The clinical schedule is designed to provide the educational experiences necessary to achieve clinical competence in the broad field of emergency medicine in only three years. Each rotation is selected primarily for its quality educational value. Two training sites allow opportunities to select the best location for each experience.

The high quality of off-service rotations is a strong aspect of the program. The curriculum is evaluated annually and modified to best meet the educational goals. During the emergency department rotations, resident responsibilities are progressively graduated during the three years. Senior residents function relatively independently by the end of their training.

An average of at least five hours per week are scheduled for core conferences in Emergency Medicine like grand rounds, morbidity and mortality conference, resident lectures. Clinical rotation schedules are arranged to allow maximum attendance. At these weekly conferences, faculty from both training sites participate, and emergency medicine practitioners give the vast majority of lectures. Outside guest lecturers also participate as visiting professors.

Residents have progressive lecture responsibilities to develop teaching and public speaking skills. A monthly journal club is held outside the hospital to discuss selected topics, help develop medical review skills, and socialize in a relaxed atmosphere. Advanced certification in ACLS and APLS are offered early in the training program. The Department offers national postgraduate Continuing Medical Education conferences at nearby resorts, which are available free to the the residents.

The emergency department at UC Davis Medical Center sees approximately 60,000 patients each year, with a high proportion (nearly 30 percent) requiring admission due to the severity of their illness or injury. More than 60 percent of all hospital patients are admitted through the emergency department. UC Davis Medical Center is the only level I trauma center for inland northern California and averages 4,000 critical trauma admissions per year (in the top five nationally).  Eighty percent of these admissions are due to blunt trauma.

UC Davis Medical Center serves as a base station for 911 ambulance calls throughout the Sacramento area. The medical center is also the site of the very busy Northern California Regional Poison Control Center.  Residents are required to ride-along with ground EMS units, and also have the option of serving as a helicopter crew member during the EMS rotation.

The emergency department has 42 patient beds and will open a new larger, state-of-the-art facility in 2009. It also has a dedicated pediatric area, and in-department radiology and stat laboratory facilities. The patient population in the UC Davis Medical Center emergency department is a mix of general county patients, true tertiary referrals and the full range of blunt and penetrating trauma patients. There is plenty of direct "hands-on" experience for the residents. However, UC Davis Medical Center has a much higher level of ancillary care support than generally exists at county hospitals.

The Kaiser Emergency Department sees about 50,000 patients per year, providing residents with the experience of a community-based emergency department within in a highly managed health care system. The patient population at Kaiser Hospital is very different from UC Davis Medical Center and provides an ideal complement of clinical experiences. In addition, the health care delivery system at Kaiser is also quite different. This HMO experience is advantageous for training physicians for future practice in a managed care environment.

We are committed to research in emergency medicine for multiple reasons. We feel it is an integral part of the comprehensive education and growth of residents, and that it also has a paramount role in the academic development of the specialty. All residents are required to participate in research, and senior residents present their project at our annual resident research day.

The Department provides statistical and computer support. Clinical research is facilitated within the emergency department, with opportunities for resident involvement in basic science research. We expect our residents to have the opportunity to become future leaders in academic emergency medicine.

The UC Davis emergency department offers exceptional suite of benefits and competitive wages.  For an overview of the outstanding advantages of UC employment, please click here.