Emergency Medicine Symposium

10/10/2025

𝚆𝚎𝚎𝚔 𝟹 – 𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙽𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝙽𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝

At the Emergency Medicine Symposium 2025, we spoke of how our philanthropic footprint was growing — reaching further than ever before.

This year, that promise becomes real.

We are proud to introduce two new charity partnerships,
and this week, we shine a light on one of them: Vanni Hope.

𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 – 𝐈𝐧𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲: 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

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In rural Sri Lanka, families once fished out of desperation. Now, thanks to the Vanni Hope Inland Fishing Project, they fish with hope.

By equipping communities with fingerlings, gear, and training — this project has quietly transformed fishing into a respected livelihood:

🎣 Children stay in school
🏡 Families gain financial freedom
🌊 Local ecosystems are protected and valued

For many of us, this story feels close.

Maybe your father rose early to fish — not for fun, but for food.
Maybe your grandparents knew what it meant to stretch one income across generations.

But this story doesn’t require shared history — only shared humanity.

Because when we support projects like this, we’re saying:
"Your dreams for your family are as worthy as ours. Let’s build a world where they’re possible."

When we were speaking about this to one of our delegates from Auckland, they said:

“I grew up in a small coastal town in New Zealand. Fishing was something we did on weekends. This made me realise: for many, it’s not leisure — it’s legacy. That shift in perspective changed everything.”

See you in DaNanag, Vietnam, in April 2026
https://www.emergencymedicinesymposium.com.au/

Next week, we’ll tell you about our other new partner:
Action on Poverty, and how community-led tourism in Vietnam is transforming lives one welcome at a time.

01/10/2025

🟩 Week 2 – The Village That Stopped Waiting

𝙋𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙖 – 𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙋𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙪𝙠𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙮𝙞𝙧𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙪:

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝘽𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙨

For the past three years, thanks to the generosity of our delegates,
the Emergency Medicine Symposium has quietly supported a rural Sri Lankan village named 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗹 — a place once shaped by scarcity, now sustained by strength.

Through our partnership with Palmera, the women of Theravil built something remarkable.

They raised livestock.
Started peanut farms.
Created savings groups under trees.
Taught each other how to lend, how to lead, how to build a life no longer dependent on anyone else.

Today, 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗹 stands tall — not because the world changed around them,
but because they changed the world they could reach.

And while Palmera still returns — to listen, learn, and repeat the cycle with care —

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗹 no longer needs our spotlight.
Because they’ve become the light for others.

Now, that light moves to a place where silence still lingers: 𝗣𝘂𝘁𝗵𝘂𝗸𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘆𝗶𝗿𝘂𝗽𝗽𝘂.

The final battlefield of Sri Lanka’s civil war.
A village where endings were written in loss — and now, beginnings are being rewritten in quiet resilience.

The women here are doing what Theravil did.
They’re gathering again.
Saving in circles.
Starting small businesses and rediscovering something that was almost lost:
The right to imagine a future.

This is what Palmera does — not just in these two villages, but across many.
This week, we simply pause to honour one story…
and the next it made possible.

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐧𝐠
https://www.emergencymedicinesymposium.com.au

Next week, we’ll share the stories of Vanni Hope and Action on Poverty — and the quiet revolutions they’re building in lakes and villages across Asia.

27/09/2025

🟦 𝚆𝚎𝚎𝚔 𝟷 – 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚆𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚖

𝘽𝙚𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙮𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙪𝙢 — A Series for Those Who Remember Where They Came From

Most of us didn’t grow up with emergency departments like the ones we work in now.
Some of us remember holding our breath through power cuts in crowded corridors.
Some remember the smell of dust before the monsoon, and the long drive our parents took to find a doctor.

We remember more than just medicine.
We remember the gap.

And that’s why this symposium is different.

Over the next 4 weeks, we’ll share stories from places that feel eerily familiar:
Where women save in quiet circles because the bank won’t come.
Where fishing is not recreation, but survival.
Where hosting a stranger isn’t tourism — it’s dignity wrapped in rice and warmth.

These are the stories many of us grew up around.
And for others, they’re stories that stir something deeper:
A sense that you have more to give than just clinical skill.

