A uniquely canadian perspective: An editorial

Abstract

In 1989 a relationship was formed between the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP) and the Journal of Emergency Medicine. For the Association, the affiliation with the Journal of Emergency Medicine provided an opportunity to communicate with its membership on matters of academic, scientific, and political importance. From the Journal’s perspective, the affiliation provided an opportunity to reach a truly international audience and was a perfect fit with the Journal’s mission that identifies an international presence as a major priority. It was a marriage made in heaven. Unfortunately, as is the case in many other marriages, the passion ebbed from the relationship. The original goals and objectives that were established became blurred, and both partners began to wonder about the wisdom of the union. Although the editorial content of the Journal was abstracted in French for the benefit of the French speaking members of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, this was often the only tangible feature in the Journal that members of CAEP could identify as a marker of the relationship. By 1992, it was clear that the issues had to be revisited. A meeting of the CAEP executive board and a subsequent meeting of the editorial board of the Journal of Emergency Medicine that was attended by the president of CAEP resulted in the identification of new parameters for the relationship between the Journal and the Association. The energy for change and improvement was exciting, and the commitment of the Journal editorial board to the Canadian Association was strong and unambiguous. Beginning in this issue of the Journal, there will be an enhanced Canadian presence. The kickoff of this re-vitalized relationship is a history and description of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians authored by Robert Johnson, MD, of Calgary. In future issues of the Journal, we will be providing specific information about educational opportunities, meetings, and other activities of interest to members of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, and to emergency physicians across the continent. We hope to develop the Journal as a forum for the publication of abstracts from the academic and scientific meetings of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, and to provide editorials, commentaries, and reviews pertaining to the Canadian health care system, emergency medicine in Canada, and other issues of interest to academic and practising emergency physicians in Canada and in the United States. We will gratefully receive feedback, suggestions, and submissions from our Canadian, American, and international readers. We all look forward to a long and mutually rewarding relationship.