amr Elhelaly before a panel Q&A with all the speakers. It’s going to be extremely insightful.
The event will be virtual and face-to-face (F2F) in Gateshead, with F2F registration closing at 23:59 (BST) on Monday 30 September so be sure to book before then.
Membership by election
After receiving feedback for the application process for membership by election, it was clear that many eligible associate members were being discouraged from applying due to it being quite technical. We have since collaborated with our membership and website teams to streamline the process, and I’m thrilled to report that these improvements have led to a significant increase in applications. EMSAS is committed to making membership accessible and rewarding for all, so if you have any further suggestions for change then please get in contact with us.
AoMRC SAS Committee
In another exciting development, I’ve been asked to serve as the Vice Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) SAS Committee. The AoMRC plays a crucial role in setting national strategy and direction for doctors in the UK, with all Royal Colleges and UK Faculties Presidents being part of its council. This new role offers EMSAS and RCEM a fantastic opportunity to have a greater impact on the professional careers of SAS doctors. While I currently attend only the SAS Committee meetings, I look forward to participating in AoMRC meetings and exploring how we can influence agendas and drive positive change.
Trustee Board Member
In April 2024, my role as EMSAS Chair expanded after I was appointed to the RCEM Council as a Trustee Board Member. The College Trustee Board, established in 2021, comprises of council trustees, member trustees, and lay trustees, and now I have the privilege of representing you as a part of it. My first trustee board meeting in June was a wonderful experience, where I was warmly welcomed by the existing trustees. Extensive training with our legal team and one-on-one sessions with RCEM’s CEO, Gordon Miles, and President, Dr Adrian Boyle, have equipped me with a deep understanding of my role and I’m excited to contribute to our mission and governance.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement. I want to see as many of you as possible sharing your inspiring stories for SAS Week. Whether you get involved or not, continue to wear your SAS badges with pride and let’s have a big celebration together during SAS Week or at one of RCEM’s events soon.
Best wishes,
Dr Immad Qureshi, EMSAS Chair
Hello,
It’s exciting to share with all of you what has been happening with EMSAS in this new blog. I had the honour of becoming your representative on RCEM’s Council after taking over leadership of EMSAS at the end of last year from the previous Chair, Dr Steve Black. I took part in an interview after becoming chair (pictured), which you will find on the EMSAS homepage as well as more information about our forum.
In April this year, I was also appointed by the Council to the Trustee Board. These positions in RCEM give me a brilliant opportunity to develop membership for all of you and I look forward to meeting with even more of this community at the EMSAS Conference and interacting online through our WhatsApp space. If you want to know more about joining then please feel free to email me at emsas@rcem.ac.uk.
Our main way to get together as a collective to engage with each other and to have the opportunity to receive specific learning is via the annual EMSAS Conference. This year’s event is being held in Scarborough on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 November and is a hybrid event so delegates can join virtually or attend onsite at the Crown Spa Hotel venue. We would love to see you there in-person so you can take advantage of the networking opportunities (and social event), but if you can’t make it to Scarborough then we’ve got you covered with the option to attend virtually too.
As a RCEM member you will save £200 when registering for the conference at member rates. The two-day conference will include keynote sessions, CPD focussed talks to refresh your knowledge as well as updates from the RCEM President and the EMSAS Executive committee.
Become a Member by Election
Members of the College who meet the criteria can apply for the various regional and College representative roles. This not only gives you the opportunity to be supporting the leadership of Committee groups devoted to different aspects of working in Emergency Medicine but also gives us as SAS doctors a larger platform to create positive change in our specialty.
Apply now or for further information or any help with applying please email membership@rcem.ac.uk.
What we are currently working on:
An exciting rest of the year is in store for EMSAS members and I will keep providing you with updates on the progress of all the above as we roll out the changes. Until my next feature in the Your College News newsletter, keep in touch by following our socials, send a request to join our WhatsApp community and register for the EMSAS Conference.
Best wishes,
Dr Immad Qureshi, EMSAS Chair
