Message from the Program Director
Welcome to the UMass Chan Medical School Emergency Medicine Residency!
My name is Richard Church and, as program director, I would like to introduce you to our family and provide some insight into what we are all about. First and foremost, our goal is simple and can be summed up in our vision statement, one we created together:
“We challenge residents early and often to be prepared for a lifetime of emergencies.”
Since its inception in 1986 as an independent department within UMass Chan Medical School, our training program has graduated nearly 400 residents. Our physicians are given the opportunity to grow in a rigorous learning environment from day one, guided by a hand-picked group of experts to provide excellent care to a diverse population. At the end of your time with us, you will be ready for any task in the dynamic landscape of emergency medicine and graduate as leaders, innovators and educators in the field.
Our curriculum provides for an education across a myriad of emergency medicine subspecialties, including medical toxicology, EMS and flight medicine, EM ultrasound, EM administration, disaster medicine, global health and EM research. Exposure to these areas of expertise gives trainees ample opportunities to garner mentorship from renown clinicians, all devoted to molding our residents into top-flight physicians. Further individualized learning and instruction through our distinction tracks model allows for small group education within these areas, providing continued exposure and opportunities for intellectual growth.
You will have access to first-rate resources and training sessions, all assembled to provide you with the necessary tools to become an exceptional emergency medicine physician. From high fidelity simulation training and interactive cadaver labs to adult and pediatric small group forums as well as journal clubs, you will find ample opportunities to learn in the environment that best suits your needs.
Clinically, our residents spend a healthy amount of time training at our home institution emergency departments, where more than 100,000 adult and pediatric patients visit on an annual basis. A diverse patient mix centered around the only quaternary care center in the region guarantees that you’ll hit the ground running, leaving no stone unturned with regards to the types of pathology you could encounter. You’ll also receive first-rate training at our community site in Milford, Massachusetts and have an opportunity to see how emergency medicine is practiced in Hawaii during your senior year.
Last, but certainly not least, we strive to foster a sense of community and family here at UMass Chan Medical School. We bring our new additions into the fold early and often to ensure a seamless transition to residency training. Intern orientation as well as a dedicated intern immersion month provide opportunities to learn the ropes and become acclimated to new surroundings. A fall residency retreat is filled with group learning, team building activities as well as generous down time to allow for resident bonding. Year-round get togethers include book club, Successful Women in Medicine (SWiM) outings, interdepartmental mixers and post-overnight breakfasts at some of Worcester’s popular diners. Moreover, we send our PGY-2 classes to the national SAEM conference, our PGY-3 classes to the national ACEP conference, and cap the year off with an intern retreat and graduation proceedings.
In the end, you can rest assured that our program will challenge you in a collaborative, supportive environment and that you will be trained to become a skilled emergency clinician, prepared for all patients, in any scenario, at every bedside.
I hope you will come and join us.
