Henry Ford Health/Henry Ford Macomb Hospital Program

Overview of the Henry Ford Macomb Hospital Emergency Medicine Residency Program

The Emergency Medicine Residency at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital is a dynamic three-year ACGME-accredited program designed to cultivate skilled and compassionate emergency medicine specialists. It operates within a busy healthcare system, admitting more than 25,000 patients annually, and serves a diverse, high-acuity patient population in the rapidly growing Macomb County area, a suburb of Metro Detroit. Residents will encounter a wide range of emergency medical cases, providing ample opportunity for developing clinical expertise in real-world settings.

The program emphasizes a well-rounded experience, ensuring comprehensive training through a curriculum that incorporates advanced didactic education and supervised clinical practice in the emergency department, critical care units, and various community-based settings.

Curriculum and Rotations

The residency curriculum is designed to foster the development of core competencies in emergency medicine. The educational experience includes:

• Clinical rotations across various specialties, including intensive care, pediatrics, and trauma care.
• Structured didactic sessions including weekly conferences, journal clubs, and morbidity and mortality reviews.
• Research opportunities and active involvement in quality improvement initiatives.

The program follows a progression of responsibility, with the first-year residents (PGY-1) gaining foundational skills in emergency medicine, and more specialized training in critical care and community emergency medicine in subsequent years (PGY-2 and PGY-3).

Training Sites

Most clinical training occurs at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital, a 361-bed facility that is recognized as a Level II Trauma Center. Key features of the training environment include:

• A state-of-the-art emergency department with 50 beds segmented into critical, acute, and prompt care areas.
• Affiliated training sites such as the prestigious Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center for trauma rotations and the Children’s Hospital of Michigan for pediatric emergency medicine.

This combination of facilities supports a comprehensive educational experience, exposing residents to a broad spectrum of clinical cases and treatment methodologies.

Research Opportunities

Residents in the program are encouraged to engage in scholarly activities that enhance their training. This includes:

• Participation in original research initiatives and presentations at academic conferences.
• Involvement in peer-reviewed publications and contributions to educational resources.
• Opportunities to collaborate with faculty mentors on impactful quality improvement projects.

The program supports residents in pursuing their research interests, providing the resources and mentoring necessary to foster an environment of continuous learning and improvement.

Visa Support and Application Competitiveness

The residency program sponsors J-1 visas for international medical graduates (IMGs) and mandates that all IMGs must obtain ECFMG certification prior to the start of residency. The program is considered highly competitive; however, it is known to be friendly towards DO students and IMGs, examining qualifications holistically.

Application Requirements

Applicants are expected to meet certain prerequisites, which include:

• Preferred scores for USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, and COMLEX exams generally starting from a passing score of 220 and COMLEX Step 2 CE around 470.
• All applicants must have passed USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CS or their COMLEX equivalents before beginning residency.
• Completion of an Application through ERAS is required, and three letters of recommendation are necessary, including a standardized letter of evaluation (SLOE) for EM.

Typically, the first review of applications begins in the fall, and candidates are encouraged to ensure their documents reflect a commitment to scholarly pursuits and leadership.

Unique Aspects of the Program

The Henry Ford Macomb Emergency Medicine Residency values a collaborative approach to learning, promoting a culture where residents and faculty frequently interact and support one another. This supportive environment is pivotal in preparing residents to make critical decisions in high-stress situations typical within emergency medicine. Specific unique opportunities include:

• Access to an advanced Center for Simulation, Education, and Research, enriching hands-on training through simulated scenarios.
• Regular participation in multi-disciplinary case conferences with faculty from various specialties.
• Structured mentorship and career guidance, enhancing residency experience and helping shape future career paths.

Residents are actively involved in shaping their training experience, providing feedback on the curriculum and participating in recruitment processes, emphasizing a sense of community and collaboration.

Faculty and Resident Community

The program boasts an experienced faculty consisting of 17 emergency medicine board-certified attendings, including core faculty dedicated to resident education. This multi-faceted approach allows residents to learn directly from a diverse pool of instructors, each bringing unique experiences and expertise to the program. The environment is described as having a 'family-like' culture, where camaraderie among residents and faculty fosters a supportive and collegial atmosphere.