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 III 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.

  • Administrative ED Rotation: Two weeks of the month incorporate extensive administrative experience in EM for the resident with discussions about billing and coding, budget, quality assurance, and the general business of EM. The EMIII also participates as junior faculty on 6 supervisory shifts, allowing the resident to function in the attending role with direct attending supervision.
  • NeuroTrauma ICU (NTICU) or Pediatric ICU (PICU): The senior resident may choose either the NeuroTrauma ICU or Pediatric ICU experience depending on his or her educational goals. The NeuroTrauma ICU allows the resident to manage critically ill neurosurgical patients 1:1 with critical care faculty. The PICU allows the resident to manage critically ill pediatric patients, both traumatic and medical, with direct supervision by PICU faculty and fellows. Many residents choose both ICU experiences.
  • Elective month (see options below)
  • Community ED month at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital: This rotation allows the senior resident experience to practice in a community ED setting in northwest Houston with board certified Emergency Medicine faculty, allowing the resident to gain additional experience with efficiency and patient care in a setting different from the primary residency training site.
  • Seven ED months at Memorial Hermann - TMC involving principles of ED management as a whole, progressive responsibility in supervising medical students and junior residents, and a focus on advanced principles of patient and departmental management.
  • Resident teaching requirements involve two 30 minute focused topic presentations and one 60 minute grand rounds presentation during the course of the EMIII year. The resident will also participate as an ACLS instructor. The resident will supervise medical students during and participate in medical student focused teaching sessions.
EM Resident Electives
  • EMS/Lifeflight
  • Toxicology at the Regional Poison Center, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
  • Emergency Ultrasound
  • PICU, NTICU, STICU
  • ENT/Ophthalmology/Dental combined rotation
  • Difficult airway/Advanced Anesthesia
  • Research month
  • Other rotations considered upon request, planning, and funding

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.