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What's HappeningN E W S T O K N O W F R O M S E M P AJ A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 SEMPA 2020 – A Year in Review Dear SEMPA Members,I think we can safely say that 2020 was a year like no other and that it brought withit many unexpected and unwelcomed challenges. From dealing with our increasedsafety risks due to PPE shortages to managing the sheer number of critically illpatients to holding the hands of patients dying alone because their family could notbe exposed, EMPAs across the country were confronted with ever-changingchallenges on a daily basis. But you all rose to the occasion. And while I was proudof you all, I was not surprised as you are emergency medicine providers and that’swhat we do. Your member organization also responded by providing you with the tools andresources needed to help you meet the challenges you faced. And, as the pandemicrages on, we will continue to be by your side every step of the way. In turning our attention to 2021 and the administration of the vaccine rolling outacross the country, we welcome the hope that it brings for us as emergencymedicine physician assistants, our patients, colleagues, families and communities.Ann Verhoeven, MMSc, PA-CSEMPA Presidents 2020-2021

To support our members during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, SEMPA hasoffered a robust SEMPA COVID-19 Resources section on its website from the very beginning. There, members have been able to find culled down COVID-19 information and resources so you can get to trusted and reliable information quickly and easily. SEMPA also stood with ACEP in urging Congressional leaders to ensure health care providers have the resources and supplies necessary to protect themselves while providing care for those in need. A SEMPA-specific channel on the engagED platform was created so that SEMPA members could have COVID-19 discussions with colleagues from across the country on anything from the challenges you were facing to the latest news to your mental, physical and emotional well-being during such trying times. SEMPA also worked with Hilton and Marriott to provide SEMPA members caring for COVID patients free hotel rooms so that they had a clean andcomfortable place to stay after long shifts caring for COVID patients and to safely distance from loved ones.On March 10, 2020, the SEMPA Board of Directorsmade the difficult decision to cancel the SEMPA360 conference, which was planned to be held March 16-20, 2020, in Chicago, IL. SEMPA was one of the first emergency medicineorganizations to make this painful decision early inthe pandemic and we did so to protect the healthand safety of our members, staff and faculty. Andwhile we missed seeing you all this year, we arehappy that you stayed safe and were home wheremany of you were needed on the front lines.

In 2020, SEMPA also launched the EMPAPostgraduate Program Virtual Grand Rounds.Organized by the Postgraduate EducationCommittee, the events are designed tosupplement the educational needs of thenational programs and provide speaking In addition to COVID-19 educationalresources, SEMPA started offeringvirtual CME opportunities during thetime when most of our traditional liveCME offerings were unable to happen. InAugust 2020, SEMPA launched SEMPALive! – a virtual education channel thatoffers FREE CME courses and a must foranyone who works in emergencymedicine. Once a month through the endof 2020, SEMPA Live! offered a freeCME lecture for EMPAs with a livequestion and answer session. The Virtual Grand Rounds format is 15-20 minute segments on topicsranging from emergency medicine core content to professional issues.There are also post-presentation networking opportunities for faculty,residents and fellows. Due to the popularity of thevirtual education, SEMPA haslaunched SEMPA Live! OnDemand where you can access archives of previouspresentations and earn freeCME. Also, SEMPA will becontinuing SEMPA Live!throughout 2021.opportunities for PA faculty, residents, and fellows.

Last year marked SEMPA’s 30th anniversary. And while we didn’t get tocommemorate the occasion as we had planned due to COVID, we honoredthe organization’s rich history with a special section on the SEMPA website. Thereyou will find the Story of SEMPA;a letter from the Society’s founder Arnold Zigman,PA-C; video clips from interviews with Mr. Zigman and other former influentialSEMPA leaders; and a timeline of SEMPA’s Milestones over the past 30 years.View the History section here. The SEMPA Board of Directors has been working hard on the advocacy front. In 2020, SEMPA released several statements and responses in support of EMPAs. Joint Statement Regarding Post-Graduate Training for NursePractitioners and Physician AssistantsSupporting Clinician Health in the Post-COVID Pandemic EraStatement Statement on Structural Racism, Violence and Public Health Title of the Physician Assistant Statement In addition to these important statements, SEMPA continues to advocate for EMPAsand collaborate with other emergency medicine stakeholders in the area of ruralemergency medicine, EMS and postgraduate education.As we embark on the next 30 years of SEMPA, wehope you enjoyed the look back on our journey towhere we are today. Thank you all for yourmembership and for the important work you doevery day for your patients.

President Elect Philip DaVisio, MSPAS, CAQ-EM, PA-CCV | Platform StatementVice President Jim Stith, MSPAS, PA-C CV | Platform StatementSecretary-Treasurer Joshua Higgins, MPAS, PA-C CV | Platform Statement Director at Large Sara Champoux, DHSc, PA-CCV | Platform Statement Director at Large Joshua Rosenblum, MPAS, PA-C CV | Platform StatementSEMPA held its annual Board of Directors election in the fall of 2020.We are pleased to announce the SEMPA newly appointed board members!Congratulations to these exceptional EMPAs who will be serving on the 2021-2022 Board of Directors, which will be installed on May 9.

Join us for the SEMPA Live! lecturesthat provide essential clinical content and vital risk-managementconcepts for a wide range of specialists. Held once a month, you can now register for each course being offered through June 2021. TheCME courses are free to members. Learn more and register. Postgraduate program directors andEMPA residents from across the countryare invited to join SEMPA’s EMPAPostgraduate Virtual Grand Rounds. The events are free and held quarterly.The next event is scheduled to takeplace April 14 from 6-8:30 pm Central. Registration will open in early spring.Join us for SEMPA 360 - A Virtual Experience, May 10-14, 2021 for the most in-depth and comprehensive educational experience available for EMPAs. A fully virtual conference, SEMPA 360 offers: World-class educational courses liveor on-demand WorkshopsQ&A with renowned facultyThe latest in medicine, technologyand devices from industry leadersFun and interactive social eventsAnnual Quiz Bowl CompetitionUp to 79 hours of CME you canaccess for 3 yearsAnd much more!Participate on your schedule in the comfort and safety of your home or office. Simply join us for live events when you are available and catch up on everything else on demand. And, now is the time to sign up because we are offering low early-bird rates. SEMPA 360 isn’t a Zoom meeting – it is going to be a true 360 Virtual Experience! Learn more and register today