Focus on Careers in Emergency Medicine Education

 SAEM Committee Positions
Now is the time to consider participation in SAEM committees – deadline for submission of Interest Forms is February 17, 2012 (link soon to be available). SAEM Committees offer an invaluable opportunity to participate in critical activities to achieve SAEM goals, in an area of your interest. Committees also offer an opportunity to network with key leaders in the field, connect with potential mentors, and meet other professionals in your area of academic interest.

To learn more about SAEM committees, visit our website at: http://www.saem.org/saem-groups/committees 

New and Improved Website!
Have you seen our resident website lately? Check it out at http://www.saem.org/resident There have been some changes to the website to help direct you to some of the most valuable services and opportunities that SAEM has to offer residents. See how you can enhance your career planning with resources available on the emergency medicine on the resident website! There are still new features being added, so be sure to check back often for updates…

(Also if there is any additional information you would like to see there, please contact Melinda Morton at mmorton@jhmi.edu)

“What I wish I knew then”
Advice from faculty for residents and students contemplating an academic career

New Feature: Each newsletter, we will devote at least 1-2 short articles to advising residents and medical students who are considering an academic career (of any type) in emergency medicine. These articles will address questions such as: “What should I be doing during my residency to prepare me for a career in [education, emergency ultrasound, research, pediatrics, international emergency medicine, etc…]”, “Is a fellowship the right choice?” and other key considerations.

This newsletter, we are going to hear from two accomplished emergency medicine educators:

The first is Dr. Adam Kellogg, who graduated from University of Massachusetts Medical School in 2004 and completed residency at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA in 2007.

He served as the Medical Student Clerkship Director until July of 2011, and then transitioned into the role of Associate Residency Program Director.

Dr. Kellogg provides some advice to emergency medicine residents (and students) who may be considering a career in emergency medicine education:

What was/is the best part of being a residency assistant program director and educator? Why should residents consider a career in emergency medicine education? What "path" did you take to your current position?
The best part of being involved in a residency program is to be part of the development of newly-minted interns into independent clinicians and colleagues. Being part of that transformation and helping to make it happen is a big part of what drives many educators. As a program director you have increased responsibility to oversee their progression, and with that comes greater pride in their accomplishments.

If shaping the next generation of Emergency Physicians sounds appealing, then EM education is for you.

My path to being Associate Program Director was pretty traditional. I took over the Medical Student Clerkship and put a lot of work into making it as good an experience for students as possible. When an Associate PD spot opened up, I was well prepared to move into that role.

Were you a chief resident? Is that a prerequisite?
I was not a chief resident. The administrative experience gained as chief can be invaluable, and was something I had to pick up later, but it certainly is not a prerequisite for a career in education.

Did you participate in education research as a resident or medical student?
I have become involved in education research as an attending. Like many students, I was turned off to research by my experience doing basic science bench work. As a resident I learned that clinical research, with more tangible implications, could be very interesting and rewarding. As an attending I have tried to follow through on some very good advice I received from multiple people: focus your efforts. Educators put a lot of work into updating and improving the learning experience for students and residents. Measuring the effectiveness of those changes and sharing what we learn is a natural next step.

What advice do you have for residents considering a career in emergency medicine education? What preparations or activities would you recommend for residents to participate in now to prepare them for future success as an educator?
The first thing to do is make sure you really love education. Go the extra mile with any educator experiences built into your residency and take extra opportunities to teach in the ED. If you still enjoy the teaching while also trying to keep up with all of your other responsibilities, then this may be a great fit. Once you know this is the path for you, then you need to put yourself in a position to succeed. The approach I recommend is to become an educator now. Start finding topics that you feel strongly about and educate everybody you can, including your attendings. Put extra effort into the students and interns, especially with taking them to the bedside and with teaching procedures. Think about how you would change your residency and share those solutions with your program leadership. Make your scholarly project education based and think about other research questions you want to explore in the future. If you are already doing these things as a resident, and enjoying them, then your future in education will be obvious to those around you.

Is it necessary to do an education fellowship? Are there other types of training you would recommend to residents considering a career in education?
I think that completing an education fellowship clearly demonstrates your commitment and may give you an advantage over those applying for the same position. I can say from my own experience that it is not always necessary so long as you put together the portfolio of an educator. Spending a few years as the Clerkship Director gave me invaluable experience in writing fair evaluations of learners and giving constructive feedback. I also got to lead a lot of small group discussions and give tons of lectures, which helped me refine those skills. Becoming efficient at the less glamorous but necessary administrative tasks like scheduling, orienting, and documenting also smoothed out the learning curve in taking on a program leadership role.

