About PEMS
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Switzerland (PEMS) is the national interprofessional association representing physicians and nurses working in pediatric emergency medicine across Switzerland.
Its origins date back to the Pediatric Triage Forum Switzerland, an interprofessional initiative established by nurses and physicians to promote a standardized triage system in Swiss pediatric emergency departments.
Founded in 2010 as a medical professional association, PEMS became an interprofessional society in 2017 through its merger with Pediatric Emergency Nursing Switzerland (PEN-S).
Today, PEMS is committed to advancing high-quality, evidence-based and child- and family-centered pediatric emergency medicine. The association promotes specialized education, professional development, clinical standards, research and interprofessional collaboration. Through the organization of national congresses and educational events, it also provides a national platform for knowledge exchange and advocates for the recognition and continued development of pediatric emergency medicine and nursing in Switzerland.
Our History
2006
Pediatric Triage Forum Switzerland: Nurses and physicians established an interprofessional working group to promote a standardized pediatric triage system in Swiss emergency departments.
2010
Foundation of PEMS: Pediatric Emergency Medicine Switzerland (PEMS) was officially founded on 5 November in Fribourg as a professional association for pediatric emergency physicians, with the primary aim of establishing pediatric emergency medicine as a formally recognized medical subspecialty (Schwerpunkt Kindernotfallmedizin) in Switzerland.
2012
Foundation of PEN-S: Pediatric Emergency Nurses Switzerland (PEN-S) was officially founded on 16 November in Bern as a professional interest group for pediatric emergency nurses, with the primary aim to standardize pediatric triage using the Australasian Triage Scale (ATS) and to advance the development of specialized pediatric emergency nursing program in Switzerland.
2014
Recognition of Pediatric Emergency Medicine: On 1 January, pediatric emergency medicine was formally recognized as a medical subspecialty (Schwerpunkt Kindernotfallmedizin) by the Swiss Institute for Postgraduate and Continuing Medical Education (SIWF/ISFM) within the Swiss Medical Association (FMH), marking a major achievement for PEMS.
2017
Merger of PEMS and PEN-S: On 1 December in Bern, the two organizations officially merged under the name Pediatric Emergency Medicine Switzerland (PEMS), combining their logos to reflect their shared identity as a national interprofessional association representing physicians and nurses in pediatric emergency medicine.
2019
Advancing Pediatric Emergency Nursing Education: PEMS conducted a nationwide needs assessment to identify the demand for specialized postgraduate education among pediatric emergency nurses in Switzerland.
2023
Launch of Pediatric Emergency Nursing Education: The first NDS HF Emergency Nursing program specializing in Pediatrics was launched at Z-INA in Zurich, developed in collaboration with PEMS and representatives from Swiss pediatric emergency departments.
2026
A Shared Commitment to Excellence: PEMS continues to advance pediatric emergency medicine through education, research, professional networking, clinical standards and national and international collaboration.
2006
Pediatric Triage Forum Switzerland: Nurses and physicians established an interprofessional working group to promote a standardized pediatric triage system in Swiss emergency departments.
2010
Foundation of PEMS: Pediatric Emergency Medicine Switzerland (PEMS) was officially founded on 5 November in Fribourg as a professional association for pediatric emergency physicians, with the primary aim of establishing pediatric emergency medicine as a formally recognized medical subspecialty (Schwerpunkt Kindernotfallmedizin) in Switzerland.
2012
Foundation of PEN-S: Pediatric Emergency Nurses Switzerland (PEN-S) was officially founded on 16 November in Bern as a professional interest group for pediatric emergency nurses, with the primary aim to standardize pediatric triage using the Australasian Triage Scale (ATS) and to advance the development of specialized pediatric emergency nursing program in Switzerland.
2014
Recognition of Pediatric Emergency Medicine: On 1 January, pediatric emergency medicine was formally recognized as a medical subspecialty (Schwerpunkt Kindernotfallmedizin) by the Swiss Institute for Postgraduate and Continuing Medical Education (SIWF/ISFM) within the Swiss Medical Association (FMH), marking a major achievement for PEMS.
2017
Merger of PEMS and PEN-S: On 1 December in Bern, the two organizations officially merged under the name Pediatric Emergency Medicine Switzerland (PEMS), combining their logos to reflect their shared identity as a national interprofessional association representing physicians and nurses in pediatric emergency medicine.
2019
Advancing Pediatric Emergency Nursing Education: PEMS conducted a nationwide needs assessment to identify the demand for specialized postgraduate education among pediatric emergency nurses in Switzerland.
2023
Launch of Pediatric Emergency Nursing Education: The first NDS HF Emergency Nursing program specializing in Pediatrics was launched at Z-INA in Zurich, developed in collaboration with PEMS and representatives from Swiss pediatric emergency departments.
2026
A Shared Commitment to Excellence: PEMS continues to advance pediatric emergency medicine through education, research, professional networking, clinical standards and national and international collaboration.
PEMS Board
The board consists of at least four full members (president, co-president, treasurer, secretary).
The board is elected individually for a period of two years at the annual meeting. A balance between doctors and nurses should be sought within the board. If possible, all parts of the country should be represented.
Sergio Manzano
Co - President
Co-Head of the Emergency Department, Board-certified Pediatrician, subspecialty in Pediatric Emergency Medicine (FMH)
Children’s Hospital, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG)
Petra Valk - Zwickl
Co - President
Clinical Nurse Specialist, MSc Pediatric Emergency Medicine, ATS Triage Course Facilitator and Clinical Educator, University Children's Hospital Zurich
Markus Lehner
Treasurer
Co-Head of the Department of Pediatric Surgery at the Central Switzerland Children’s Hospital (KidZ)
Michelle Miller
Secretary
Head of the Pediatric and Adolescent Emergency Department, Baden Cantonal Hospital
Sonja Matter
Scientific Committee
Nursing Specialist, Certified Emergency Care Specialist (NDS HF)
Deborah Henzi
Social Media / Marketing
Consultant, Board-certified Pediatrician, subspecialty in Pediatric Emergency Medicine (FMH), University Children's Hospital Zurich