What are some Emergency Medicine (EM) fellowship programs?

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Last updated: March 7, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

Emergency medicine fellowships, such as Critical Care Medicine, Toxicology, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Ultrasound, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Sports Medicine, Disaster Medicine, Wilderness Medicine, Administration/Operations, and Research, offer specialized training for physicians who have completed an emergency medicine residency. These fellowships typically last 1-2 years and provide specialized knowledge and skills that enhance clinical practice and career opportunities in specific areas of emergency medicine 1. Some of the key areas of focus for these fellowships include:

  • Critical Care Medicine: managing critically ill patients in intensive care settings
  • Toxicology: diagnosing and treating poisonings and overdoses
  • Emergency Medical Services (EMS): providing medical direction for pre-hospital care systems
  • Ultrasound: focusing on point-of-care ultrasound applications in emergency settings, with some programs offering advanced training through emergency ultrasound fellowships 1
  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine: specializing in emergency care for children
  • Sports Medicine: addressing acute sports-related injuries
  • Disaster Medicine: preparing physicians for mass casualty incidents
  • Wilderness Medicine: focusing on care in remote settings
  • Administration/Operations: developing leadership skills for emergency department management
  • Research: training physicians in clinical research methodologies. Many fellowships offer board certification upon completion, which can be valuable for career advancement in academic or specialized practice settings 1.

From the Research

Emergency Medicine Fellowship Programs

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) fellowship programs are available for physicians who want to specialize in emergency medicine for children 2, 3, 4.
  • These programs aim to provide comprehensive training in pediatric emergency medicine, including essential requirements, administration, and management of programs, as well as career paths after completion 2, 3.
  • Some fellowship programs focus on scholarship training to prepare fellows for their careers as pediatric emergency specialists 4.
  • Emergency medicine fellowships can last one year, are research-oriented, and place a large emphasis on toxicology, emergency medical services, and critical care 5.
  • Recent graduates of pediatric emergency medicine fellowship programs have reported a good job market, with most accepting faculty appointments with medical school affiliation and spending most of their time on clinical duties 6.

Types of Fellowships

  • Research-oriented fellowships are common in emergency medicine, with a focus on toxicology, emergency medical services, and critical care 5.
  • Clinical fellowships are also available, with recent graduates reporting that they were well-prepared in clinical training and teaching, but less so in research and administration 6.
  • Some fellowship programs may offer a combination of research and clinical training, with the goal of preparing fellows for careers in academic emergency medicine 5.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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