The next educator we will feature is Dr. Linda Regan, MD, FACEP, who has been the Residency Program Director at Johns Hopkins since 2010. She is also Director (and founder) of the Medical Education Fellowship in the Department of Emergency Medicine, and an Assistant Professor. Dr. Regan graduated from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1999, and completed her residency training at NYU / Bellevue in 2003, where she stayed on as faculty and was Associate Program Director. She was also co-director of the undergraduate emergency medicine curriculum. Dr. Regan was the Associate Program Director at Johns Hopkins from 2007-2009, prior to taking on her current position.

Below are Dr. Regan’s perspectives on a possible career in emergency medicine education:

What is the best part of being a residency program director and educator? Why should residents consider a career in emergency medicine education?
The best part of being a residency program director is getting to work with an amazing, diverse group of residents. Helping someone to find their potential, to challenge their strengths and to face their weaknesses; being able to watch the growth of a group of people I like and respect, being able to contribute to that growth, is a gift I try never to take for granted. Residents place their most valuable asset in my hands- their time. I work extraordinarily hard to ensure that time is well spent. That challenge, the constant need for re-evaluation and improvement to meet both the old and the new needs in Emergency Medicine training, is what keeps my brain interested.

Why SHOULDN’T residents consider a career in Emergency Medicine education? Whether as a clinical educator for medical students or residents, a lecturer on the “circuit,” a mentor in a specialty area within the field, or even a “virtual mentor” online for students who have no local training site in EM, there are so many ways to get involved. You can work full time at an academic site or make a contribution at an affiliate site that has trainees. Educators often lose sight of the impact that they make and the varied ways in which that impact can be made.

What advice do you have for residents considering a career in emergency medicine education? What preparations or activities would you recommend for residents to participate in now to prepare them for future success as an educator?
Try it! In order to figure out what you are good at, what you enjoy, you need to try it! I have had residents who were die-hard community bound until they entered their final year and then came to me and said, “Dr. Regan, I can’t imagine working in an ED where I don’t teach!” I have seen residents who simply came to life when they got up to give a lecture, and they had no idea they had this talent. I have brought residents with me when I do reviews of other residency programs for my Graduate Medical Education Committee who were simply amazed at all of the work that goes into medical education and how interesting it is. The bottom line here, try it out. It won’t be time wasted. As for preparation for those who are sure they are education career bound, don’t wait until you are on faculty to start learning about faculty development- consider attending one of the workshops or courses offered through our EM organizations. Network, get out there and meet people. Don’t be afraid to ask for people to mentor you. Educators in EM are nice people who have dedicated their lives to helping trainees- use us.

Is it necessary to do an education fellowship, or to do education research? Are there other types of training you would recommend to residents considering a career in education?
Personally, I do not believe it is necessary to do an education fellowship for a career as a general educator in EM. I think faculty development courses at your own institution or our national organization are needed to help educators fine tune their skills and that these should be a lifelong endeavor. I do believe that to pursue high quality education research some additional training is required. Whether a fellowship, a Masters in Education, the Medical Education Research Certificate or some focused work in education research.

Finally, there will be an Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference on Education Research on May 9, 2012 at the Annual Meeting in Chicago – visit the Annual Meeting website for further information! http://am2012.saem.org/. 

New! Peer-Reviewed Electronic Lecture Series (PeRLS)
PeRLS are now available – these videos highlight a short evidence-based concept in emergency medicine. The Editorial Board for the PeRLS series includes representatives from SAEM, ACEP, and CORD. Each video is less than 30 minutes long. The initial offering is a lecture entitled: “The Millenial Generation and the Lecture (see link below),” on innovative teaching strategies to engage learners who grew up in “the digital age.” These lectures will eventually be published and made available in PubMed.

Other resources are also linked to the site, including a lecture on medical writing entitled
“Getting Published: Effective Medical Writing” – check it out!

“The Millenial Generation and the Lecture:” http://vimeo.com/24148123

“Getting Published: Effective Medical Writing”: http://vimeo.com/11685875 

SAEM Fellowship Directory
Graduating senior residents – or those interested in getting a start in their post-residency career planning - be sure to check out the SAEM Fellowship Directory, http://www.saem.org/join-saem/services/fellowship-directory, a free service listing contact information and availability for over 400 emergency medicine fellowships!

