International emergency medicine: how to train for it

This article provides background information about the emerging field of international emergency medicine (IEM) and how emergency physicians in Australasia can participate in its practice and development. It reviews the seven key areas of knowledge and skills involved in the practice of IEM as put forward by US fellowship programmes: (i) Emergency Medicine Systems Development; (ii) Humanitarian Relief; (iii) Disaster Management; (iv) Public Health; (v) Travel and Field Medicine; (vi) Programme Administration; and (vii) Academic Skills. Current obstacles to the development of similar programmes in Australasia are explored and identified as primarily financial. Means by which individuals can fund and engage in IEM activities are proposed. This article provides a reference of domestic and international IEM training resources that can be obtained by Australasian emergency physicians and trainees today.