A Landmark for Emergency Medicine in India

The introduction of EM into the medical school and post-graduate curriculum is a shining example of what can be achieved through the dedication and focus of a relatively small group of people, when supported by members from organizations like AAEMI. Emergency Physicians from AAEMI, SEMI, ACEP, SAEM, AAEM, and Emergency International rallied together to support, endorse and participate in INTEM 2002, India’s first International Conference on Emergency Medicine and Disaster Preparedness, which was held in Hyderabad in October 2002.

INTEM 2002 was enormously successful, and was instrumental in increasing awareness of the vital role of Emergency Medicine in health-care. Thirty US faculty traveled to India to give lectures and workshops at the three-day conference, side-by-side with our Indian counterparts. Some of these physicians have been active in promoting Emergency Medicine on the international front for many years. US faculty also participated in live panel discussions of the role and future of EM in India. These discussions involved key government officials, heads of academic institutions and experts on International Emergency Medicine from around the world.

Following INTEM 2002, the Academic Council of the N.T. Rama Rao University of Health Sciences, governing 12 medical schools in the province of Andhra Pradesh, has approved India’s first formal 3-year Residency in Emergency Medicine. The curriculum will be based on current the ABEM / CORD guidelines used in the United States. If approved at a government level, the university plans to announce the course in the coming academic year. This represents a great milestone for Emergency Medicine and the people of India.

The American Academy for EM in India and its counterpart, Society of Emergency Medicine, India (SEMI), the North-Shore Long Island Jewish Health Systems and Apollo Hospital (Hyderabad), were the co-hosts for INTEM 2002. The NS-LIJ Health System provided CME credits for the conference and plans to do so for future conferences hosted by AAEMI. Because of the CME provided the conference was able to maintain the highest academic standards, and to attract delegates even from the USA.

Current AAEMI President, Dr. Kumar Alagappan has sent more than 35 EM residents to various teaching hospitals in India over the past decade. These residents rotated there for up to 6 weeks as part of an international elective offered by his program. He is currently putting together a 1 year Fellowship in International EM through his department. Through various planned projects, the residents who went to India, left behind a legacy of information, knowledge and skills that have formed part of the foundation and impetus for the growth of EM at those hospitals. It is no coincidence that these are the very same departments where Emergency Medicine is now recognized officially for the first time.