Emergency Medicine Curriculum

The emergency medicine clinical curriculum provides a well rounded exposure to all facets of emergency medicine. The curriculum is based on the principle graduated responsibility and with each passing year more time is spent in the emergency department.

PGY-1

In the first year our residents are expected to build a strong foundational knowledge base. This year includes the greatest number of off-service rotations, designed to provide broad clinical exposure across multiple specialties. Residents spend a total of 24 weeks in the emergency department, including an introductory block that features core lectures and a week-long boot camp to establish essential EM skills.

Several first-year rotations are particularly noteworthy. Our cardiac care unit (CCU) rotation takes place at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where residents benefit from the expertise of exceptional educators and gain invaluable experience managing a wide range of cardiac pathologies in a high-acuity environment. Kern Medical provides housing (located on the UCLA campus), meals, and parking.

The point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) rotation, led by our ultrasound faculty Dr. Panag, occurs early in the curriculum. Given the integral role of POCUS in emergency medicine, this early exposure ensures residents become proficient in its use from the start.

While trauma care is encountered regularly during ED shifts, our trauma surgery rotation offers a deeper understanding of the continuum of trauma management beyond the emergency department.

These off-service experiences not only broaden clinical skills but also foster lasting relationships with colleagues and faculty who will remain integral throughout the rest of residency..

PGY-2

The second year is marked by increased responsibility, with residents managing a higher volume of patients and encountering higher acuity cases. As the year progresses, they gain efficiency, clinical confidence, and autonomy in decision-making. This year also includes the first elective block, offering residents the opportunity to explore areas of personal or academic interest.

A highlight of the PGY-2 year is the two-week rotation on the toxicology service at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). This experience provides a unique window into the subspecialty of medical toxicology and offers direct access to renowned experts in the field.

Additionally, residents spend four weeks in pediatric emergency medicine at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). As a quaternary care center, CHLA offers a diverse and high-acuity pediatric population.

PGY-3

The third year is characterized by a continued elevation in responsibility and the transition into a leadership role. Residents serve as the RIC (Resident in Charge), a pivotal position that involves overseeing the department, managing high-acuity patients, and supporting junior residents and medical students. This role is essential in developing leadership, multitasking, and advanced clinical decision-making skills.

Residents spend 32 weeks in the emergency department during this year, allowing for deeper immersion and increased autonomy. A second elective block is available, encouraging further exploration of subspecialty interests or career development opportunities.

PGY-3 also includes two key rotations at a busy local community hospital. One focuses on adult emergency medicine, offering a valuable perspective on community-based practice. The second is in pediatric emergency medicine at the same facility. Both rotations are staffed by clinically excellent and dedicated educators who enrich the learning experience and model high-quality, community-focused emergency care.

PGY-4

The fourth year focuses on the continued honing of clinical and leadership skills. In the second half of the year, residents begin a deliberate transition into the role of educator—serving as mentors, supervisors, and teachers for junior residents and medical students, while continuing to refine their own practice in preparation for independent practice.

The pediatric ICU rotation in the fourth year takes place at either our local Memorial Hospital or at Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera, both of which offer high-acuity pediatric critical care experiences.

Given our program’s strong emphasis on medical education, a dedicated two-week rotation is built into the PGY-4 year during which the resident serves explicitly as an on-shift educator. This role involves supervising junior learners, facilitating bedside teaching, and contributing to the academic culture of the department.

Additionally, six weeks of elective time are provided, allowing residents to further explore areas of personal or professional interest, pursue advanced training opportunities, or engage in research

Didactic Curriculum

Our didactic curriculum offers a comprehensive range of educational sessions designed to support resident learning and professional development. Core conferences are held every Thursday morning from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM and include sessions such as journal club, in situ simulation, and hands-on point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) training.

The core emergency medicine curriculum is structured on a two-year repeating cycle, allowing residents to engage with the material at least twice during their training. In addition to core content, the curriculum is enriched by a variety of supplementary sessions, including visual diagnosis, ECG interpretation, board review, senior and procedure lectures, morbidity and mortality (M&M) conferences, and evidence-based medicine discussions.

We also host regular interdisciplinary conferences in collaboration with the Internal Medicine and General Surgery departments, fostering a collaborative, team-based approach to patient care.