Clinical Rotations

Real World Experiences .

Clinical experiences lie at the core of emergency medical training. Our program gives residents a comprehensive clinical experience with an emphasis on pediatrics, critical care and trauma.

Zambia

Medstar Southern Maryland

Shady Grove

Washington Hospital Center

Gallup New Mexico IHS

Children's National Medical Center

Georgetown

INOVA Fairfax

Clinical Training .

The cultural, economic, and geographic diversity of the DC region provides our program with a vast patient population and a variety of clinical settings. It is truly an exciting, challenging, and well-rounded training experience.

Close to half of the resident’s training occurs at Washington Hospital Center (WHC). Of all DC area hospitals, WHC has the busiest emergency department, most active trauma center, and the largest cardiac service. In addition, it is the designated regional burn center and a NIH regional stroke center. In the information contained below and in the links in the margin, you will find details on each year’s curriculum, schedules, specific rotations, and our hospitals.

Rotation Schedule .

PGY 1

The goal of the first year is to build the basic knowledge and procedural skills needed to practice Emergency Medicine. Seven months are dedicated to emergency medicine rotations at Washington Hospital Center, Georgetown University Hospital, and Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. Months in cardiac intensive care, anesthesia, trauma, and toxicology complement the ED time. Additionally, PGY1 residents complete a one-week introductory course in emergency medical services.

PGY 2

During the second year, PGY2 residents refine their skills in general emergency medicine and spend a total of five months in the Emergency Department with additional time spent in a pediatric setting. As a PGY2, more emphasis is placed on critical care emergency medicine, with rotations in surgical, medical and pediatric intensive care units. During this year, a month is reserved for elective time where residents can explore international health, ultrasound, EMS, wilderness medicine, disaster preparedness, health policy, research, or design their own experience.

PGY 3

The third year resident has supervisory and teaching roles in the ED while continuing their education in critical care and trauma. PGY3 residents direct junior residents in the Emergency Department. The third year of residency also focuses on management and teaching with a rotation devoted exclusively toward administration and education. During this year, there is an additional elective month that, like that in the PGY2 year, can be devoted to any area of interest.

Focus Areas .

During their clinical rotation, residents will be able to focus on particular care fields. Each focus area allows residents to prepare for real world situations through exposure.

Emergency Departments

Our primary ED training sites allow exposure to the full spectrum of healthcare, including broad cultural and socioeconomic diversity, as well as tremendous diversity in pathology.

Pediatric EM

Residents work a proportion of shifts in the peds ED at CNMC during all MWHC ED months during the PGY-1 and PGY-2 training years, allowing for seasonal variation and continuity of pediatric exposure throughout training.

Critical Care

Comprehensive experience in critical care medicine is both a primary focus and strength of our curriculum. We have several EM-critical care faculty members, and MWHC hosts an IM-based critical care fellowship open to EM graduates.

Trauma

Experience in managing significant traumatic injuries occurs throughout the curriculum. New interns are certified in Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) during the intern orientation program (July of intern year). Progressive responsibilities in directing major resuscitations and invasive procedures occurs throughout the course of training.