The BRIDGE Program
Applications are open: April 17–May 29, 2026
About the Building Resilient Inclusive Development for Growing Physician Equity Leaders (BRIDGE) Program
ABEM’s BRIDGE Program supports early-career emergency physicians seeking professional development or research opportunities to help advance their career goals to improve health equity in Emergency Medicine. Funding supports select professional development programs or applicant-proposed alternatives pre-approved by ABEM.
Recipients are selected annually through a competitive application process and will be provided with the following:
- A reimbursement grant of up to $6,000 to cover program participation and travel expenses with appropriate receipts in accordance with the ABEM Volunteer Travel Policy. All funding is contingent upon acceptance into an approved program.
- An ABEM mentor.
- An invitation to meet members of the ABEM Board of Directors by attending a New Director Orientation event.
- The opportunity to participate in a luncheon at the annual ACEP Scientific Assembly.
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be within five years of initial ABEM certification and participating in ABEM continuing certifcation.
- May come from a background in one or more of the following areas:
- First-generation family (e.g., college attendance, medical school)
- Has experienced systemic barriers to education and career advancement
- Non-traditional student (e.g. second career, career change)
- Financially disadvantaged background
- Rural community background
- Practice in a community, non-teaching hospital
- Practice in a single coverage rural critical access hospital
- Agree to provide a presentation to the ABEM Board of Directors at the conclusion of this experience that describes the professional development opportunity, value to career development, future plans, and suggestions for improvement to the BRIDGE program.
Applicable Professional Development Programs
Check websites for application deadlines and program requirements.
- American College of Emergency Physicians/Council of Residency Directors (ACEP/CORD) Teaching Fellowship (Tentatively begins January 2027)
- Council of Residency Directors (CORD) in EM-Medical Education Research Certificate Program (MERC) (Tentatively begins April 2027)
- Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Advanced Research Methodology Evaluation and Design: Medical Education (ARMED MedEd) (Tentatively begins May 2027)
- Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Emerging Leader Development Program (eLEAD) (Tentatively begins May 2027)
Other—Alternative programs may be proposed on the application. All alternative proposals must be approved by ABEM.
Questions?
Contact Pam Hayden, Professional and Clinical Affairs Administrator at phayden@abem.org
Deadlines and Commitments
| May 29, 2026 | Application deadline |
| July 2026 | Applicants notified of selection |
| TBA | Recipients paired with ABEM mentors |
| March–April 2027 | Recipients attend ABEM New Director Orientation to meet members of the ABEM Board of Directors and participate in an introduction to ABEM volunteer and leadership opportunities. |
| May 2027 | Monthly (or bi-monthly) virtual office hours with mentors begin |
| October 2027 | Recipients attend a luncheon at the ACEP 27 Scientific Assembly |
| October 2027 | Reports to ABEM at the conclusion of funded training are due |
