Vote for your EM residency

[PAEMed]

There are a lot of EM Residency out there, and it is difficult to sort through which ones are legit. With the understanding that there is no such thing as perfect....

If you have personally attended an EM residency, please list it below and give it a thumbs up or thumbs down. Feel free to elaborate if you wish. 

Thank you!

 

[LT_Oneal_PAC]

I won’t say where I went outright, but can say I vouch for 

Regions

U of New Mexico

U of Iowa

UCSF Fresno

 

[EMEDPA]

Not a residency grad myself, But I would add Arrowhead in CA,  Albert Einstein in Philly, as well as the program in Syracuse, NY.  to that list. 

[PAEMed]

Thank you both for your replies. 

All the program mentioned seem to be 18 month. Is that a coincidence? 

[EMEDPA]

18 months makes you eligible for the CAQ exam. 

[LT_Oneal_PAC]

 There is not enough time for proper off service time and ED time in 12 months. I think more focused specialties could be 12 months, but I was just hitting my stride at 12. EM is just too broad and requires a lot of time with other services.

edit to add: the reason why you really need off service rotations in EM is because you will rarely deliver a baby in the ED, but on a OB rotation you’ll do it twenty times. You may throw one line in a month in the ED, but may get 7 in a week in the MICU. You’ll see major trauma every few shift in the ED, but on trauma surgery you’ll have the muscle memory to do a trauma exam in your sleep. Plus, you’ll learn what your other specialist colleagues do and don’t do on the floor/ICU. This helps a lot when you have a boarding patient. I’ve had to keep critically ill patients in my ED for several hours due to weather or lack of beds at the next facility. Plus, people will really like you when you send everyone wrapped up in a bow. 

[kettle]

On 9/12/2020 at 12:25 PM, LT_Oneal_PAC said:

I won’t say where I went outright, but can say I vouch for 

Regions

U of New Mexico

U of Iowa

UCSF Fresno

 

Currently attending one of these..... have learned more about EM medicine in the past two months than I did in pa school and ten years as a paramedic 

[EMEDPA]

2 hours ago, kettle said:

Currently attending one of these..... have learned more about EM medicine in the past two months than I did in pa school and ten years as a paramedic 

strong work. PA school teaches the basics of EM. Certainly less than paramedic school for acute management of emergent patients. A residency is an excellent idea for anyone wishing to start a career or transition into a career in EM. 

[LT_Oneal_PAC]

13 hours ago, kettle said:

Currently attending one of these..... have learned more about EM medicine in the past two months than I did in pa school and ten years as a paramedic 

Well, I know which one you're NOT at  Mind sharing in DM which one? Always looking to learn more about the others.

[teamsleep]

Would love to see more graduates or current residency/fellowship students vouching for their programs. By this time next year I will be applying!

[dparel10]

On 9/16/2020 at 2:20 PM, LT_Oneal_PAC said:

Well, I know which one you're NOT at  Mind sharing in DM which one? Always looking to learn more about the others.

Mind sharing as well. I am looking into fellowships as Im about to graduate in 3 months. My end goal is EM and I know I wont have a chance if I don't do a fellowship.

[jmelville]

Has anyone on here had any experience with Baylor's EM Fellowship? I'll be interviewing in two weeks for it and am curious to hear any feedback about it. Thank you!

[teamsleep]

Straight up hijacking this thread and turning it into my progress during applications and a support thread for those applying for fellowship and residency.

It's happening. Application and interview season for EM fellowships/residencies.

Okay, so far I have one confirmed interview invitation in November.

Have applied to 5 programs so far. Will apply to more in January of 2022 as more programs begin to open up. No kids. No house. Just need to get my foot into the door of the ER. Have made absolutely no money for years in the pursuit of this craft. What's another 12-18 months of decreased pay? At least I'm gaining experience and can definitely apply to many jobs after the fellowship/res because many request 1-2 yrs of experience. 

 

[Jerobe]

5 hours ago, teamsleep said:

Straight up hijacking this thread and turning it into my progress during applications and a support thread for those applying for fellowship and residency.

It's happening. Application and interview season for EM fellowships/residencies.