This is Beyond the Symposium.
Not a brand. Not a tagline.
Just a quiet reminder — that even when you’ve made it…
You never forget the people who haven’t.

Join us in Da Nang
https://www.emergencymedicinesymposium.com.au/

11/09/2025

We were talking to one of our delegates recently, and they shared something that really touched us:

“𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘶𝘱.

𝘈𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘶𝘮, 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘦 — 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯. 𝘐 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘥, 𝘐 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥, 𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭. 𝘐𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦.”

That, to us, is the essence of the Emergency Medicine Symposium.

It isn’t about entitlement. It isn’t about showcasing. It’s about humility, curiosity, and courage. When we let go of ego, the conversations deepen, the learning sticks, and the friendships last.

From Langkawi to Koh Samui to Cebu, this spirit has carried us forward. In 2026, it finds a new home:

📍 Sheraton Grand Danang, Vietnam
📅 13–15 April 2026

As many of you start planning your calendars and leave for next year, we invite you to hold these dates close. Not because it’s another event — but because it’s a chance to reconnect with yourself, your peers, and the heart of emergency medicine.

emergencymedicinesymposium.com.au

12/08/2025

The journey continues… to 𝗗𝗮 𝗡𝗮𝗻𝗴, 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗻𝗮𝗺, 𝟭𝟯–𝟭𝟱 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.

Three days dedicated to the craft of emergency medicine.

Four immersive workshops shaped by those who live it every day.

Two days of sessions that bridge evidence with real-world application – the kind of knowledge that stays with you long after the last slide fades.

You’ll join an extraordinary faculty of practising FACEMs and a delegate community that understands the pressures, the decisions, and the moments that define our work.

And when the learning pauses, we’ll celebrate – with a cocktail party only we could host, a gala dinner that’s nothing short of spectacular, and family-friendly moments that bring the people who’ve carried us along for the ride into the heart of the experience.

At the end of it all, the net proceeds will go to two remarkable charities – turning our time together into something that will leave more than just memories.

𝙀𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙞𝙧𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣.

Link in the comments.

Be part of the next chapter.

Join us in Da Nang, Vietnam for Emergency Medicine Symposium (EMS) 2026 – April 13–15. A unique blend of cutting-edge emergency medicine, expert faculty, and unforgettable social experiences.

25/07/2025

“𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺,”

- an emergency physician told us recently, “is that it doesn’t jump straight to ‘crack the chest, cut the neck, save the day’. It feels grounded – real clinicians talking to real clinicians. And the group that keeps coming back… it’s a very special kind.”

Those words stayed with us. As a faculty, they reminded us why this symposium exists – to keep things real, practical, and human.

When we sat together to shape the 2026 programme, that thought guided every choice:

𝓓𝓪𝔂 1 – Workshops: Kept deliberately small and hands-on, because the best learning happens in conversation.

𝓓𝓪𝔂 2 – Breathing & Resus: Designed around the quieter, tougher decisions – when to hold back, when to act, and how to truly understand physiology.

𝓓𝓪𝔂 3 – Paediatrics, Pain & Trauma: Focused on take-home pearls that make a difference on the next shift.

And beyond the academic sessions, the spirit of the symposium has always been about connection:

🍹 Cocktail Party – relaxed but still dressed to impress, outdoors with the beach breeze in the air.

💃 Gala Dinner – an evening of sophistication in the Grand Ballroom, with themed elegance, flowing dresses, and the kind of energy that feels more like a celebration.

This symposium has always been small, intimate, and special, and as we carry this spirit with us to Vietnam 2026, that will not change.

📅 13–15 April 2026 | Sheraton Grand
💡 18 CPD hours (2026 approval pending)

Swipe through the programme snapshots – this is the kind of emergency medicine that feels like home to us as clinicians.

https://www.emergencymedicinesymposium.com.au/programme-2026/

30/06/2025

𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞, 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭
𝙀𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮 𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙎𝙮𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙪𝙢 2026

It all started in Langkawi, 2023—post-COVID, with more hope than certainty.

