Educational Curriculum
Your Residency Roadmap
Progressive, hands-on training designed to develop confident, skilled emergency physicians at every stage of residency.
The UTHealth Houston Emergency Medicine Residency Program offers a dynamic and structured curriculum designed to develop residents into competent, compassionate, and confident emergency physicians.
Our program emphasizes progressive responsibility, hands-on experience, and a robust didactic framework, ensuring residents are well-prepared for the diverse challenges of emergency medicine.
EM 1: Foundational Training
The first year focuses on building a solid foundation in emergency medicine. Residents engage in a comprehensive orientation, followed by rotations that enhance clinical skills and procedural competence.
Key Rotations:
- Emergency Medicine: Residents begin their clinical training in the high-acuity environment of Memorial Hermann Hospital – TMC, participating in trauma resuscitations, managing critical patients, and performing essential procedures.
- Pediatrics: A dedicated block at Texas Children’s Hospital provides exposure to pediatric emergency care, including the management of pediatric trauma and critical illnesses.
- Orthopedics: Residents gain experience in fracture management, splinting, and orthopedic consultations, preparing them for musculoskeletal emergencies.
- Anesthesia: A rotation in the operating room offers insights into airway management, sedation techniques, and perioperative care.
- Obstetrics/Gynecology: Residents rotate through LBJ General Hospital, focusing on obstetric emergencies, labor and delivery, and gynecological procedures.
Throughout the year, residents participate in simulation-based training, cadaver labs, and procedural workshops to refine their skills.
EM 2: Advanced Clinical Practice
The second year emphasizes the development of critical thinking, patient management, and leadership skills. Residents take on increased responsibilities, managing complex cases and supervising junior residents.
Key Rotations:
- Emergency Medicine: Continued clinical rotations at Memorial Hermann Hospital – TMC and LBJ General Hospital, with a focus on managing multiple critically ill patients and improving patient flow.
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine: A block at Texas Children’s Hospital deepens pediatric emergency care experience, including exposure to rare and complex cases.
- Pre-hospital Medicine: Residents participate in EMS ride-alongs with the Houston Fire Department, gaining experience in pre-hospital care, urban search and rescue, and hazardous materials response.
- Ultrasound: Dedicated ultrasound rotations enhance diagnostic skills, including FAST exams and procedural guidance.
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS): An elective rotation allows residents to engage in EMS operations, furthering their understanding of pre-hospital care systems.
EM 3: Leadership and Supervision
The third year focuses on honing leadership, teaching, and supervisory skills. Residents prepare for independent practice, managing multiple patients simultaneously and overseeing the clinical education of junior residents and medical students.
Key Rotations:
- Emergency Medicine: Residents take on supervisory roles, leading resuscitations, managing patient throughput, and making critical decisions in high-pressure situations.
- Critical Care: Intensive care unit rotations provide experience in managing critically ill patients, including those requiring advanced monitoring and life support.
- Administration: Exposure to the administrative aspects of emergency medicine, including quality improvement initiatives, policy development, and departmental operations.
- Electives: Residents have the opportunity to pursue electives in areas such as medical education, research, toxicology, and space medicine, tailoring their training to individual interests and career goals.
Throughout all years, residents participate in weekly didactic conferences, journal clubs, and simulation sessions, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development.
Conference
Held Thursdays, 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM, featuring clinical case reviews, procedural demonstrations, and evidence-based discussions.
Highlights include:
- Journal Club
- Cadaver/Sim Lab
- Didactic lectures, including distinguished guest lecturers
- Oral Board Preparation
- ECG Conference
- Critical Care Conference
- Ultrasound Curriculum
- Quality Assurance
We are committed to make our ED the safest in the nation and each month we hold a quality assurance conference which provides a safe and educational environment.
Residents are relieved of all clinical duties in order to attend conference on Thursday mornings except those on ICU rotations during which direct patient care takes precedence. All residents are expected to maintain a minimum of >70% conference attendance throughout the year.
Training the next generation of emergency physicians — one rotation, one skill, one patient at a time.