Okay, so far I have one confirmed interview invitation in November.

Have applied to 5 programs so far. Will apply to more in January of 2022 as more programs begin to open up. No kids. No house. Just need to get my foot into the door of the ER. Have made absolutely no money for years in the pursuit of this craft. What's another 12-18 months of decreased pay? At least I'm gaining experience and can definitely apply to many jobs after the fellowship/res because many request 1-2 yrs of experience. 

 

Consider the Johns Hopkins EM Program as well! They well established, are 18 months in length, and have relevant off service rotations and protected didactic time as well.

[teamsleep]

Applied to a multitude. Have interviewed now at 2/8-9(?) that I've applied for...I'm starting to lose count of which fellowships and residencies I've applied to. Rejected by one already--Informed that I am not qualified (LOL 5 degrees and years of EMS work and still unqualified). Other one I am awaiting to hear if I made it through phase I of their phone interview stage.

Many have opened up their cycles for the new year and will start interviewing more in the Spring for Aug/Sept/Oct start dates.

PANCE on the 19th. Will start applying for ED jobs once I got my PA-C. I don't care fellowship/OTJ just let me into the ER. Ready to work. Not burnt out. PUT ME IN THE GAME.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE. Onward to bigger and better things in 2022. 

[JonHendrixx]

On 9/12/2020 at 5:46 PM, LT_Oneal_PAC said:

 There is not enough time for proper off service time and ED time in 12 months. I think more focused specialties could be 12 months, but I was just hitting my stride at 12. EM is just too broad and requires a lot of time with other services.

edit to add: the reason why you really need off service rotations in EM is because you will rarely deliver a baby in the ED, but on a OB rotation you’ll do it twenty times. You may throw one line in a month in the ED, but may get 7 in a week in the MICU. You’ll see major trauma every few shift in the ED, but on trauma surgery you’ll have the muscle memory to do a trauma exam in your sleep. Plus, you’ll learn what your other specialist colleagues do and don’t do on the floor/ICU. This helps a lot when you have a boarding patient. I’ve had to keep critically ill patients in my ED for several hours due to weather or lack of beds at the next facility. Plus, people will really like you when you send everyone wrapped up in a bow. 

 

In the case that you're not able to get into a 18 month - do you still find that it is worth it to attend to a 12 month vs just going for a regular new grad position? 

 

Also if anyone has attended or knows any information about the VA fellowships in NY or Philly would love to hear about that experience. Seems the pay is really good there, but not sure how the experience matches up. 

Thanks

[EMEDPA]

12 minutes ago, JonHendrixx said:

 

In the case that you're not able to get into a 18 month - do you still find that it is worth it to attend to a 12 month vs just going for a regular new grad position? 

 

Also if anyone has attended or knows any information about the VA fellowships in NY or Philly would love to hear about that experience. Seems the pay is really good there, but not sure how the experience matches up. 

Thanks

A 12 month with off service rotations would still be far superior to a typical new grad position. You could go 10 years at a direct entry job and NEVER take care of a patient with a high acuity complaint, run a code, start a central line, do an LP or an u/s, intubate a patient, cardiovert someone, etc. Most direct entry jobs have PAs seeing a high volume of  low to medium acuity complaints and if you ever end up with someone who is actually fairly sick, the docs sweep in and take them away from you. There are exceptions to this with docs and PAs who like to teach and will train you to do advanced procedures, etc but those jobs are few and far between. 

[LT_Oneal_PAC]

15 hours ago, JonHendrixx said:

 

In the case that you're not able to get into a 18 month - do you still find that it is worth it to attend to a 12 month vs just going for a regular new grad position? 

 

Also if anyone has attended or knows any information about the VA fellowships in NY or Philly would love to hear about that experience. Seems the pay is really good there, but not sure how the experience matches up. 

Thanks

It depends on the residency, but a bad residency for 18 months might be worse than a bad one that last 12 lol.

As I said before, I was hitting my stride at 12 months, and by that I mean I was getting a fair handle on things. So yes, much better than a new grad position.