We still remember those nerves. Turning up on Day 1 of our very first Emergency Medicine Symposium, wondering if anyone would walk through the doors. That quiet fear—had we taken too big a leap?

But we made a promise to ourselves: to stay grounded in our mission.
To bring on-the-floor, real-world emergency medicine education—no distractions, no ego. Just meaningful learning, built by clinicians for clinicians. And quietly, alongside that, to build something that could give back in ways that matter.

That sense of humility hasn’t left us. If anything, it has deepened.

As we now prepare for EM Symposium 2026 in Da Nang, we’re feeling a different kind of nervousness—driven by the remarkable momentum from this community.

Just 10 days into registration, 20% of places are already filled.
Our faculty is aligned and inspired, shaping a CPD-approved program that reflects the speed and complexity of modern emergency care.
And our philanthropic impact continues to grow, fuelled by people like you who believe medicine can be both practical and purposeful.

At its heart, this symposium has always remained what it set out to be:
A FACEM-led gathering, by emergency clinicians—for emergency clinicians.
𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘂𝘀—𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘂𝘀, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝘀.

Rooted in our daily realities. Lifted by our shared purpose.

From those uncertain beginnings in Langkawi, this has grown into something extraordinary.

And that’s because of you.

You’ve become the family of this symposium. You’ve given us your trust. And now, we get to build the next chapter—together.

See you in Da Nang.

📍 Website link in comments below

20/06/2025

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 — 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡.

You asked us to bring it forward, and we did.
We’re heading to Danang, Vietnam — April 13, 14 & 15, 2026, and it’s already shaping up to be something special.

Coastal energy. Real conversations. Big ideas.
Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or are thinking of joining for the first time, this is where emergency clinicians connect, reflect, and grow — together.

And for those who are planning ahead, this may be a timely window to get everything in order before the financial year wraps up.

Register now:
👉 www.emergencymedicinesymposium.com.au

10/06/2025

𝙏𝙤𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝘿𝙈𝙨. 𝙎𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙧: 𝙔𝙚𝙨 — 𝙬𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙈𝙎 2026 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙.

Some of you asked if we could open it before the end of June.
Let’s be honest — that wasn’t just enthusiasm. That was some well-timed forward planning. And we get it.

So here’s the deal:
If all the behind-the-scenes magic lines up, we’re going live with registration on June 20th, 2025.

We’re heading to 𝓓𝓪𝓷𝓪𝓷𝓰, 𝓥𝓲𝓮𝓽𝓷𝓪𝓶 — 𝓐𝓹𝓻𝓲𝓵 13, 14 & 15
Coastal views, meaningful conversations, vibrant energy — this isn’t just a symposium, it’s the kind of gathering you’ll talk about for years.

If you haven’t read the 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐌 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐛𝐮, now’s the time:
https://www.emergencymedicinesymposium.com.au/cebu-2025-reflection/

And yes — it says Cebu a lot. That was 2025.

2026 is Danang. Vietnam. Different country. Different vibe.

Book the wrong flights and you’ll have a great story — just one you’ll be explaining to your friends and family for a very long time.

Curious? Start here:

www.emergencymedicinesymposium.com.au

We’re nearly ready. You’re more than ready. Let’s do this — early.

23/05/2025

We’re heading to 𝗗𝗮 𝗡𝗮𝗻𝗴, 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗻𝗮𝗺!

ℰ𝓂ℯ𝓇ℊℯ𝓃𝒸𝓎 ℳℯ𝒹𝒾𝒸𝒾𝓃ℯ 𝒮𝓎𝓂𝓅ℴ𝓈𝒾𝓊𝓂 —𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟭𝟯–𝟭𝟱, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

Langkawi 2023 sparked the movement.
Koh Samui 2024 turned up the heat.
Cebu 2025 sent the tempo out of control.

Da Nang 2026 invites us to pause and reflect in a world that rarely stops — while staying deeply connected to the rhythm that brought us here.

Each year has lifted the bar—bringing a high-octane energy, grounded clinical dialogue, meaningful unexpected connections, and a community of emergency physicians that doesn’t simply gather, but grows together.

