By EMUGs Central Council Chairperson, Dr Alastair MacLean on behalf of the EMUGs Central Council.

We hope you’re feeling refreshed and CME’d up as we head toward 2025. What a year 2024 has been! Across our corner of the world, and in fact across the globe, we’ve seen big changes in healthcare. It reminds me how lucky and honoured I am to be part of this incredible community of colleagues that form the EMUGs tribe. 

A Look Back at 2024

This year, we hosted 11 events across New Zealand (Aotearoa) and Australia, bringing together close to 400 attendees — that’s almost one event per month and one learner for each day of the year! 

It seems like forever ago that I was in Terrigal for the SONIC Conference back in March. It was the first EMUGs Conference in Terrigal and proved to be another standout event. It was fantastic to learn, share, and connect with our brilliant community while exploring a stunning part of Australia. A big thank you to the organizing team for creating a true highlight of the year.

We’ve traveled far and wide this year to push forward our vision: the widespread integration of high-quality, focused ultrasound (POCUS) in acute care. Our Fundamentals courses in Wellington, Taranaki, and Brisbane have introduced POCUS to new learners, while EGLS has taken participants through critical skills in Echo Guided Life Support with courses in Auckland, Geelong, Nelson and Sydney. Both courses will continue in 2025, and we’d love to see you there! Join our fun, enthusiastic educators — your POCUS journey awaits.

One major achievement this year was the publication of our advocacy statement for developing POCUS programs. This project, led by Dr. Luke Phillips, Dr. Gabby King, Dr. Josh Monester, Jo Douglas, Stacey Davidson, and myself, is now available online and will be published in December’s Emergency Medicine Australasia (EMA) journal. Even better, it’s open access! This peer-reviewed article can help you advocate for POCUS improvements in your workplace. Let us know how it works for you — or what you think we could have added (though some additional ideas likely ended up on the editing floor to keep it concise.)

It feels symbolic that this article will appear in EMA’s final printed edition — a milestone moment for both EMUGs and the journal.

Looking Ahead to 2025

Time doesn’t stand still and neither do we. This year, Central Council welcomed Aiden Baron, a passionate POCUS proponent and researcher with experience in both ED and prehospital settings. Sadly, we’ve also said goodbye to Jo Douglas. As a sonographer, Jo brought a unique and invaluable perspective to our council. She also played a key role in supporting our management team’s welfare. Thank you, Jo, for your dedication and hard work. You will be missed on the Central Council but we look forward to your presence at EMUGs events.

Looking to 2025, we’re excited for another packed calendar of events! Alongside the EGLS and Fundamentals courses we will be bringing you the 2025 version of the POCUS Tips for the Fellowship Exam Webinar, Community Events including a nerve block workshop in a cadaver lab, the annual SONIC Conference in stunning Queenstown and the introduction of the EMUGs Podcast. 

A Special Thanks

None of this would be possible without the incredible efforts of our management team — Romy Blecher, Cian Sullivan, and Stacey Davidson. They are the backbone, nervous system, and fire that keep EMUGs moving forward. From organizing events to powering our website and social media, they ensure every face-to-face and online event and offering is fun, engaging, and successful.

We’re also deeply grateful to our sponsors and supporters; Mindray, Sonosite, GE, Tristel, Clarius, Lateral, Lumicare and Mediquip for their support this year. Their generous support of our events allows us and you access state-of-the-art equipment and education.

Holiday Wishes

Whether you’re working or taking a well-deserved break, we wish you Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Meri Kirihimete and a Happy New Year. May your machines be clean and fully charged, and your images perfect — and saved in the patient record! If they’re not, come to one of our 2025 events. We’ll not only help you improve but make the journey an absolute joy.

See you in 2025!