- About
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Our work
- Global Campaign Against ED Over-Crowding
- Advocacy
- Emergency Medical Care Worker Wellbeing
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Committees Committees
- About our Committees
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Clinical Practice Committee Clinical Practice Committee
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Continuing Professional Development Committee Continuing Professional Development Committee
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Core Curriculum and Education Committee Core Curriculum and Education Committee
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Finance Committee Finance Committee
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Governance Committee Governance Committee
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Research Committee Research Committee
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Speciality Implementation Committee Speciality Implementation Committee
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Special Interest Groups Special Interest Groups
- About Special Interest Groups
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Behavioral Emergencies SIG Behavioral Emergencies SIG
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Critical Care in Emergency Medicine SIG Critical Care in Emergency Medicine SIG
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Disaster Medicine SIG Disaster Medicine SIG
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EM Resident Trainee Special Interest Group EM Resident Trainee Special Interest Group
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Emergency Ultrasound SIG Emergency Ultrasound SIG
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Gender Specific Issues SIG Gender Specific Issues SIG
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Geriatric Emergency Medicine SIG Geriatric Emergency Medicine SIG
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Informatics Special Interest Group Informatics Special Interest Group
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Technology SIG Technology SIG
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Paediatric Emergency Medicine SIG Paediatric Emergency Medicine SIG
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Public and Environmental Health SIG Public and Environmental Health SIG
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Quality and Safety SIG Quality and Safety SIG
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Trauma SIG Trauma SIG
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Taskforces Taskforces
- About our Taskforces
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Portuguese Translation Taskforce Portuguese Translation Taskforce
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Spanish Translation Taskforce Spanish Translation Taskforce
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World Health Organization Taskforce World Health Organization Taskforce
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Events Taskforce Events Taskforce
- Join the IFEM Acute Care Action Network Task Force
- Resources
- Research
- Education
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Events
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International Conference on Emergency Medicine International Conference on Emergency Medicine
- Event Calendar
- Past event recordings
- Event endorsement
- Symposia collaboration
- Apply for free IFEM event registration
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- News
Our history
Following a gathering of emergency physicians at the first international conferences on emergency medicine in 1986 and 1988, and the meeting of a fledgling IFEM in 1989, IFEM was officially launched in 1991 with the signing of a Charter. Founding members from Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States of America shared a vision of fostering the worldwide development of emergency medicine as a specialty and improving emergency medical care globally.
As emergency medicine continued to develop across the globe, membership of IFEM was sought by other organizations that represent emergency medicine in their countries.
In 1999 to recognize those individuals who have contributed significantly to the development of emergency medicine in their country and to the development of the International Federation for Emergency Medicine, the award of the Order of the IFEM was created. This was followed in 2000 by the introduction the IFEM Humanitarian Award, which is presented to either an individual or organization where work has been conducted that has a major humanitarian or public health benefit.
Celebrating 30 years
In 2021, IFEM celebrated its 30th anniversary. From signing the Charter with four founding member countries in 1991, IFEM has grown to include Members from a diverse range of countries across all regions of the globe.
To celebrate, we spoke to a few of IFEMs Founding and Past Presidents and asked them what their fondest memories of IFEM were, what IFEM achievements they're most proud of, and why IFEM plays such a critical role in advancing global emergency medical care into the future.