George Washington University
History
The Department of Emergency Medicine of The George Washington University is actively involved in a wide range of Emergency Medicine-related clinical, educational, research, and consulting programs. In support of our medical student, resident, and fellowship education programs and clinical research programs, the DEM staffs the ED’s of three hospitals including one hospital-based Hyperbarics / Wound Care program. The DEM also offers a wide range of Emergency Medicine consulting activities including: medical support for the travel assistance and commercial shipping industries, staffing solutions for remote clinics, telemedicine-related services, community-oriented emergency care programs.
Our mission is to provide excellent emergency patient care, train the next generation of health professionals, create new knowledge in the fields of Emergency Medicine and Emergency Management, and continually innovate.
Leadership
- Department Chair: Robert Shesser, MD
- Program Director: Colleen Roche, MD
- Associate Program Director: Sonal Batra, MD
Training Locations
Primary Hospital
George Washington University Hospital
Secondary Hospitals
INOVA Fairfax Hospital
Children's National Medical Center
Washington, DC Veteran's Affairs Medical Center
National Poison Control Center
Curriculum
PGY1
The PGY-1 year is designed to develop residents a strong, multi-disciplinary foundation of knowledge as our interns make the transition from medical student to doctor. We also give an in depth introduction to emergency bedside ultrasound this year to provide excellent baseline skills to use throughout residency.
- Orientation – 1 block
- Emergency Medicine - 5.5 blocks
- Trauma – 1 block
- Pediatric EM – 1 blocks
- ICU - 1 block
- Cardiology/CCU - 1 block
- Wound Care - 1 block
- Adult Anesthesia - ½ block
- Obstetrics - ½ block
- ED Ultrasound - ½ block
PGY2
In the PGY-2 year, residents spend significant time in the ED with an emphasis on mastering procedures and increasing proficiency in general emergency medicine. This year also introduces sub-specialty areas within Emergency Medicine and offers the opportunity to participate in electives.
- Emergency Medicine - 8 blocks
- Pediatric EM - 1 block
- Cardiology/CCU - 1 block
- ICU - 1 block
- Emergency Medical Services - ½ block
- ED Toxicology - ½ block
- Pediatric anesthesia- ½ block
- Elective - ½ block
PGY3
The PGY-3 year provides opportunities to master the care of the multiple critically ill patients simultaneously. PGY3 residents are involved in multiple educational endeavors in the department and elective time for residents to pursue their interests and career development.
- Emergency Medicine - 7 blocks
- Pediatric EM- 1 block
- Trauma ICU– 1 block
- ICU - 2 blocks
- Teaching resident/ ED Administration - 1 block
- Elective - 2 blocks
PGY4
The PGY-4 resident is treated as a junior faculty member in the ED with a significant teaching and administrative role in addition to patient care responsibilities. Our senior residents learn not only how to care for any type of patient that comes through the door but how to manage the flow of the ED. The clinical shift requirement is reduced (14 shifts/block) to give academic protected time to complete the Mini-fellowship project. There is additional elective time as well.
- Emergency Medicine - 10 blocks
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit - 1 block
- Elective - 2 blocks
Mini-Fellowship Project
The George Washington University Department of Emergency Medicine requires its' residency graduates to complete a Mini-Fellowship during their training in order to foster interests outside of clinical Emergency Medicine, supplement their future careers, and create well-rounded Emergency Physicians. The graduate creates a niche for themselves of their own choosing in the field of Emergency Medicine. As a result, their Mini-Fellowship will yield a portfolio that may serve as a product of their niche and can enhance their CVs for job opportunities.
Electives
Fellowships
Medical Education Fellowship Director: Claudia Ranniger, M.D., Ph.D. cranniger@mfa.gwu.edu
The program, with a concentration in Simulation, is a 1 year mentored program which combines educational requirements, research, and clinical experience to provide a comprehensive education in the use of simulation in medical education.
