Emergency Medicine | Education

Learn more about the T32 Training Grant
 

Fellowship Program

Thank you for your interest in the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship Program at Washington University School of Medicine.

The overall goal of the fellowship program is to produce an individual who is clinically proficient in the practice of pediatric emergency medicine with emphasis on the acutely ill or injured child. There are four components of this fellowship program: clinical, research, teaching, and administrative. This program trains fellows to teach pediatric emergency medicine and to perform research that will enrich their practice of emergency medicine. The program also includes training in the administrative issues that are unique to emergency medicine. Our program is accredited by the ACGME.

Clinical

Washington University is an ideal place to gain clinical experience. The Division of Emergency Medicine, as part of the Department of Pediatrics at the Washington University School of Medicine, is based at St. Louis Children's Hospital (SLCH). We treat approximately 55,000 patients annually.

The Division comprises 13 attending physicians, 6 fellows, 12 pediatric nurse practitioners, 51 registered nurses and pediatric and emergency medicine residents at all levels.

The Emergency Department at St. Louis Children's Hospital has been honored by national magazines for its unique and kid-friendly design. Along with innovative aesthetics, the Department provides for streamlined care utilizing state-of-the-art medical equipment and systems. The Department features 2 large trauma rooms, 29 treatment rooms and 5 specialty treatment rooms.

In 2005, St. Louis Children's Hospital and the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine were highlighted in Child Magazine. In 2007, SLCH again ranked in the top 10 best hospitals in the nation, according to Child Magazine's year-long study . Washington University School of Medicine was ranked fourth among the nation's medical schools in the 2007 U.S. News and World Report rankings of graduate and professional programs.

The clinical curriculum is divided by year. The major emphasis during the first year of fellowship is in gaining advanced clinical experience and fine-tuning skills. During the second year, the fellow has increasing responsibility within the ED for patient care and for resident education. Fellows in their final year have increased clinical independence and continue to be a teaching resource for residents and students.

 Curriculum

Traditional Curriculum

Year 1

Year 2

 Year 3

All blocks are four weeks long.  For either curriculum the order of blocks can be altered to suit the need of the individual fellow, and vacation can be split up throughout the year. 

This is a general schedule. Rotations may be done in a different sequence if it better suits the fellow.

*Electives include all Pediatric medical and surgical subspecialties, radiology, sedation, sports medicine, and ultrasound.

There is a broad selection of didactic conferences to enhance the curriculum, including:

Divisional:
o Daily EU teaching conference
o Weekly Division CME
o Monthly Division Journal Club
o Weekly PEM Fellows Conference
o Monthly Joint Radiology/ED Case Conference
o Quarterly Morbidity and Mortality Conference

Departmental:
o Weekly Clinical Case Conference
o Weekly Grand Rounds
o Weekly Early Bird Rounds
o Weekly Departmental Fellows Conference

Other:
o Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds
o Monthly Emergency Medicine Journal Club
o Other subspecialty and research conferences
o PALS
o ATLS 

Teaching

There are numerous opportunities to develop teaching skills during the fellowship program. Fellows are important members of the Division of Emergency Medicine, and as such, participate in all aspects of teaching. Informally, during clinical shifts, fellows will have the opportunity to teach medical students and residents. In addition, fellows participate in leading educational conferences, including:

o Daily EU teaching conference
o Division Journal Club
o Joint Radiology/ED Case conference
o PALS
o Annual Advances in Pediatric Emergency Medicine CME conference 

Research

Training in research distinguishes fellowship from residency training. The Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine places special emphasis on the development of either clinical or basic science research skills. Graduates of the program are capable of sustaining successful careers in academic medicine.

Washington University is one of only two Pediatric Emergency Medicine programs nationally to have been awarded a training grant (T32) from the National Institutes of Health..  All fellowship applicants considering WUSM should read the informational page on the T32 training grant.  The ultimate goal of the T32 grant is to provide the resources necessary to develop a successful career as a physician scientist.

Washington University has great depth of faculty mentors in both clinical and basic science research. Current faculty interests within the Division of Emergency Medicine include: pain and sedation, C-spine injury, abdominal injury, fracture management, febrile illnesses, malnutrition and foreign medicine and clinical guidelines. Research mentors may be either from within or outside of the Division of Emergency Medicine.

During Emergency Department months, approximately half of the fellow’s time is available for research. Fellows take formal coursework in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Research Methodology and Design. During the fellowship, there is an opportunity to earn a Master's in Public Health or a Master's of Science in Clinical Investigation from Washington University in St. Louis

Administrative

Fellows are considered members of the Division of Emergency Medicine. Fellows are included in Divisional administrative meetings, faculty search committees, curriculum development, and Division retreats. In addition, administrative topics are included in both the PEM Fellows’ conferences and the Departmental Fellows conferences. Fellows wishing to assume more administrative responsibility are given opportunities to do so. 

Application

Residents who will successfully complete a three-year pediatric residency or a three or four year emergency medicine residency are encouraged to apply.

Our Fellowship Program participates in the ERAS application process, www.aamc.org/eras. Applications will be considered complete with the following:

1. Completed application
2. Personal statement
3. Three letters of recommendation
4. Dean’s letter
5. Medical school transcript
6. USMLE scores for Parts 1 and 2 (and 3, if taken at the time of application)
7. Graduates of foreign medical schools: ECFMG certificate and medical school diploma

The deadline for completed applications is September 1.

Completed applications will be reviewed and selected applicants will be invited to interview during the months of September and October. Invitations will be issued on a rolling basis.

Learn more about the T32 training grant here.

Contacts:

David Schnadower, MD, MPH 
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics 
Program Director, PEM Fellowship 
schnadower_d@kids.wustl.edu 314-454-2341

Carol Heller
Fellowship Coordinator
heller_c@kids.wustl.edu
314-454-2341