Our Curriculum

• Longitudinal Tracks

  Both our department and residency program are dedicated to the professional development of our residents. In an effort to maximize resident professional development, our program offers longitudinal academic tracks in several disciplines within Emergency Medicine. Longitudinal tracks are designed to function as an immersive experience meant to develop the professional portfolio and increase resident knowledge within a single discipline of interest. Residents are expected to actively participate in one of the established tracks that aligns with their professional interests.

  Available Tracks

  • Academic
  • Clinical
  • Critical Care
  • EMS
  • Med Ed
  • Research

• PGY-1

  The orientation curriculum in the first block is designed to familiarize and orient new residents with Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Ohio State emergency departments and the Department of Internal Medicine, to offer an intensive didactic experience highlighting management of emergent and inpatient patient conditions and to provide experience and certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). During the first year of the program, the resident will gain experience in a variety of disciplines relevant to emergency medicine and internal medicine. The resident also gains formal training in emergency ultrasound and will choose from several ambulatory elective opportunities to personalize his or her residency experience.

• PGY-2 and PGY-3

  The second and third years are similar to the second years of the emergency medicine and internal medicine categorical years. The second year focuses on development of progressive autonomy in patient management. In addition, the resident obtains experience in a variety of subspecialties including trauma and surgical critical care. As a member of the trauma team, the resident plays an integral role in major trauma resuscitations. In the surgical intensive care unit, the resident provides management for the most critically ill surgical and trauma patients. During this year, the cardiology CHF service, the MICU, SICU and trauma months represent significant exposure to ICU care. 
  
  The resident gains further experience and expertise in performing procedures such as placement of central lines, airway management and emergency ultrasound. 
  
  During the second and third year of the program, the resident is provided with the opportunity to accept responsibility for managing many patients simultaneously while supervising and teaching junior-level house officers and students in the emergency department and on the inpatient floors of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. This graded responsibility helps the resident to gain independence and expertise in managing the emergency department and inpatient units. The resident will receive experience in emergency department administration and management of emergency medical service systems, as well as additional ultrasound training. The resident will choose from several subspecialty ward opportunities to personalize his or her residency experience. 

• PGY-4 and PGY-5

  The fourth and fifth years are similar to both the emergency medicine and internal medicine third years. During these years, emphasis is placed on enhancing patient care through resident education. Three strategies employed include focusing on continuous quality improvement, instilling the commitment and skills to demonstrate competency, and providing concrete experiences to help residents become masters of effective teamwork and enhance their ability to plan and manage care transitions inherent in today’s healthcare environment. The residents will also choose from several selective opportunities to personalize their residency experience.
  
  The fourth and fifth years of the program provide the senior resident with the opportunity to accept responsibility for managing many patients in different settings. Supervision of all levels of EM and IM residents occurs during this year. The resident also participates in MICU End of Life Discussion training during this year.

• Mini Fellowship Block

  This portion of the curriculum is meant to allow the trainee the opportunity to develop a unique interest or skill set. It is a continuous 12-week block of time in which residents will be supported by a mentor or advisor that will work closely with them. It will also afford the trainee the opportunity to explore possible interest in subspecialty training. 
  
  Approximately three months prior to the start of this period, the resident will be asked to supply a one page summary indicating what they will plan to do over the 12-week period to develop their specific interest. It will include a list of measurable objectives and goals and will require approval by the program directors. They will work with a mentor or advisor on the topic of their choice. Ideally this will allow for development of skills that will promote an academic career. During this 12-week block, the trainee will remain involved with their continuity clinic. 
  
  If the resident chooses to not be involved in the Mini Fellowship portion of the curriculum, it will be filled with other elective rotations. Some potential areas of focus for the Mini Fellowship include but are not limited to:
  

  • Basic science or clinical research
  • Ultrasound training working toward certification as a registered diagnostic medical sonographer
  • Administration
  • Community medicine (ie. free clinics, EMS)
  • International medicine
  • Scholarly activity involved in medical writing, possibly related to case reports or review articles
  • Opportunity to initiate graduate-level classwork towards a master's degree in a program approved by the program director

• Ultrasound Curriculum

  The Department of Emergency Medicine's commitment to excellence in emergency medicine training includes educating residents in the performance of core and advanced ultrasound exams in the care for our patients. There are many opportunities for the resident to get involved within our curriculum and we believe that all future emergency medicine physicians can master this technology with guidance, mentorship and the opportunities to deliberately practice this psychomotor skill.
   
  Ultrasound is an integral tool for emergency physicians and a strong focus of the Emergency Medicine Residency at The Ohio State University. Residents have a longitudinal ultrasound experience, with both a dedicated longitudinal curriculum and integration into clinical shifts. Our program is at the leading edge, with up-to-date ultrasound machines, wireless connectivity and a state-of-the-art skills training area. Leading faculty have championed training and use of ultrasound in emergency medicine and critical care at this facility and worldwide. Upon graduation, our residents become credentialed in emergency indications for ultrasound and many have taken positions as ultrasound directors at their new facilities.
   
  Ultrasound training includes:
  

  • Cardiac
  • Aorta
  • FAST
  • Ultrasound guided procedures
  • Renal
  • Transabdominal for pregnancy
  • Pelvic/transvaginal
  • Hepatobiliary
  • Vascular
  • Ocular