What does your program offer that residents can’t get anywhere else? 

The University of Utah Emergency Medicine program offers exceptional training due to our large catchment area and rotations at both rural/underserved sites and two Level 1 trauma centers. We support our residents’ individual journeys and know no two residents are the same. We offer elective time in both PGY2 and PGY3 years to allow residents to further customize their training experience. Our rotations are curated to ensure residents receive the best possible training at various hospitals across the valley—such as pediatric anesthesia at Primary Children’s Hospital in Lehi, Utah. This allows our residents to graduate with the ability to practice in any setting they choose—critical access, community, or academic.

In the emergency department, we use a team approach and pair resident’s one on one with attendings. Shift lengths are 9/8/7 hours and residents work 20 shifts in PGY1, 18 in PGY2, and 17 in PGY3 during a 28-day block. We value our sign-out culture and love our consultants! There are no limitations to which patients can be seen by interns or residents, ensuring our residents have valuable training in managing varying acuities each shift. There are ample teaching opportunities for residents, including on-shift teaching, ultrasound, simulation, and didactics. We love it here and hope you will too!

What are some fun activities residents like to partake in or recently participated in? 

Our residency has a motto—work hard, be honest, be kind. Our residents love the outdoors but also have many indoor hobbies. Outside, you can find them biking, hiking, climbing, attending concerts, gardening, and riding the snow on skis/snowboards. They have one winter conference a year outside, doing wilderness medicine training and enjoying the snow. We also have a long weekend retreat every June with all the residents for fun activities and team building. Inside, the residents enjoy reading, baking, playing board games, drinking delicious hot and cold beverages, hanging out with each other, and more. Recently, a big group gathered for pumpkin carving.

How should potential applicants learn more about your program? 

Check out our Instagram (@utahemergencymedicine) and our website, https://medicine.utah.edu/emergency-medicine/residency.