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. 

In 2002 Debra Houry, MD, MPH, a first-year faculty member at Emory University received $50,000 from EMF to conduct research on domestic violence. To date, Dr. Houry has received more than $7 million in additional funding from federal agencies.

“I used much of my initial research [underwritten by EMF] as pilot studies to figure out what next to study,” Houry explains, adding that an important aspect of the EMF Career Development Grant was the release time it afforded her to obtain further training on the NIH and CDC grant applications.

Dr. Houry’s case is not unusual. Researchers at Wayne State University found that recipients of the EMF Career Development awards were funded three times more often than individuals who had received the award. The study also noted that these grantees submitted four times as many federal grant proposals as did the other emergency medicine investigators, providing them the necessary background and confidence to expand their skills and research.

The heartbeat of the Emergency Medicine Foundation is education and research. Funds distributed through EMF allows a broad array of vital research to be performed at all levels in the field of emergency medicine from seasoned practioners to medical students to fellows in emergency medicine to junior and senior faculty. Through an extensive selection process, the grantees are selected. The monies used to support grant programs are closely watched and wisely watched.

EMF has established a Teaching Fellowship program which provides training in curriculum developemt and instruction and the Emergency Medicine Basic Research Skills Workshop, teaching the elements of research to interested emergency physicians. Each year EMF brings together its current grantees to discuss the progress of their projects with seasoned professionals and to gain guidance on how to successfully complete their project.

Every year close to 119 million people in need rush to the emergency department. The key lies in the ability to continue funding the projects that are vital to the specialty. For this to happen, EMF depends on the support of emergency physicians, physician groups, corporations, and foundations to sustain its many research and education projects. If you would like to make a contribution, please contact the EMF Development Manager at emf@emfoundation.org or by calling (800) 798-1822.