In addition, a resolution to allow the Association of Academic Chairs in Emergency Medicine a single seat on the Council was approved.

NEMPAC Surpasses Goals

NEMPAC, ACEP’s Political Action Committee, reported record fundraising efforts, spurred by the health care reform debate and emergency physicians’ desire to have a seat at the table and a voice in the outcome.

During the meeting, NEMPAC collected more than $185,000. Coupled with the $880,000 from ACEP’s general membership throughout the year, NEMPAC has surpassed its record total of $1,045,000 raised last year.

CEP America donated $50,000 to NEMPAC during the meeting, which brings the physician group’s annual contribution to $75,000 in 2009. Another physician group, EMA, pledged $50,000 during the meeting—the anticipated total contributions of ACEP member physicians by year’s end.

Three emergency physician groups have 100% participation in ACEP membership and 100% participation in NEMPAC:

• Puget Sound Emergency Physicians Group.
• Jersey Emergency Medicine.
• Eastside Emergency Physicians, which is also 100% at the Give-a-Shift level.

This year, 148 Councillors are donating at the Give-a-Shift level ($1,000). Since the Give-a-Shift program became official in 2005, there have been 71 donors who have given at this level for 5 consecutive years.

And five ACEP members were recognized during the meeting for their outstanding fundraising efforts for NEMPAC in 2009:

• Chairman Bruce Auerbach, M.D.
• Vidor Friedman, M.D.
• Andre Landreville, M.D.
• Wes Fields, M.D.
• Raymond Iannaconne, M.D.

Also during the Council meeting, special recognition was given to the Certification Section (whose members have donated more than $31,000) and the Legacy physicians (who have donated more than $30,000).

NEMPAC is currently the fourth-largest medical specialty PAC—behind anesthesiologists, orthopedic surgeons and radiologists—with a goal to become number one.

EMF Honors Groups

The Emergency Medicine Foundation Board of Trustees met during Scientific Assembly and recognized several emergency physician groups on the EMF Honor Roll. Groups at the gold level of support ($5,000 or more) were Emergency Medical Associates, EmCare, Questcare Partners, TeamHealth, and an anonymous group. Silver level groups ($1,000) were Unity Physician Group and Premier Health Care Services, Inc. And recognized for their bronze level of support ($500) were Lehigh Valley Health Network-Department of Emergency Medicine, Emergency Service Partners, LC, and Riverside Emergency Physicians Medical Group.

During the meeting, EMF raised more than $103,000 and now boasts 16 members of the Wiegenstein Legacy Society, a planned giving program.