The Department of Emergency Medicine welcomes medical students as part of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UW SMPH) ForWard curriculum.
Faculty, residents, and staff at the Department of Emergency Medicine are dedicated to sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm for the specialty of emergency medicine with students at all levels of training to ensure a rewarding, student-centered experience. The Emergency Medicine Clerkship provides an outstanding educational experience preparing our graduates to become highly competent and compassionate physicians who advance health for all through remarkable service to patients and communities.
The Department of Emergency Medicine offers a variety of opportunities for students to engage in our specialty based on individual interests. Some students may shadow for a single shift, while others choose to engage more deeply by enrolling in emergency medicine selectives/electives or exploring our Summer Immersion Program.
We aim to create a learning environment that emphasizes one-on-one teaching, as well as graded responsibility and independence.
Emergency Medicine Curriculum
Phase 1 students – All students rotate through our department as a part of the Upstream from the ED experience in their first months of medical school.
Pre-clinical students are eligible to take part in a short-term summer research experience with mentorship from Department of Emergency Medicine faculty.
Phase 2 students – All medical students in this phase complete a rotation in emergency medicine as part of their Acute Care Block.
Phase 3 students – Students may opt to undertake a four-week Advanced Elective rotation in emergency medicine.
Diving Deeper
Our month-long Summer Immersion Program gives first-year students early exposure to emergency medicine through hands-on learning, mentorship, and clinical observation. The program offers a broad introduction to medical practice, ED operations, and the patient populations the specialty serves.
What Current Students Say
Supportive and engaged faculty are vital to students’ experiences on any rotation. Here’s what medical students have to say about working with Emergency Medicine faculty:
“The faculty provide directed teaching that promotes individual responsibility for patients while filling knowledge gaps and challenging me to think critically.”
“They excel at creating a comfortable environment with strong teaching and clear expectations and allow learners and trainees to develop their own style of practice under expert tutelage”
“They’re allowed me to have autonomy during certain patient encounters and be hands-on with patients while offering great learning points when discussing differentials and treatment plans.”
Beyond the Classroom
Student Electives & Selectives
Outside of its clerkship, the Department of Emergency Medicine provides several courses that are popular with students who have interests in specific emergency medicine domains. Search and enroll via the UW Course Catalog.
- Intro to Prehospital Medicine & Systems (330-911)
- Guatemala Health Advanced Elective (330-912)
- Wilderness Medicine (330-914)
- Art and Science of Resuscitation (330-920)
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine (330-940)
- Introduction to Bedside Ultrasound (330-958)
Emergency Medicine faculty and residents also participate in the SMPH MEDiC Clinical program to support individuals and families experiencing gaps in care.
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