The Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF) strategic mission is to support emergency medicine research and education in order to improve patient care and practice. As the oldest national foundation organized for the specific purpose of funding research in emergency medicine, the Foundation’s work expands the body of knowledge that is paramount to the advancement of the specialty of emergency medicine.

Funds for research and education grants come through charitable gifts from emergency physicians, physician groups, individuals, corporations, and foundations. What makes EMF virtually unique in the medical arena is that 100% of the gifts made to the Foundation directly support research and education in emergency medicine. This is possible because the American College of Emergency Physicians underwrites all of the administrative, program, and fund raising expenses for EMF.

The need for original emergency medicine research led to the formation of EMF in 1972 as a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. To date, EMF has awarded nearly $10 million in research awards to advance emergency medicine science and to develop emergency medicine researchers. Through research, its support of continuing education programs and the nurturing of young researchers, the Foundation is able to benefit the millions of Americans who rely on quality emergency care. EMF’s work in advancing the knowledge, expertise and scope of emergency medicine practice has and continues to save lives. 

The Foundation has established a number of prestigious grant and academic programs. During the 2008-09 year, EMF awarded $625,305 in research grants, funding 17 studies. During the 2009-2010 year, EMF awarded $383, 383, funding 13 studies ranging from ultrasound, quality improvement, geriatrics, plus more. Meet our 2009-2010 Grantees    EMF continues our grantee workshop that brings together its current grantees with seasoned professionals to discuss their research and gain guidance on how to successfully complete their project. To learn about specific grants or programs, visit Apply for a Grant .

EMF supports the EMF/ACEP Teaching Fellowship program, which provides training in curriculum development and instruction, teaching methods and evaluation, academic survival skills, and administration and management.  Support of the EMF/ACEP program, the Emergency Medicine Basic Research Skills Workshop, teaches students how to identify and respond to clinical research opportunities, become familiar with health care delivery and effectiveness research, learn how to utilize statistics and statistical software, and gain insight into methods on publishing and presenting research. EMF also supported the efforts of the National Overview of Boarding in Emergency Department Survey (NO-BEDS) that surveyed emergency departments with a specific point-in-time to paint a picture of those entering into the EDs across the United States. In addition, EMF financially supported the AHRQ conference that brought together top researchers and organizations to discuss the process of care delivery and to provide solutions for quality problems in the US healthcare system.

By funding research and stimulating education through its broad range of grant programs, EMF is able to expand the body of knowledge that is the lifeblood of emergency medicine. Every year more than 119 million people rely on emergency departments to provide them with live saving medical care. EMF is proud to fund research and education that helps emergency medicine practitioners provide the highest quality of health care to their patients.