Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Program

The Emergency Medicine Residency Program at Wake Forest University School of Medicine offers an expansive and reputable training opportunity for those interested in the field of Emergency Medicine (EM). Established in 1974, it holds the distinction of being the oldest EM residency program in the Southeast and one of the pioneering programs in the United States. The program is housed at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, an 885-bed tertiary care institution affiliated with the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. The emergency department at this Level I adult and pediatric trauma center experiences an annual volume of more than 110,000 patient visits, exposing residents to a wide spectrum of human illness.

Program Highlights:

• Clinical Training: The program emphasizes outstanding clinical training in both university and community settings, offering a combined census of approximately 200,000 patient visits per year across the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and Moses Cone Memorial Hospital sites. This ensures a comprehensive exposure to emergency medicine practices.
• Pediatrics and Critical Care: Residents receive exceptional training in pediatrics and critical care, including significant exposure to pediatric patients both in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and the emergency department. Around 20% of ED shifts are dedicated to pediatric care. Residents also complete five primary ICU rotations, enabling ample experience with critically ill patients and advanced resuscitation and therapeutic interventions.
• Graded Responsibility: The residency program is designed around the concept of graded responsibility, where residents' responsibilities increase progressively with each year, enhancing their autonomy and preparedness for independent practice.
• Diverse Learning Opportunities: The curriculum includes rotations in various clinical settings, such as community ED, anesthesia/ultrasound/EMS, medical ICU, obstetrics, and trauma surgery, among others. Elective rotations offer additional opportunities for specialized experiences.
• Didactics and Educational Resources: The program allocates scheduled conference time each week, ensuring residents can attend without compromising their clinical responsibilities. The conferences feature a wide range of activities and lectures, supporting residents in achieving comprehensive emergency medicine education.
• Scholarly Activity: Residents are required to complete a Scholarly Activity Project, with numerous opportunities available for collaboration with faculty on research, administrative, or educational projects.

Program Commitment to Diversity:

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist emphasizes equity, diversity, and community engagement as core values. The program actively supports underrepresented minority residents and fellows, including through initiatives like the Kennedy Hopkins Scholars program.

Application Process:

The Emergency Medicine Residency Program selects residents based on preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills, and personal qualities such as motivation and integrity, without discrimination on any basis. The program, offering 15 positions per year, does not specify restrictions based on the applicant's medical school graduation date or additional graduate medical education.

Final Thoughts:

For medical students seeking a robust and diverse training environment in Emergency Medicine, the Wake Forest University School of Medicine's residency program presents a comprehensive and prestigious opportunity. Situated in a supportive and dynamic educational and clinical setting, it prepares its graduates for successful careers in a variety of settings within the field of Emergency Medicine.