Summer 2013: What Is The EMRA Legacy Initiative? Matt Rudy

POSTED: September 6th, 2013
POSTED IN: Summer 2013,

Emergency medicine is one of the youngest medical specialties in the U.S., accepted into the house of medicine in 1979. Born out of the public’s growing need for emergency care, ours is the only specialty that serves anyone, anyplace, anytime – 24/7/365.

In 2011 the representative council of the Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association (EMRA) passed a proposal to create a documentary to chronicle and celebrate the rich history of emergency medicine. EMRA, which represents the unified voice of emergency medicine physicians-in-training, has provided seed funding for the Legacy Initiative in an effort to preserve the specialty’s proud past.

The Legacy Initiative was conceived as a definitive way to archive the history of emergency medicine and the pioneering spirit of its founders; every specialty has a story to tell, and ours is no different. The project, which will culminate in a one-hour documentary, will feature interviews with the physicians who founded emergency medicine, interwoven with historical footage of emergency care spanning the last five decades. Legacy will explore the evolution of the specialty – as seen through the eyes of its heroes and visionaries – while examining some of the pressing issues faced by those currently in the field. View the trailer here.

Why Now?
There is no better time for this documentary than now. The heroes who founded our specialty are aging; if their stories are not captured and immortalized, they will be lost forever. Our story needs to be told; Legacy will play a key role in redefining how the specialty is regarded, and also will be a source of pride and education for current emergency physicians – and the emergency medicine residents and students who follow.

About EMRA:
The Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association (EMRA) is the largest and oldest independent medical resident organization in the world. Founded in 1974, the association today boasts a membership of nearly 12,000 residents, medical students, and alumni – making it the second-largest organization in the house of emergency medicine. EMRA, which has championed member interests since its inception, strives to promote excellence in patient care through the education and development of emergency medicine residency-trained physicians.

Click here for more information about EMRA, its publications, or how to get involved in the organization.