The University of Texas Medical School at Houston Department of Emergency Medicine
Department of Emergency Medicine
The Department of Emergency Medicine

Residency Program

The Department of Emergency Medicine Residency Program at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston is dedicated to improving the health and welfare of urgent and emergent patients of all ages.


EM I Rotations

Shifts in the ED each month for residents are divided approximately 40% trauma shifts, 40% general medicine shifts, and 20% pediatric shifts. These are approximate estimates, as traumatic vs. medical vs. pediatric patient presentations may be seen in any part of the ED.

  • Orientation Month: This first month of residency incorporates many high-yield experiences to orient the EM1 resident for his or her emergency medicine residency. Included are lectures, procedure and cadaver labs, an ACLS instructor course, ATLS, and supervised shifts in the ED.
  • Pediatric ED: This is one month of shifts solely in our Level I Pediatric ED working under EM, Pediatric, and Pediatric EM faculty. The focus is on recognition and management of pediatric emergent and ambulatory patient presentations.
  • OB/Anesthesia: This month incorporates two weeks each of OB/Gyn and Anesthesia. The OB rotation is at LBJ hospital, which has over 6000 deliveries per year. On the Anesthesia rotation, the EM resident will gain experience with intubations and airway techniques for adults and children in the OR setting with direct faculty supervision.
  • CCU: The resident is an integral part of the cardiology ward and cardiac ICU team for patient care. The resident will be supervised by Cardiology faculty involved with cutting edge research and national trials. The new Memorial Hermann - TMC Cardiovascular Institute opened in April 2008 with six additional cardiac catheterization labs and 116 beds.
  • Emergency Radiology: The resident spends two weeks with the Emergency Radiology team reviewing plain films with ED Radiology fellowship trained faculty and Radiology fellows. The additional two weeks are spent learning fundamental principles of radiology with experience in the CT neuro and body rooms, the pediatric radiology suite, and the interventional radiology suite. Residents have no night or weekend call but work two shifts in the ED during the course of the month.
  • Orthopedics: The EM resident participates in ED call, ward coverage, overnight call, clinic, and gains extensive experience with the acute diagnosis and management of orthopedic and spine injuries, including splinting, fracture reduction, Steinman pin placement, ED fluoroscopy, and other procedures. Supervision is via dedicated ED Orthopedic faculty and upper level Orthopedic residents. Orthopedic faculty members also provide care for the different Houston sports teams, and residents will work in clinic with these faculty.
  • MICU: This rotation involves four weeks gaining experience, technical skills, and knowledge of all aspects of care of critically ill medical patients.
  • Combined EMS and ED month: The resident gains experience with Houston Fire Department (HFD) and the principles of EMS. One day is spent in the 911 city call center, one day with the heavy rescue team, and two shifts of ride-alongs with the HFD medical directors participating as physician command on-scene. The resident attends training programs, and participates in scene calls with HFD crews for two weeks. The additional two weeks is spent in the ED.
  • Four ED months for EM1s at Memorial Hermann - TMC
  • Resident teaching requirements during the EM1 year include presenting two 30 minute case presentations during conference, one adult and one pediatric, based on cases in which the resident was involved during the spring of the PGY1 year. Additionally, the resident will participate as an ACLS instructor.

Trauma experience: We have very close working relationships with our trauma colleagues. EM residents develop extensive experience managing multiple critically injured trauma patients through experience on the orthopedic trauma service, the STICU, NTICU, PICU, and Hand Surgery services.

Pediatric experience: Our residents gain extensive pediatric experience. Each ED month throughout the residency involves specific pediatric shifts. Pediatric patients also may be seen in the main ED. The EMI year dedicates one full month to the Pedi ED, and the EMII year has a full month at Texas Children’s hospital ED. The EMIII year has the option of PICU for those residents who elect for additional pediatric critical care experience.