American College of Emergency Physicians
YPS Golden Blade Award
The ACEP-YPS Golden Blade Award
1. Introduction
This award is established by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Young Physician Section (YPS) to honor an exceptional young emergency physician who has completed residency training and entered practice within the past 10 years. It recognizes individuals demonstrating exceptional merit, outstanding clinical acumen under pressure, unwavering professional integrity, deep commitment to the specialty, and a capacity for leadership or significant impact in their field.
The Golden Blade Award symbolizes the precision, speed, and dedication required of emergency physicians – they are the honed professionals shaping the future of our specialty. This award celebrates cultivating excellence in its early stages. It is the highest honor the YPS bestows.
2. Purpose
To formally recognize an emergency physician who has completed residency training within 10 years for demonstrating:
- Exceptional Clinical Skill: Mastery and rapid application of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in high-pressure environments.
- Unwavering Professionalism & Integrity: Consistently upholding the highest ethical standards, displaying maturity, responsibility, and respect towards patients, colleagues, and staff – embodying a role model for young physicians.
- Dedicated Commitment to Emergency Medicine: A sustained passion for EM beyond minimal requirements, actively engaging in lifelong learning, professional development within ACEP/YPS, or contributing significantly to the specialty's advancement locally.
- Leadership Potential & Impact: Showing initiative and influence that positively affects patient care, departmental operations, teaching, or engagement with the ACEP-YPS community.
This award aims to identify a clinician of unusual promise and achievement in their formative years within emergency medicine.
3. Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible Members: Must be an active member of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).
- Physician Status: Must be residency trained and practicing emergency medicine as a board-eligible or board-certified emergency physician or fellow.
- Years Since Residency Completion: Must have completed residency training and begun fellowship or regular emergency medicine practice within the last 0-10 years. This includes:
- Physicians who recently graduated from residency or will have graduated from residency by the time the award is given at the annual meeting.
- Established physicians still practicing EM actively after completing their initial certification requirements, but within the first decade of independent practice after residency and fellowship, if applicable.
- Active Practice: Must be currently and regularly employed/practicing emergency medicine as an attending physician or in an equivalent role involving significant direct patient care responsibilities.
