ACEM President Reflections and Handover 2021
9 November 2021
I acknowledge the Dharug people, who are the traditional owners of the lands on which I am speaking today.
First of all, I would like to thank Dr John Bonning for the wonderful work he has done as ACEM president. John didn’t get the presidency he expected, but despite the challenges of COVID, he has achieved the goals he set for himself two years ago, and more.
John has raised the profile of emergency medicine in Aotearoa New Zealand. He has brought fellows and trainees in our two countries closer together. He has advocated, tirelessly, in regard to remedies for problems that affect us all. John has encouraged us to choose wisely. And, importantly, John has introduced Mãori language, customs and culture to the everyday business of the College.
Congratulations, John, on successfully completing your term. And thank you for the enormous contribution you have made to our specialty during your time as president. You have provided warm, steady, and energised leadership. Up close, when the rules allowed, and also from a distance. I am very grateful for the friendship and support that you have given to me, and many others, over the last two years.
Pai ake means better in Te Reo Mãori. John, you leave the College pai ake than you found it.
Kia ora.
Today, as I accept the baton from John, I am contemplating, where to from here? For us as a College? And for our specialty, emergency medicine?
The COVID-19 pandemic has defined the last two years of our lives. At work and at home. These are extraordinarily difficult times to work in emergency care. Emergency departments are at the centre of the pandemic response and emergency physicians among its leaders. During the last twenty months, we have learned much about ourselves and the world in which we live. Together, we continue to adapt to this new disease, to new ways of working, and new ways of connecting with each other.
We should feel very proud of the roles we serve – as clinicians, researchers, innovators, and advocates.
But now, even though the pandemic is far from over, it is time to start writing our next chapter. We must seize this opportunity for change. We must start to build back better.
We all know that the way we work and live is not sustainable.
We must review the role and function of emergency departments. Design our processes to provide high quality, high value, and compassionate care. We must build relationships with other specialties and services to ensure our precious skills and resources are used for maximum good. We must define ourselves positively – by what we do well – while providing an important safety net for people who are not able to access other forms of urgent medical care.
We must review the role of emergency physicians and recognise that our acute generalist skill set and systems approach to problem solving make us useful far beyond emergency departments. We must build and promote our leadership skills and ensure that our trainees can look forward to satisfying and sustainable careers in safe, supportive, healthy workplaces.
We need to work on inclusion.
Diversity is our greatest strength. We should celebrate our differences, learn from each other, and draw on our vast, collective range of experiences to develop and grow. Equity, in its many forms, should be at the centre of all that we do – for people who require emergency care, and for each other.
We must keep working on inclusion until our membership, and our leadership, reflect the communities that we serve. We must build a culture in which people feel safe to be themselves.
This won’t be easy. We must be prepared to have difficult conversations and hear uncomfortable truths. We will be guided by our core values – respect, integrity, collaboration and equity.
To Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Mãori and Pasifika colleagues. I acknowledge the inter-generational trauma of colonisation. I acknowledge the shameful disparity in health outcomes for Indigenous peoples. I promise you that I will listen and learn. I promise you, today, that we will all work with you to do better.
We know that the way we live and work is not sustainable.
Climate change poses the greatest threat to human health. The effects of global warming will exacerbate inequities in health experiences and outcomes in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and around the world. We must continue to advocate for urgent, meaningful climate action. We must continue to advocate for structural interventions to address the socioeconomic determinants of health inequity.
There is work to be done.
But first, we need to heal. We need, each of us, to find time for rest and recovery, and to re-establish our personal and professional boundaries. We need to reconnect with the people, places and activities that sustain us. We need to heal.
I feel deeply honoured to have been chosen for this role and to lead the College in this vital work. I assure you that I will do my very best to represent you for the next two years.
In closing, I would like to thank all the fellows and trainees who have contributed their time and imagination to the College.
In particular, I acknowledge Associate Professor Sally McCarthy, the first female president of our College, and all the other amazing women of emergency medicine who have inspired, mentored and supported me over the years. I don’t have time to mention you all by name, but please know that I am enormously grateful for all that you do.
I also want to acknowledge the talented, hard-working College staff. I feel lucky to work in partnership with you and I am proud of the work we do together.
I want to thank my family. My partner, my daughter and my son. My mum and dad, and my sisters. The incredible team of doctors and nurses I work with at Hornsby Hospital. I wouldn’t be here today without your encouragement, support and love.
Thank you.
Finally, I want to remind you that we are the College. I encourage you all to get involved – join a network, a committee or your faculty board.
We are the College. We set the agenda. We create the culture.
We make a difference.
I encourage you all to engage. When we work together, we can achieve remarkable things.
Thank you. Kia kaha.
