Fellow
Choosing Your Fellowship Program
Choosing where to apply for fellowship is an important decision. Each program is different; some might be heavier on emergency medical services (EMS) research while some focus more on disaster and tactical emergency medicine (EM). Some questions to ask your potential program include:
- What does mentorship look like here?
- Where do graduates end up after graduation, and what type of work are they involved with?
- What distinguishes this fellowship program from other programs?
- What opportunities do fellows have for [area of interest]?
- What are the opportunities like for formal education?
- How does the program teach fellows how to reach residents, medical students, pre-hospital EMS, and paramedic students?
- What are the relationships with local EMS departments like?
- Is there protected academic time for research?
- Are fellows allowed to moonlight in their time off?
- If the fellowship is in an urban area, are there opportunities or electives for rural EMS medicine? Vice versa?
- Is this fellowship accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)?
- What percentage of faculty is EMS board-certified?
- What is the structure of faculty involved in the program?
- Is there an option to add a second year to pursue an advanced degree?
- What is the balance in the program between service and learning?
- What is the caseload like in terms of acuity, diversity of pathology, etc.?
Words of Wisdom
Respondents to a 2018 Emergency Medicine Residents' Association (EMRA) survey offered the following words of wisdom in applying to and choosing EMS fellowship programs:
- "If you have a certain focus/interest within EMS, see what programs offer opportunities in that focus."
- "Make sure you speak to current and former fellows regarding the experience so you know what to expect from the fellowship."
- "Apply as early as possible to ensure you are able to see multiple program offers."
- "Look for a place you'd be interested in working after you graduate and where you get along well with the department."
Insider Advice
"Fellowship was instrumental in understanding the nuances and logistics of pre-hospital medicine and how it is different from emergency department medicine. It was also invaluable in understanding the differing administrative requirements for protocols at the agency, local, state, and federal level. And how they are created, implemented, and applied."