American College of Emergency Physicians
Global EM Section Mid-Year Ambassador Conference Brings Together Voices from Across the Globe
On March 27, 2026, ACEP’s Global Emergency Medicine Section convened its Mid-Year Ambassador Conference, bringing together over 40 physicians representing more than 10 countries in a dynamic virtual forum. Organized and moderated by Dr. Stephen Dunlop, Chair of the ACEP Ambassador Program, the conference highlighted the remarkable momentum of emergency medicine development worldwide and underscored the growing global community of EM practitioners committed to advancing the specialty in resource-limited settings.
Country Updates: Progress Across Three Continents
The conference opened with updates from three countries spanning Africa, Latin America, and Europe — each reflecting a different stage of emergency medicine’s evolution, yet sharing a common thread of progress.
Tanzania
Drs. Erasto Sylvanus, Juma Mfinanga, and Peter Mabula delivered an inspiring update from Tanzania, where emergency medicine is celebrating over 10 years since formal recognition as an independent specialty. The country has established a second residency training program, representing a foundational milestone in building a sustainable EM workforce. Perhaps most notably, Tanzania is now taking steps toward developing an organized emergency medical services (EMS) system — a transformative advancement that promises to extend emergency care beyond hospital walls and into communities across the country. They are thrilled to be hosting the African Conference on Emergency Medicine conference in Arusha, Tanzania this November! All are welcome! www.afcem.or.tz
View Tanzania’s Country Update
Guatemala
Dr. Marlon Martinez presented on the continued growth of emergency medicine in Guatemala, where the specialty is gaining formal recognition and residency training has taken root. His update reflected the perseverance of local champions working to institutionalize EM within a health system historically focused on other disciplines, and highlighted the importance of regional partnerships in sustaining this progress.
View Guatemala’s Country Update
Portugal
Dr. Vitor Almeida rounded out the country updates with a report from Portugal, where emergency medicine has similarly achieved specialty recognition and formalized residency training. Portugal’s experience offers a compelling model for EM development within the European context, and Dr. Almeida’s presentation provided valuable perspective on the pathways and challenges involved in elevating the specialty within established healthcare systems.
View Portugal’s Country Update
Keynote Address: Centering Gender and Emotional Labor in Global EM
The conference keynote lecture kicked off an exciting new speaker series: EmpowerED Women International speaker series that featured a compelling keynote address by Dr. Saima Ali, Head of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Indus Hospital & Health Network in Pakistan. Moderated by Dr. Priya Arumuganathan, Dr. Ali’s talk — “The Unseen Shift: Emotional Labor, Gender, and Emergency Care in Low Resource Emergency Departments” — challenged attendees to look beyond the clinical and infrastructural dimensions of global EM and confront the often-invisible burdens carried by healthcare workers, particularly women, in resource-constrained settings.
Dr. Ali’s address brought into focus the intersection of gender equity and workforce sustainability in global emergency medicine — themes that resonate deeply as the specialty expands into settings where systemic inequities can both mirror and compound the challenges of delivering emergency care. Her perspective from one of South Asia’s leading emergency medicine programs added both authority and urgency to the conversation.
View the ACEP Ambassador Program Midyear Keynote
A Growing Global Community
The Mid-Year Ambassador Conference exemplified what the Global Section does best: convening practitioners from across the world to share progress, exchange ideas, and reinforce the bonds of a truly international specialty. With physicians from across the globe in attendance, the event reflected the breadth and vitality of ACEP’s global network. Whether celebrating a new residency program, the launch of an EMS system, or the recognition of EM as a distinct specialty, each update was a reminder of how much has changed — and of the work still ahead.
The Section looks forward to continuing this momentum through the remainder of 2026 and into the annual ACEP scientific assembly this October and our in person International Emergency Medicine Summit on Sunday Oct 4th from Noon-4pm. We are grateful to all presenters, moderators, and attendees who made this gathering a success.