Rotation Structure

The structure for rotations in all years of residency is based on 13, four-week blocks. Ample elective time allows for the development of expertise in niche areas.

Didactic/Orientation

Interns start training with a full orientation month. This provides time for acclimation to the new city, attending refresher courses for general emergency medicine topics, the EMR, hospital logistics, and completion of ATLS, PALS, ADLS, and ACLS. Assigned shadow shifts are scheduled throughout the month, gradually working into regular department staffing by the end of the month.

Emergency Medicine*

Interns will spend 5 months learning the basics of being an EM physician, expanding one’s knowledge base, exposure to critically ill patients, and developing procedural competency.  Shifts include work on the adult side and pediatric side in each EM block.  

Pediatric EM

In addition to the essential longitudinal pediatric EM exposure built into every EM rotation, our residents have a dedicated month in our pediatric emergency department. This specialized rotation provides an immersive experience in managing a wide range of pediatric cases. From critical interventions to compassionate communication, our PEM rotation equips residents with the expertise required to excel in the nuanced care of pediatric patients in the ED. 

OB GYN

The main goals of this rotation include managing expectant vaginal deliveries and staffing in the OB triage area to care for emergency presentation of second and third trimester pregnant patients.  Interns will learn from OB/GYN experts as you navigate antepartum complaints, difficult deliveries, and postpartum complications.

Shock/Trauma ICU

This ICU experience centers around some of the sickest patients in the hospital requiring critical care after trauma and major surgeries.  Goals of this rotation include learning medical and procedural skills of trauma and post operative patients.

Adult Anesthesia / Ultrasound

The intern anesthesia experience occurs at Doctors Hospital.  Primary goals of this rotation include learning proper BVM technique, use of airway adjuncts, and intubations.  Secondary goals include obtaining vascular access, ultrasound-guided nerve blocks / regional anesthesia.  The ultrasound portion of this block follows a suggested curriculum to include self- directed learning, formalized teaching, and scanning in the department.

CCU

Interns rotate in a newly renovated cardiac ICU that includes exposure to critically ill patients recovering from STEMI/OMI, decompensated heart failure, LVAD patients, ECMO and more.  Goals of the rotation include education in ECG interpretation, advanced echocardiography, competency using vasoactive agents and other medical management of cardiac diseases.

Medical ICU

This ICU experience focuses on managing critically ill medical patients. The goal for interns to obtain procedural competency in central line placement, arterial lines, advanced ventilator management, application of vasoactive agents and many other things.

Orthopedics

This ED-based rotation focuses on evaluation and treatment of orthopedic emergencies.  Goals include X-ray interpretation, joint and fracture reductions, splinting and casting techniques.

Emergency Medicine*

As PGY2s, residents will spend 7 months increasing their patient load and honing their clinical skills. Shifts include working in the adult and pediatric EDs, as well as the ED ICU. Residents take on increasing responsibility concerning patient flow throughout the department and teaching junior learners.

Pediatric EM

In addition to the essential longitudinal pediatric EM exposure built into every EM rotation, our residents have a dedicated month in our pediatric emergency department. This specialized rotation provides an immersive experience in managing a wide range of pediatric cases. From critical interventions to compassionate communication, our PEM rotation equips residents with the expertise required to excel in the nuanced care of pediatric patients in the ED. 

Pediatric Anesthesia / Ultrasound

Residents take their ultrasound skills and pediatric airway management techniques to the next level in this dedicated educational experience. Our ultrasound faculty provide critical instruction in the ED and the PGY2 residents quickly progress to being ultrasound educators themselves, teaching our junior learners. The pediatric anesthesia component takes place in our pediatric operating rooms, where a hands-on approach enables our residents to gain appreciation of the nuances of pediatric airway instrumentation as well as physiologic principles of ventilated and sedated children.

Medical ICU

The EM-2 ICU experience requires that our residents navigate the complexities of critically ill patients, drawing on an increased understanding of best practices in the approach to multi-system illness. The acuity and pathology of our patients requires procedural proficiency, mastery of ventilator management, and adept use of vasopressors.

Trauma ED

From Day 1 of residency, our residents take care of trauma patients on every shift (yes, all of our pods see trauma!). In addition to this longitudinal exposure, PGY2 residents on this rotation are stationed in the ED, responsible for responding to all traumas, allowing them a chance to further crystalize their trauma management and procedural skills. As a more senior member of the team, they are instrumental in teaching and supporting our junior learners.

Pediatric ICU

Outstanding pediatric intensivists and PICU fellows support our residents to help them develop the skills necessary to manage critically ill children.  The rotation takes place in our combined medical-surgical and cardiovascular PICU, exposing our residents to high acuity pediatric patients with a wide variety of pathology. There is a focus on gaining procedural expertise, mastering the core content of ventilator management, adept use of vasopressors.

Elective

By incorporating an elective month into the EM-2 curriculum, residents can get a jump start on developing professional niches, exploring possible fellowships, or incorporating clinical exposure from other specialties. A second elective month is offered during the EM-3 year.

Emergency Medicine *

As an EM3, residents will be in the ED for 8 months serving as pod leader and having increased responsibility concerning patient flow throughout the department and teaching junior learners.  Shifts include work on the adult side, pediatric side, and ED ICU. 

Pre-hospital/EMS

This rotation is tailored to individual resident based upon their prior prehospital experience.  Opportunities include flights with our AirCare helicopters, ground EMS transport, and doing shifts on the physician response vehicles. 

ICU selective

Customizable ICU experience at one of several excellent sites.  Options include Burn ICU, MICU, STICU, PICU and Neuro ICU.

EM Critical Care / Teaching

This block focuses on learning more about care for the sickest ED patients.  We also use this time for senior residents to teach junior residents and medical students in the ED, including assistance with procedures.

Elective

Senior elective is utilized to increase knowledge in the resident’s niche interests, fellowship preparation, or fortifying and area of weakness.
 

Highlights include:

  • Didactic month: Focuses on introductory core content and has lighter than normal clinical responsibilities. Training in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, and Advanced Disaster Life Support is provided.
  • Dedicated pediatric experience during EM-1 and EM-2 years and all Adult EM/Pediatric EM months include 3-4 shifts in the Children's Hospital of Georgia (CHOG) Pediatric ED plus pediatric experience after hours in the main ED. The CHOG ED sees 30,000 children per year. We are the only American College of Surgeons designated to provide pediatric trauma care in the region, and we have all pediatric medical and surgical subspecialties represented. We operate out of 16 rooms in a designated area exclusively designed for pediatric patients that is contiguous with the adult emergency department. 
  • Extensive ultrasound experience during the EM-1 and EM-2 year. This month allows residents to learn ultrasound skills through hands-on experience in the ED.

icon Vacation Details

Three, one-week vacations are offered during designated vacation months. In each year, these are found:

  • EM-1 - During Obstetrics, Orthopedics, Anesthesia/US
  • EM-2 - During DDEAMC, Elective, Anesthesia/US
  • EM-3 - During Elective, EMS, EM Critical Care