As a reminder, ACGME certification is available in Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Toxicology, Sports Medicine, and Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine (and soon to be Critical Care Medicine).

SAEM has also provided a certification process for Emergency Medicine Research Fellowships, http://www.saem.org/join-saem/services/institutional-research-fellowship-program. 

Medical Students Applying in Emergency Medicine
As a reminder, be sure to check the EM Clerkship Directory, http://www.saem.org/join-saem/services/clerkship-directory, and the EM Residency Directory, http://www.saem.org/join-saem/services/residency-directory, for contact information and other key facts about residency programs across the United States!

SAEM Regional Meetings
SAEM Regional Meetings are a great way to network with leaders in the field of emergency medicine in a small and supportive environment. Residents will particularly benefit from the expertise of senior faculty members and SAEM board members who will attend the conference. Presenting your research at a regional meeting is also a great way to gain experience and recognition for your work.

SAEM Western Regional Meeting: March 16-17, 2012
If you are in the area, be sure to check out the SAEM regional meeting to be held in Las Vegas, NV. March 16 -17, 2012

Location:
Westin Casurina Hotel and Spa
160 E. Flamingo Rd.
Las Vegas, NV89109
United States

http://www.saem.org/regional-meetings/western

To register for the conference, click on the following link: http://www.signup4.net/Public/ap.aspx?EID=SAEM10E

Abstracts will still be accepted until Tuesday, January 10, 2012 (5pm PST)!

SAEM New England Regional
Meeting Information:
March 21, 2012 (All day)

Where:
MassMutual Civic Center
1277 Main Street
Springfield, MA 01103
United States

Click on the link below for registration information! Abstracts are no longer being accepted for this meeting.

Website: http://www.saem.org/regional-meetings/new-england

SAEM Southeast Regional Meeting
When:
February 25th and 26th, 2012

Where:
Hyatt Regency Riverfront
225 East Coastline Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32202

More information soon to be posted on the SAEM website! 

Medical Student Interest Group Grant
Do you lead a medical student interest group in emergency medicine? Then consider applying for the SAEM Emergency Medicine Student Interest Group (EMIG) Grant!

• The goal of these grants are:
• To promote growth of emergency medicine education at the medical student level
• Identify new educational methodologies advancing undergraduate education in emergency medicine
• Support educational endeavors of an EMIG

For further information, visit the website at: http://www.saem.org/emergency-medicine-interest-group-grant-emig

Deadline is February 17, 2012

Resident Leadership Forum: 2012 SAEM Annual Meeting
Thursday May 10, 2012
9am to 4pm
The 2012 Annual Meeting will mark the initiation of the SAEM Annual Resident Leadership Forum, formerly the Chief Resident Forum. The morning sessions are for Chief Residents (9am to 1pm), but the afternoon sessions are open to residents of any year.

There will be fresh new didactics on strategies for success during residency and beyond.

The sessions in particular are focused on residents who are interested in leadership and advancement in EM.

• Being a Role Model and Making a Difference
• The Art of Middle Management – Managing Up and Managing Down
• Dealing with Difficult Resident Concerns
• Chief Resident Pearls and Perspectives
• Lunch with the Program Directors

• Communication Skills for Success in Academia
• Negotiating Interdepartmental Politics and Intergenerational Work Styles
• Enhancing Your Leadership Skills – Roundtable Discussions with the Leaders in Academic EM
• Successful Negotiation for an Academic EM Position
• National Involvement, Advancement, and Leadership Opportunities

Visit the Annual Meeting Website for Further Information: http://am2012.saem.org

Academy of Women in Academic Emergency Medicine (AWAEM): Resident Award
Deadline is February 15, 2012
This award is for an outstanding female emergency medicine resident who has shown promise for a career in academic emergency medicine.

Further nomination information is available at: http://www.saem.org/deadline/awaem-resident-award-nomination-deadline

Want to get published?
Have a unique patient encounter that is instructive for others?
Consider submitting to the “Resident Portfolios” section of Academic Emergency Medicine. These articles are short (no more than 5 pages and 15 references), and highlight a unique patient counter or other experience during residency.