[kettle]

On 1/1/2022 at 4:25 PM, teamsleep said:

Applied to a multitude. Have interviewed now at 2/8-9(?) that I've applied for...I'm starting to lose count of which fellowships and residencies I've applied to. Rejected by one already--Informed that I am not qualified (LOL 5 degrees and years of EMS work and still unqualified). Other one I am awaiting to hear if I made it through phase I of their phone interview stage.

 

In all transparency, programs weigh heavily on personality, fit, grades, and the total applicant and not necessarily EMS experience. Does that experience help in choosing a candidate, of course. Having a similar background to you, many programs will like your experience. Having been on the interview panel for EM residency, I can say we have turned down individuals with 20 years of EMS experience because of their attitude and not being a good fit. Acknowledge your experience but stress your desire to learn more. I was a critical care paramedic for over 10 years and learned more about emergency medicine in the first six months of residency then I did in my EMS experience 

[JonHendrixx]

On 1/7/2022 at 7:52 PM, EMEDPA said:

A 12 month with off service rotations would still be far superior to a typical new grad position. You could go 10 years at a direct entry job and NEVER take care of a patient with a high acuity complaint, run a code, start a central line, do an LP or an u/s, intubate a patient, cardiovert someone, etc. Most direct entry jobs have PAs seeing a high volume of  low to medium acuity complaints and if you ever end up with someone who is actually fairly sick, the docs sweep in and take them away from you. There are exceptions to this with docs and PAs who like to teach and will train you to do advanced procedures, etc but those jobs are few and far between. 

Understood. 

What are some questions I can be asking some of these programs before applying to them to sus out whether their priority is the education of the PAs vs being used as cheap labor for fast track...?  

[kettle]

Look for a variety of off service rotations, conferences weekly, list of competencies you'll learn then have to prove you can do them. Also check to see what parts of the ER you'll work in. I did zero fast track in residency, all high acuity 

[teamsleep]

On 1/9/2022 at 12:29 PM, kettle said:

In all transparency, programs weigh heavily on personality, fit, grades, and the total applicant and not necessarily EMS experience. Does that experience help in choosing a candidate, of course. Having a similar background to you, many programs will like your experience. Having been on the interview panel for EM residency, I can say we have turned down individuals with 20 years of EMS experience because of their attitude and not being a good fit. Acknowledge your experience but stress your desire to learn more. I was a critical care paramedic for over 10 years and learned more about emergency medicine in the first six months of residency then I did in my EMS experience 

Awesome insight. I promise I'm showing my willingness to want to learn more about EM within the interviews. No way do I feel prepared for the complexity of patients presenting in the ED just after two years of PA school. I'll keep you all posted. Have a few more interviews lined up. Presenting my best foot forward. I just found it weird that I was told I interviewed well but am deemed unqualified for a spot. Isn't the whole purpose of me trying to apply for a fellowship/residency in EM to BECOME qualified? lol. 

 

Update -- 4 interviews lined up from now until Feb 8th. LETS GO. As I said earlier, many EM residencies / fellowships are opening up their cycles. 

Edited January 14, 2022 by teamsleep

[davidr14]

On 1/11/2022 at 8:42 AM, teamsleep said:

Awesome insight. I promise I'm showing my willingness to want to learn more about EM within the interviews. No way do I feel prepared for the complexity of patients presenting in the ED just after two years of PA school. I'll keep you all posted. Have a few more interviews lined up. Presenting my best foot forward. I just found it weird that I was told I interviewed well but am deemed unqualified for a spot. Isn't the whole purpose of me trying to apply for a fellowship/residency in EM to BECOME qualified? lol. 

 

Update -- 4 interviews lined up from now until Feb 8th. LETS GO. As I said earlier, many EM residencies / fellowships are opening up their cycles. 

Good luck! Based on the dates you mentioned I have an idea of which programs. Interviews can be fun! Enjoy the process! The team wants to see if you will be a great fit personality wise more than anything. They know you’re smart and capable because your CV shows it. My top choices after meeting the faculty were : Johns Hopkins, UNM, UCSF, Regions hospital, and Albert Einstein! Hope you find the right fit! 
 

Getting called and receiving a welcome package was more exciting than getting the call for PA school acceptance.