The Emergency Medicine Clerkship is a 4-week elective rotation for M4s offered throughout the year, though students interested in applying to an EM residency are highly encouraged to take the rotation early on in the year.  The clerkship also fulfills the SOM’s critical care and AI requirements.

At the start of the rotation, students are required to attend an orientation session which will explain the mechanics of the rotation in detail.  Briefly, the clerkship consists of adult and pediatric emergency department shifts, and 1 shift in the Clinical Decision Unit (CDU).  Each ED shift is evaluated and counts as 75% of the final grade assigned.  A final exam counts for the remaining 25%.  There are dedicated student conferences most Wednesday afternoons.  Students are also expected to attend resident conference and EM Grand Rounds.

Because the ED functions as a full-service clinical unit 24/7/365, students can expect to work a variety of shifts–days, evenings and nights.  Additionally, students will be given opportunities to do procedures such as suturing and ultrasound, interpret radiologic studies and EKGs, and work one-on-one with board certified attending physicians in the evaluation and treatment of their patients.  Students will be expected to be the primary provider for their patients, similar to other interns in the ED.  Responsibilities include independently evaluating patients, formulating assessments and plans, initiating orders and consults,  arranging for appropriate dispositions, and documenting encounters in the electronic medical record.

Students applying to EM residencies may request a departmental standardized letter of evaluation (SLOE).