EMS Fellowship

Leading the Field in Prehospital Medicine | UTHealth Houston – EMS Fellowship

Master Operational Prehospital & Disaster Medicine
Prepare to lead in out-of-hospital emergency care, disaster response, and operational EMS.

About the Fellowship

The UTHealth Houston EMS Fellowship is a 1-year, ACGME-accredited program focused on advanced prehospital medicine and operational leadership. Fellows train as the Assistant Medical Director for the Houston Fire Department (HFD), serving a population of over 2.3 million people across 600+ square miles. This includes 24/7 on-call coverage, providing direct guidance to field providers, and each fellow has a take-home response vehicle for immediate deployment, essentially serving as Houston’s EMS physician.

Through this immersive experience, fellows gain the knowledge and confidence to handle high-acuity emergencies, mass casualty incidents, and disaster scenarios, from tactical SWAT operations to HAZMAT events. Special operations training includes:

  • Aircraft Rescue
  • Urban Search & Rescue
  • Advanced Emergency Response Scenarios

Clinical & Field Experience

Fellows split time between hospital-based and field-based training, gaining a breadth of experience across Houston’s unique healthcare landscape:

  • Memorial Hermann Hospital – Texas Medical Center (MHH-TMC): As one of the busiest Level 1 trauma centers in the nation, MHH-TMC provides exposure to high-volume, complex adult and pediatric emergencies. Fellows supervise residents and advanced practice providers, integrating prehospital care with hospital-based workflows.
  • Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital (LBJ): Serving Houston’s underserved populations, LBJ exposes fellows to high-acuity cases in a county hospital setting, including both adult and pediatric patients.
  • Houston Fire Department (HFD): Fellows participate in ride-alongs, operational medical direction, and field decision-making, gaining hands-on EMS experience in real-time emergencies.

  • LifeFlight Aero Medical Agency: Optional flight experience for critical care transport within a 150-mile radius of Houston.
  • Community Events: Fellows provide medical coverage for Ironman Triathlons, the Houston Marathon, and other large-scale events, learning logistical and mass-gathering medical planning.

Key Areas of Training

Fellows develop expertise in:

  • Operational Medical Direction
    • Leadership, field oversight, and clinical protocols
  • Disaster Medicine & Special Operations
    • HAZMAT, tactical response, urban search and rescue
  • Aeromedical & Interfacility Transport
    • Critical patient transfers and air medical response
  • Prehospital Research & Innovation
    • Prehospital antibiotics, whole blood administration, and quality improvement initiatives

Education & Mentorship

The fellowship emphasizes structured mentorship, hands-on field experience, and academic rigor. Fellows participate in:

  • Didactic sessions and scenario-based exercises
  • Supervision of residents and advanced practice providers in hospital settings
  • Collaborative projects with local EMS medical directors
  • System-based reviews and research initiatives

This training ensures graduates are fully prepared for leadership roles in EMS agencies, disaster response, and academic emergency medicine.

Living in Houston

Houston is the 4th largest city in the U.S., offering a vibrant and diverse lifestyle outside of fellowship duties.

Fellows enjoy:

  • Global cuisine and culturally rich neighborhoods
  • Museums, theaters, and arts districts
  • Professional and collegiate sporting events
  • Parks, trails, and outdoor recreation

The program prioritizes fellow wellness alongside clinical excellence, ensuring a balanced and fulfilling fellowship year.

Why Choose UTHealth Houston EMS Fellowship?

  • High-volume, world-class clinical sites including MHH-TMC and LBJ Hospital
  • Hands-on experience with Houston Fire Department and community EMS systems
  • Exposure to disaster response, mass-gathering medicine, and special operations
  • Opportunities for research, quality improvement, and operational leadership
  • Graduates are prepared to take national leadership roles in EMS, disaster medicine, and academic EM