CAEP Residents' Section: new directions

Resident Issues

CJEM 2002;4(1):55-56

As we head toward the 3rd Canadian EM Residents' Workshop this April in Hamilton, we should recognize the accomplishments of the section to date. The CAEP Residents' Section (CAEP-RS) is still a relatively new organization, but is growing rapidly in size and scope. The initial stated purpose of the Section was to unify emergency medicine residents on a national scale and to bring a resident voice to the CAEP board. It is safe to say that we are well on our way toward achieving this goal.

Dr. Jason Frank was the Founder and Chair of CAEP-RS through its infancy, and is largely responsible for where we are today. At the 2nd Canadian EM Residents' Workshop, in Calgary in March 2001, a new executive committee was elected. Kathryn Irwin (PGY-3, University of Alberta) was chosen as Jason's successor. Under Kathryn's leadership, CAEP-RS continues to thrive. With a high turnout expected at this year's workshop, this trend will no doubt continue.

An important function of the CAEP-RS is communication among emergency medicine residents across the country. One of the most significant advances toward this objective is the establishment of the Residents' Web site (found at www.caep.ca). This is an excellent new forum for the dissemination of news, events and resident issues and it contains links to all CCFP and FRCP programs across Canada as well as to fellowship programs and job search sites. The addition of educational material such as case presentations is a future project for the site.

Another forum we have available to us is the Resident Issues section in CJEM. This space is available for your opinions, editorials or stories of interest to residents. At the last brainstorming session, suggested topics included: FRCP vs. EM training, moonlighting during residency, shift work, manpower in Canadian EDs, program accreditation, and interesting research or elective opportunities.

If you are interested in submitting an article on these or other topics, contact either me (address below) or section Coeditor Jenn Carpenter, at 3jlc22@qlink.queensu.ca.