And while the tempo rises, so does our purpose.
Our philanthropic portfolio—already making quiet waves—is about to grow wider, deeper, and scale up in ways that matter.

What to expect in Da Nang:

📚 Three days of sharp, clinically grounded academic sessions

🍸 Cocktail evening on the beach deck with open-air conversations

🎩 Ballroom-style gala dinner where energy meets elegance

🌸 And beyond the symposium—follow the scent of lotus blossoms through ancient temples, share tea with gentle hands in tucked-away courtyards, stroll barefoot where the river meets the sea, and let the quiet corners of Da Nang teach you what stillness feels like in a world that rarely pauses.

If you’ve been part of this journey before, you already know.
If not—Da Nang is where you catch the rhythm.

02/05/2025

Alright, let’s talk about Hollywood glamour meeting Filipino flair—no, it wasn’t a beach party. It was the Gala Dinner at the Shangri-La Cebu, and it was truly unforgettable. A stunning ballroom, incredible food, and a room full of brilliant minds coming together for a bigger cause. This wasn’t just a fancy night; it was about making magic happen.

Now, I know you’ve been waiting for the photos. After the conference, life hit us hard, but they’re finally here, and totally worth the wait.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀—𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 $𝟲𝟭,𝟱𝟬𝟬 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱. It’s not just about the numbers, it’s about real change. YOU helped transform Theravil Village into a thriving community of entrepreneurs.

But we’re not done. We’re expanding our philanthropic footprint in Sri Lanka. More charities are coming onboard, and we’re making this movement even bigger and more impactful. Keep watching.

And here’s the big reveal: Emergency Medicine Symposium 2026 is happening on April 13, 14, and 15, 2026, in Da Nang, Vietnam! Get ready for something epic.

This isn’t just about the talks or the stage—it’s about us, coming together to create real, lasting change. YOU are making it happen.

So, check out the photos, soak it in, and get ready for more impact. This is just the beginning.

17/04/2025

DAY THREE — When Commitment Outshines Sleep.

After a Gala Dinner that pushed the tempo way past midnight —
elegantly themed, beautifully indoor, and yes, photos are coming 📸

We half-expected a slow start.

But by 8:00 AM sharp, the room was alive.
Because no one wanted to miss what came next.

We opened with Dr Siva Sivasubramaniam, who challenged us to rethink trauma care for older adults through the lens of frailty — a tool we use often, now seen through a more nuanced lens.

Dr Lai Heng Foong followed with a compelling and raw session on elder abuse — shining light on what often stays hidden. Their combined sessions sparked real discussion about how frailty scores apply (or don’t) in the chaos of the ED.

Then Dr Rajan Kailainathan brought the pharmacology we often gloss over into full focus.
We all reflexively check for anticoagulants — but what about:
💊 Anticholinergics?
💊 Antipsychotics?
It’s time we made those part of our reflex.

The paediatric block was just as sharp.

Dr Karen Quay gave us practical, high-impact pearls for paediatric ED care.

And then Dr Robert Millar introduced us to the power of dexmedetomidine — showing us how it fits into the sedation landscape for children with autism.
Some of these children carry the diagnosis. Some don't. But their neurochemical responses matter — and Rob helped us navigate that spectrum with clarity and compassion.

After morning tea, we stepped into the grey zone of action vs inaction.
Dr Raj Kathirgamanathan and Dr Rajan Kailainathan unpacked two critical pericardiocentesis cases, including a real-life story where survival hinged on the end of the needle — a moment that reminded us all how high the stakes can be in our world.

Then came one of the most engaging sessions of the entire symposium —
Dr Christina Fong, Dr Karen Quay, and Dr Srigala Nagarajan led a myth-busting, truth-telling, “You Can’t Ask That” panel that had the entire room nodding, laughing, and rethinking everything.

We closed with Dr Rizwan Qureshi, who gently reminded us that growth in medicine doesn't always mean more of the same — and that a second career can be a natural, thoughtful next chapter.

👏 Day Three was reflective, fiery, and beautifully honest.

📸 Gala Dinner photos — themed and bursting with moments — are coming your way soon.