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medicine , and my involvement in EMRA has helped foster this interest . Through my involvement in the EMRA Prehospital & Disaster Medicine Committee , I have spoken with experts in groundbased EMS , aerospace medicine , prehospital ECMO and more . It has exposed me to areas of emergency medicine that I did not even know existed . Every residency program has its particular areas of focus , but having access to a larger community allows residents to connect with their specific interests that may not be prevalent locally .
Impact on Patient Care
Outside of just personal gain , I firmly believe that being involved in organized medicine has allowed me to provide better care to my patients . EMRA , like many groups , provides its members with educational resources that help build a strong foundation in emergency medicine and have proven helpful during residency . It has also provided me with the opportunity to interact with and learn from leaders in the field across the country . From an online presentation on a particular topic to a seminar on ground-breaking approaches to treatment , involvement in EMRA has allowed me to stay up to date with best practices and apply them in my department .
Advocacy is a large component of many groups . Organized medicine helps move the wheel of how we practice and operate . Having a voice in the process is important , especially as a young physician . Many groups provide their members with opportunities to speak with lawmakers , both local and national , impacting everything from physician compensation to laws that directly affect patient care . Additionally , many of these groups write policies that are considered standard of care within a specialty . Being involved in these groups can allow you to be a part of these conversations that raise the bar for patient care on a large scale .
Giving Back
I have benefited in many ways from my involvement in EMRA . As I transitioned into residency , I wanted to start to give back to the community that continues to help me so much . In emergency medicine , we experience some of the biggest wins and biggest losses on our shifts . For this reason , it was important for me to help others navigate and understand the specialty , especially as they are about to enter residency . A well-created group develops its learners into leaders , which is what EMRA has done for me . Through EMRA , I have been able to mentor students and write educational material to help those navigating the Match . I hope this has provided help for others , and I have found it quite fulfilling . I enjoy the idea that I have gotten to make an impact on people just a few steps behind where I am in training .
Dr . Lyons is a PGY-2 in emergency medicine at the University of Louisville . He is the current Vice Chair of the Emergency Medicine Residents Association ( EMRA ) Prehospital and Disaster Medicine Committee and the EMRA Representative to the American College of Emergency Physicians ( ACEP ) Disaster Medicine Section .
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