Emergency Medicine and Administration Fellowship
Director: Griffin Davis M.D., M.P.H.
gdavis@mfa.gwu.edu
The program trains future emergency department (ED) medical directors and physician group leaders. The curriculum is oriented toward ED operational metric analysis, the development of quality improvement and patient satisfaction programs, hospital and physician group staff issues, billing and coding, medical entrepreneurship, and ED informatics. The fellow will pursue a master’s degree and will attend the ACEP Director’s Academy.
Extreme Environmental Medicine
Director: Kris Lehnhardt, M.D. klehnhardt@mfa.gwu.edu
Fellows are trained to identify and treat unique health problems when operating in an unusual and remote environment with limited resources, significant clinical autonomy, and no access to definitive health care systems.
Health Policy
Director: Aisha Liferidge M.D.
aliferidge@mfa.gwu.edu
Fellows pursue a didactic fellowship curriculum and have the opportunity to rotate through congressional or federal agency offices. Fellows will work on a variety of policy-related contracts and research projects. Pursuit of a master in public health (MPH) degree or certificate in health policy in the Milken Institute School of Public Health is highly encouraged.
International Emergency Medicine & Global Public Health
Director: Katherine Douglass, M.D., M.P.H. kdouglass@mfa.gwu.edu
Fellows actively participate in the implementation of new and ongoing educational, clinical, and prehospital emergency medicine projects and programs throughout the world. Pursuit of an MPH degree and collaboration with the Department of Global Health in GW’s Milken Institute School of Public Health is emphasized.
Operations Research
Director: Jesse M. Pines, M.D., M.B.A, MSCE
pinesj@gwu.edu
Fellows learn research methods and practical techniques to implement and study operational interventions in the emergency department. The scope of the fellowship content and project (i.e., more research or more implementation) is decided upon by the fellow and the fellowship director. Pursuit of an MPH degree and collaboration with the Department of Health Policy in GW’s Milken Institute School of Public Health is emphasized.
Clinical Research
Director: Melissa McCarthy, Sc.D., MS melmccar@gwu.edu
This specialized two-year clinical research fellowship provides a unique opportunity for advanced professional training, including the opportunity to pursue a master of science (MS) or an MPH degree. This fellowship focuses on developing robust research skills, with special emphasis on clinical research design, critical appraisal of the literature, statistical analysis, presentation of results, manuscript preparation, and grant writing. Direct mentorship is key to the success of this fellowship, and fellows will have the opportunity to work with clinical researchers in various fields with funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), foundation, and industry.
Medical Toxicology
Director: Cathleen Clancy, M.D.
cat@poison.org
In this ACGME-accredited program, fellows provide telephone and bedside consultations through the National Capital Poison Center and several area hospitals. Coursework in research and policy aspects of toxicology is offered through the NIH and GW’s Milken Institute School of Public Health and School of Law.
Telemedicine
Director: Neal Sikka, M.D.
nsikka@mfa.gwu.edu
The program provides an opportunity for collaboration among emergency medicine faculty and faculty in other medical and surgical disciplines as well as engineering and business. We aspire to enable physicians to develop clinical competence in the delivery of telemedicine, leadership in establishing new programs, basic technical knowledge of telehealth delivery, and experience in order to significantly impact the rapidly growing and changing field of telemedicine, telehealth, remote health monitoring and mobile health.
Ultrasound
Director: Keith Boniface, M.D.
kboniface@mfa.gwu.edu
Fellows gain expertise in clinical applications of bedside ultrasound, learn aspects of U.S. program administration, participate in an active training curriculum and perform research. Fellows work toward RDMS certification during fellowship.
Disaster/EMS
Director: Bruno Petinaux, M.D. bpetinaux@mfa.gwu.edu
Fellows develop skills to become effective emergency managers and emergency medical services leaders through mentorship, experiences, and opportunities. This two-year program also includes a master’s degree in the appropriate area of concentration.
Contact Information
Residency Coordinator: Carla Piereck De Sa Email: msdcpp@gwu.edu Phone: +01 202 741 2914