Attendance is not compulsory. But if you want to know what is actually happening in EM around the world, FOAM is quickly becoming “required reading.” As the creators of the Life in the Fastlane blog (led by some of Australia’s leading EM minds) say, “If you want to know how we practiced medicine 5 years ago, read a textbook. If you want to know how we practiced medicine 2 years ago, read a journal.

“If you want to know how we practice medicine now, go to a (good) conference. If you want to know how we will practice medicine in the future, listen in the hallways and use FOAM.”

I almost went the entire article without mentioning the dreaded term “social media.” That is because FOAM is not social media the way most people use it – i.e., to share videos of Yorkshire terriers playing Bach on YouTube. Rather, FOAM harnesses social media tools, not designed for us but taken to its zenith by us. We are the first generation of doctors, nurses, PAs, and students using web-based resources to improve medical education and patient care.

These resources are already helping the EM world feel like a small and friendly place. Global medical education for EM has truly found its home: FOAM. The more voices join the conversation, the better. And while still in its infancy and the metaphorical glass is quickly becoming full of FOAM, the cup will never run over. The glass just keeps getting bigger.

Dr. Faust is an EM resident at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, and tweets about #FOAMed and classical music @JeremyFaust.