Program Overview
Emergency Medicine and the Emergency Department are critical areas for the development of many skills essential to the practice of medicine. No matter what specialty medical students choose, we are especially attentive to the development of key skills during the month that medical students spend in our Emergency Departments.
During the clerkship, our medical students gain skills in refining history and physical assessment of the patient. Our students form the ability to assess the clinical situation rapidly and they develop both treatment and evaluation plans thoroughly. Emergency medical training is crucial to medical students because the emergency department is one of the few clinical venues where students can learn management of the acutely ill patient.
While they are in the Emergency Department, our students develop procedural skills invaluable to their practice of medicine and treatment of patients. In this era of managed care, our students develop skills that will assist them while they learn to manage a patient through the maze of managed care (e.g., limited workups, who to admit, etc).
By the end of the month with us, even students who are not interested in a career in Emergency Medicine will understand the unique problems within the emergency department and they will be capable of handling acutely ill patients deftly. Our students who do pursue a career in Emergency Medicine will have the beginning of a firm foundation upon which to build in the future.
Requirements
- You must be a current student in an LCME-accredited medical school who has completed (or will complete prior to elective) core clinical clerkships in internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and Ob/Gyn.
- Attest that you will have completed a 4 week EM clerkship at your home school or another institution prior to the Emory EM elective. We do not accept visiting students who will have not completed an EM clerkship prior to their Emory EM clerkship.
- Submit a letter of intent that specifically describes your interest in one or more of the following: our department/institution, training sites, residency program, and patient population.
- Submit medical school academic transcript and NBME step 1 report. We do not have a minimum step 1 score but do consider an applicant’s academic profile and competitiveness for our residency training program.
Due to the highly structured nature of the clerkship, we are unable to accommodate start and/or stop dates that differ from our posted schedule. If offered an opportunity to rotate with us, we ask that you carefully consider all of your options prior to accepting. We will start to work you several weeks in advance of your elective to match you with a clinical preceptor and plan your schedule. Cancellations within 1 month of your clerkship start date (other than those due to unforeseen circumstances) may jeopardize your future opportunity to interview for our residency program.
Evaluation and Grading
During orientation, each student receives an evaluation form that will be completed by the faculty and residents during the student’s clinical shifts. Each student will be asked to evaluate the faculty, residents, and clerkship. Candid appraisals about various aspects of the curriculum are valued. Feedback will be provided to faculty and will be used on an ongoing basis to improve the medical students' educational experience.
Each student's final grade is based on a compilation of several categories including:
- A written composite evaluation
- The final grade for the rotation will be completed within one month of receiving all the required information.
How to Apply
To apply to the Emory Department of Emergency Medicine M4 Elective, please visit the AAMC Member Medical School and Osteopathic Students website.
For more information about visiting rotations, please email Nanette Rushing.
Due to the highly structured nature of the clerkship, we are not able to accommodate requests for other start and end dates.