On shift learning is critical to your education, but so are weekly didactics. We provide 5 hours of conference every week to provide you with the knowledge base and skills you need to succeed on shift, no matter what comes through the door. Unlike most programs, we recognize that we are all adult learners and 5 hours of classic PowerPoint presentations per week is a great way to put people to sleep, not teach. We also believe that not all learners in a PGY 1-3 program are at the same level and so level specific didactics are important too. We expect you to know more on shift as a PGY3, why wouldn’t we expect more in conference too?
25% of our didactic education is through simulation and hands on procedure labs in either our high-tech, multidisciplinary simulation center or our surgical skills lab. Other didactic methods include small group formats, debates, CPC cases, lightning lectures, Top 5 DDx, faculty panel discussions, critical actions, current controversies, practice changing articles, faculty interviews, and EM pharmacology to name a few. We have monthly M&M led by our department QI chairs as well as monthly grand rounds. Journal Clubs will be held every month in the evening and away from the hospital, either at a local restaurant or a faculty members house, with food and drink provided! We also participate in joint conferences, not just with other training programs within our institution but also with nearby EM residency programs.
We utilize the Foundations of EM curriculum which is a year long flipped classroom curriculum that provides level-specific content to build a comprehensive framework for understanding cardinal presentations, “can’t miss” diagnoses, and essential management strategies within the EM Model of Clinical Practice. We will also offer structured oral boards prep, in-training exam review, EKG and imaging curricula, and formal US training.
We know there is a lot to learn in 3 short years, and we want to maximize both our clinical opportunities and our didactic time. Conference time is protected, and residents will be excused from clinical responsibilities in the ED at 11pm the night before so they are well rested and present for conference.