Junior Resident

While the most important focus is ensuring your success as an intern and a resident in emergency medicine (EM), there are some steps you can consider taking to help bolster your prospects of obtaining a medical education position.

• Identify a Mentor: Begin working with your residency staff to identify possible mentors for a career path in medical education. Establish an outline for your time in residency that best prepares you for a career in education. Work with them to identify research and teaching opportunities as you progress. In addition to your house staff, consider finding mentors outside your program to offer advice and guidance. The Emergency Medicine Residents' Association (EMRA) offers a Mentor/Mentee matching process.
• Become Involved in an Education Project: This doesn't have to be an extensive educational course, just begin to display your interest and bolster your skills. You can lead a journal club, teach an EKG course, or assist house staff during educational conferences.
• Educational Research: Work with your mentor to identify educational research you can assist with or even lead. Conducting research early is important as it becomes easier the more you do it. Further, research largely serves as the currency for promotion, so beginning to obtain that currency early is helpful.

You can also consider pursuing one or more of the following opportunities:

• The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Resident's Teaching Fellowship: This course allows residents the opportunity to explore a career in academic EM or determine if education is right for them. It provides participants skills and tools to enhance one's academic career as well as serves as a great mentoring/networking opportunity.
• Medical Education Research Certificate (MERC) Program: Offered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), this program requires your participation in six workshops held on a rotating basis regionally, allowing the certificate to be obtained over an extended period of time. The program focuses on educational research and allows residents to demonstrate their interest and dedication to a career in education. No application is needed.
• The Teaching Course: This course is focused on revolutionizing medical education including reimagining the use of powerpoints and discussing the use of podcasts as an education venue. The course offerings vary as do the location, but further information can be found on their website.