Over the last 6 years, a lot of people have signed up to hear what I have to say about emergency medicine. For that I am incredibly thankful. I am especially thankful to the special group of individuals who have decided to support this site financially through Patreon. This site wouldn’t exist without all of you.
Although First10EM is really just my hobby, I know many have come to expect regular updates. This is just a quick update so that all my followers know that regular content will definitely return in the near future. However, my little boy (Theo) decided to come 6 weeks early, and we are spending a lot of quality family time in the NICU right now. (I will probably have a lot to write about the incredible team work I witnessed during his neonatal resuscitation. I am so thankful to everyone who helped him and my wife that night.)
I am not sure how long a break I will take. First10EM is still a priority, but definitely not my top priority. Be assured, there is lots of content in the pipeline.
In the meantime, there may be a few post from other authors. I have published a number of guest post in the past. If anyone out there has topics that interest them, or have come across papers that you believe everyone needs to hear about, I am open to accepting high quality articles that fit with the First10EM ethos. If you are interested in publishing on First10EM, use this contact form. (I think I have time to act as an editor, but don’t expect incredibly quick replies.)
Thank you for all your support, and I look forward to getting back to FOAMed content as soon as life allows it.
All the best,
Justin
4 thoughts on “First10EM on a brief hiatus”
Justin, thanks so much for everything you’ve done for the field of emergency medicine over the years. You’re truly a legend. Take all the time you need and best wishes to you and your family during this time.
Hi Justin!
Thank you so much through the years for all your hard work. I’ve followed your blog (and guest posts) for some years now, and have used several of your posts in my own blog / podcast / videos. Thanks for all you’ve taught me!
I just got a son myself 1,5 years ago, and my priorities shifted. Been doing FOAM stuff for maybe 5 years now, and once I thought all I wanted was to do blogs, be a doctor and teach this stuff, but after I got my son, my priorities – without forcing it – have changed. I still have time for all the blogging stuff, but the small islands of me-time and free.time are further apart. I found that especially blogging / reading is harder to find the time for, but doing / listening to podcasts is easier (you can walk a baby doing that 😛 ). It gets better once a new “normal” has been established, but it can take a while and the everyday changes faster than before so it’s harder to predict when you have the time.
I hope you and your family is doing great despite the circumstances in NICU and pre-term birth, and that you can attend fully to what matters most for you and your familiy without feeling you are letting anyone down in the FOAM community. Most of us do this for free, and as an extension of our wish to do the best we can for the patient (interacting with our collegues so we all can do the best for our patients). And as long as the service we are working for don’t provide the time for us, the time used on FOAM will always be taken away from our own “free-time” account.
I’ll be looking forward to it, if a new blog / podcast arrives someday…but what I’ve gotten so far from your blog / guest posts is beyond great. And I know how priorities shift when big life events happen. Please don’t feel rushed to get back into producing FOAM. I (and I’m sure most others) will be here waiting if and when you come back
All the best
Peter Thomsen, EM resident, Denmark / Sweden
Thanks for the kind words and guidance.
I’ll definitely be back. FOAMed is much more than me producing content. It’s an incredible community, and has done a ton to make my career far more enjoyable. That will continue, but career isn’t life.
Justin:
We will patiently await your return. My daughter spent four weeks in NICU after arriving early. Despite the incredible care, it was a difficult and fully-consuming emotional experience. Your priorities are in order. Take your time. Best wishes to everyone in your family.
Michael J. Asken, Ph.D.
Director, Provider Well-Being
UPMC Pinnacle