DIDACTIC CURRICULUM
Every Thursday, our residents have 5 hours of protected educational didactics. We also offer other avenues for asynchronous conference credit.
We deliver educational content through an 18-month iterative curriculum, ensuring that each resident encounters the material on two separate occasions throughout their three-year residency. This curriculum is meticulously designed to engage residents actively, incorporating frequent small group sessions, faculty-led discussions, and hands-on skill laboratories. To facilitate focused learning, the content is organized into distinct blocks, allowing for a structured and comprehensive exploration of each topic.
Core Content
Our curriculum closely follows the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) Model of Clinical Practice, with content organized into key sections, supplemented by quarterly Toxicology Rounds and specialized ultrasound days. Alongside regular lectures by our Emergency Medicine faculty, we frequently host guest speakers from various medical specialties.
We also hold monthly Morbidity & Mortality (M&M) conferences, presented by our EM3 residents, and Follow-up Rounds led by our EM2 residents. Collaboration is a key focus, with joint ultrasound training, Disaster Medicine/EMS sessions, an annual CPC competition, and a Critical Care conference involving nearby Emergency Medicine programs. These activities enhance our residents’ learning and professional development through shared experiences with other institutions.
Procedure Days and Cadaver Lab
Our approach to procedural training is thoughtfully integrated throughout our didactic curriculum, aligning specific procedures with relevant topics to reinforce learning in a contextual and meaningful way. To ensure comprehensive exposure, we also designate dedicated procedure days for less common but critical skills, utilizing a range of instructional modalities including conferences, resuscitation scenarios, and simulation sessions tailored to the procedure being taught.
Additionally, we host an annual Cadaver Lab day, a highly anticipated event among residents and faculty alike, providing an invaluable opportunity to practice complex, high-stakes procedures in a realistic and controlled environment.
Professional and Career Development: Transitions Conferences
Twice each year, we organize a comprehensive conference focused on the critical transition from residency to professional physician life. Titled Transitions, this event features in-depth discussions on a variety of essential topics, including strategies for managing and repaying student loans, approaches to investing in retirement plans, guidance on purchasing a home or vehicle, and techniques for effectively negotiating employment contracts. Recognizing the importance of support systems, we extend invitations to the significant others of our third-year residents to participate in these sessions. Following the conference, our faculty and EM3 residents gather for an informal lunch, providing an opportunity for mentorship and camaraderie. This annual event is highly anticipated and consistently ranks among the most valued experiences by our residents as they prepare to embark on their careers.
Simulation
Throughout the academic year, we conduct simulation labs asynchronously during our didactic sessions, allowing residents to engage in hands-on practice with a variety of complex cases, including medical, obstetric, neonatal, and trauma scenarios at the Wayne State University School of Medicine Kado Clinical Skills Center. These high-fidelity simulations are designed to reinforce critical skills and enhance the effectiveness of team-based roles and communication across all levels of emergency medicine training. By immersing residents in realistic, high-pressure environments, we aim to refine their clinical decision-making and interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring they are well-prepared to handle the challenges of real-world emergency care.