Wednesday 9 October 2024
Day two of RCEM’s ASC was filled with inspiration – from considering where the specialty was born to seeing the next generation of Emergency Medics presenting their own research.
The day started with lectures from the winner of two awards made in memory of Emergency Medicine pioneers.
Professor John Ryan was first presenting the David Williams Award Lecture entitled ‘Emergency medicine –where hope and history rhyme’, which commemorated trailblazers in the specialty and reflected on the past which has laid the foundations of Urgent and Emergency care.
“History truly does inspire hope,” Professor Ryan stated as he cleverly wove prose through his presentation including quotes from famous Irish poet Seamus Heaney.
And including a few of his own including “Surround yourself by the attributes and traits of professionalism, resilience, robustness and values.”
Dr Chris Hook took the stage next to share his experiences of global health and humanitarian medicine in his William Rutherford Award Lecture, which focused on his involvement in emergency care around the world, while training and preparing medical students.
“It is all of our responsibility as clinicians to reduce health inequalities,” Dr Hook told delegates, before he shared highlighted the challenges of health care professionals who are on the front line in Gaza in a powerful talk which features video clips from three medics working on the frontline of the conflict.
After a team break it was the turn of the next generation to take to the stage to present their abstract submissions as part of the Rod Little Prize Papers (picture above).
Five RCEM trainees each spoke about their research and then answered a series of questions submitted by delegates. They were then marked on their presentation with the winner being selected as Dr Jennifer Ross.
Dr Adrian Boyle, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine was among those in the audience and said, “There are really bright and clever people coming through our specialty. The standard is so high.”
There was more to come from Emergency Medicine’s brightest minds as the ASC celebrated its first ever Case Report winner. Author Fiona Mendes, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, won with her entry ‘Grass isn’t always greener: Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome – a clinical quandary’. Watch a video with Fiona Mendes explaining the winning entry.
Once peer reviewed it will be published in Wiley’s prestigious Clinical Case Reports journal.
After lunch the tracks split with delegates having the choice if sessions on Trauma which focused on the R in TARN as well as CT scanning in children as well as in older people; on infectious diseases and a very popular section featuring a quiz to test attendees knowledge of the weird and wonderous infections as well as some rather graphic imagery of an eye worm otherwise known as Loa loa for those interested.
After a coffee break with specially RCEM branded cupcakes, the final sessions of the day got underway with the main hall (Track One) featuring a truly international panel.
Presenters included Dr Natan Muluberhan from Ethiopia and Dr Kwaku Nyame from Ghana as well as RCEM’s Head of International, and Dr Andy Lockyer, the founder of the charity, Dharura, which supports ethical, sustainable, equal and reciprocal global emergency care.
The other afternoon sessions focused on how research findings can be translated into clinical practice, and a quick-fire presentation of moderated papers hosted by Professor Matt Reed, Chair of RCEM’s Research Committee.
The final day of the conference takes place tomorrow (Thursday 10 October) when the College’s Royal Patron HRH The Princess Royal will attend and address and meet with delegates.
Catch up with how the ASC began on day one with RCEM President Adrian Boyle’s opening address and the first discussion of the day.
See the conference on X/Twitter with #RCEMasc.
Watch on-demand: Members who were unable to join us for the conference, or those who want to watch sessions back after it has ended, can benefit from our ‘on-demand’ service.
Opportunities to learn more with RCEMLearning
Related to today’s sessions, check out:
Trauma
TARN: Big changes after 33 years of trauma audit
Mechanism of Injury – Learning Session
Mechanism of Injury – Reference
Major trauma – Burns Learning Session
The R in TARN: Impact past, present and future
The updated 2024 paediatric trauma imaging guidelines
Shedding light on Paediatric Trauma Imaging
Global health
Integrating global health into NHS emergency medicine
The Climate Crisis – How will air pollution affect my patient’s health?
RCEM’s interactive Global Map
Session: Trauma
Cambridge Trauma Futures: Excellent care of trauma patients | Virtual | 19-20 November | View Programme | Book now
Session: EMTA
EMTA Conference 2025 | Face-to-face | South-west England | February 2025 | Register your interest