Basic guidelines for the articles are as follows (from the AEM Instructions for Authors):
Resident Portfolios
Manuscripts of reflections and introspection of experiences encountered by emergency medicine residents during their training are invited. Submissions should be no more than five pages, with no more than 15 references, and may include one table or figure. Patient and colleague confidentiality must be assured. An abstract that places the experience into a professional development context and a “take home” point are required. Portfolios may undergo invited commentary from individuals with expertise in the identified area of discussion. These commentaries will be a maximum of two pages and will focus on “learning points.” Primary authors must be emergency medicine residents or reflect an experience encountered in the residency training environment by an emergency medicine graduate.

Log onto the manuscript submission website at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/aemj to submit your article!

Call for Photographs
The deadline for submission of photographs for the SAEM Annual Meeting is on February 2, 2012. Check out the SAEM Annual Meeting Website for further details on the types of photos solicited at: http://am2012.saem.org.

A brief summary of photo guidelines are as follows:
Original high quality clinical images relevant to the practice of Emergency Medicine are invited for presentation at the 2012 SAEM Annual Meeting in Chicago. EKGs, radiographic studies and other visual data are also considered but photographs are preferred. Submissions should depict classic diagnostic examination findings or catalog unusual exam features with high educational value. Accepted submissions will be displayed at the Clinical Images Exhibit and may be featured in the “Clinical Pearls” session or the “Visual Diagnosis” medical student/resident contest.

Academy Spotlight: Global Emergency Medicine Academy
Each newsletter, we’d like to highlight one of the SAEM Academies for the benefit of our esteemed Resident members.

The Global Emergency Medicine Academy (or GEMA) is the newest of the 7 SAEM academies. Given that global emergency medicine is one of the fastest growing subspecialties of Emergency Medicine - as evidenced by the ever increasing number of Emergency Medicine faculty, trainees, and medical students pursuing international opportunities – it is only fitting to have an SAEM academy to support researchers and academics involved in this work.

What is Global Emergency Medicine? Global Emergency Medicine is a discipline focused on the improvement of emergency care in other parts of the world through clinical care, research, and educational programs.

The Global Emergency Medicine Academy (GEMA) aims to improve the global delivery of emergency care through research, education, and mentorship as well as to enhance SAEM's role as the international Emergency Medicine organization that augments, supports, and shares advances in global research, education, and mentorship.

Through membership in GEMA, you will be able to interact with some of the key leaders in this rapidly growing field. Also, you will have access to a valuable network of contacts with similar interests and goals.

• Close mentorship from and collaboration with leaders in the field of Global Emergency Medicine
• Fellowship/networking with other globally-minded academic emergency physicians from across the United States and across the world
• Access to a central repository of Global Emergency Medicine resources (e.g., educational and research materials, funding opportunities, international meeting notifications, etc.)
• At least semi-annual Global Emergency Medicine-dedicated newsletters
• The opportunity to serve in the Academy from which the SAEM Board of Directors will solicit advice (for policy decisions, meetings, educational products, etc.) as it pertains to Global Health and Emergency Medicine
• The opportunity to help SAEM transition to a truly global organization
• The opportunity to help shape the provision of emergency care in austere environments through consensus statements and other educational/research publications; and
• The opportunity to serve as a catalyst for the development of Emergency Medicine as a specialty elsewhere in the world

Membership in GEMA is, incredibly, free for residents, and a mere $25 for medical students. To sign up and take advantage of this fantastic opportunity, please contact Holly Gouin at hgouin@saem.org.

To learn more about GEMA, visit our website at: http://www.saem.org/global-emergency-medicine-academy

Also, what exactly is an SAEM academy? Here’s the answer…

1. Promote a forum for the exchange of information among members in line with SAEM’s mission to advance education and research in Emergency Medicine.
2. Provide the SAEM Board of Directors (BOD) with the ability to utilize the expertise of an identifiable group on specific issues.
3. Provide a forum for members to speak as a unified voice to the SAEM BOD as well as to other national organizations within their scope of special interest or expertise.
4. Provide a forum for members to network, collaborate on educational initiatives, develop policy, perform research, and provide faculty development pertaining to their area of special interest or expertise.

There are a total of 7 academies in SAEM, to learn more visit our website at http://www.saem.org/guidelines-academy-development

To join an academy, contact Holly Gouin at hgouin@saem.org.

 Residents and medical students
We welcome your contributions to the newsletter! If you would like to write a short article to highlight a topic relevant to academic emergency medicine, or about how SAEM has helped you thus far in your career, please email Melinda Morton at mmorton@jhmi.edu.