The first choice that residents may consider is living is the city vs. the suburbs/county. Baltimore city, like many other cities, has a lot to offer and is attractive due the proximity to work, local restaurants, museums, shops, and entertainment. Some of the popular neighborhoods in the city include Fell’s Point, Canton, and Mount Vernon. Fell’s Point is the oldest part of the city and is located in the southeast part of the city. It has been a favorite attraction for young and old alike, with its cobblestone streets, pubs, and eclectic stores & boutiques. It is about 10 - 15 minutes from the hospital. Further east is Canton, a hip, urban neighborhood attractive to many young professionals. It is an area where sprawling factories have been converted into the most stylish restaurants, retail & entertainment venues. Travel time to the hospital is about a 15 minute drive. Mount Vernon is in the cultural district of town and is home to the music conservatory, art museums, and international cuisine. It, too, is about a 10 minute drive to the hospital. Other favorite city neighborhoods include Federal Hill (south), Mt. Washington (north), and downtown Baltimore. Downtown is desirable to some, given that they are in walking distance to the hospital. There are many living options consisting of studios, apartments, lofts, and condos. Suburban living, for those who prefer to live outside of the hustle and bustle of city life, can be found in the various counties of Baltimore: i.e. Baltimore, Howard, and Anne Arundel counties. Several of the popular areas for residents in Baltimore County include Catonsville (to the west), Owings Mills (northwest), Towson (north), and White Marsh (northeast). You will definitely need a car to travel to & from the hospital, with travel times varying between 20-40 minutes. Common cities chosen in Howard County include Columbia and Laurel. If you are looking to be closer to D.C., these cities offer this convenience. Pasadena and Glen Burnie (in Anne Arundel County) are yet more options, located to the south and southeast of Baltimore. Available links: www.ci.baltimore.md.us http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov
The Baltimore area has many options for various activities for its residents. The Inner Harbor is a focal point of downtown Baltimore, with its array of specialty boutiques, restaurants, outdoor concerts, street performers, and small watercrafts. For the sports enthusiast, fans can cheer for Baltimore teams (or their hometown teams) at Camden Yards (home of the Orioles) or at M&T Bank Stadium (home of the NFL Ravens). There are over 175 miles of shore land & 60 marinas for boaters and fishermen. Walking/nature trails and hiking are easy to experience for those interested in the vast Baltimore County parklands (including Patapsco Valley & Gunpowder Falls state parks). For the music and art enthusiast, Baltimore offer performances at the Peabody Conservatory of Music and the Hippodrome. Art exhibits can be viewed at the Walter Art Museum and the Baltimore Museum of Art. Other attractions available for visitors and residents include the National Aquarium, Baltimore Zoo, Maryland Science Center, and the new Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African-American History and Culture. Also, one should not pass up the opportunity to visit the many free museums and monuments in Washington D.C. A few examples of such renowned places include the Smithsonian, (National Gallery of Art, National Museum of American History, National Museum of Natural History too name a few), the National Mall and the World War II Memorial. Lastly, the state capital (Annapolis, MD) also has several points of interest, like the U.S. Naval Academy and its museum, the State House, and the City Dock (for entertainment). Available links: www.thingstodobaltimore.com
Our residents come from a variety of backgrounds and from all over the country. Some are married, some are single. Many have children. Residents frequently get together in their off hours to socialize and go out.
The majority come from medical schools in the mid-Atlantic region. However, we have residents from New York to Louisiana, Virginia to California.
Our residents have both MD and DO degrees. Many have advanced degrees in the sciences, public health, research or law. All of them excel clinically and academically.
Since our residents come from a variety of backgrounds with varying interests, they go into different kinds of practice. About half choose academics. Many have gone on to fellowships including research, emergency ultrasonography, and EMS.
Residents have the opportunity to work in a variety of clinical environments during their Emergency Medicine residency training. The primary facility is the University of Maryland Medical Center, which houses a 55-bed Emergency Department and sees an average of 46,000 adult and 19,000 pediatric visits per year. All levels of Emergency Medicine residents train in the department, supervised by board-certified Emergency Medicine attending physicians. PGY-1 residents play an integral role in the evaluation, treatment, and medical decision-making for virtually every patient seen in the ED. They work closely with the supervising senior resident and attending on each case. During the PGY-2 year, residents have the opportunity to function more independently, although still under the guidance and supervision an attending physician. They also work with medical students and junior residents, conducting bedside clinical teaching and assisting junior residents with procedures. PGY-3 residents are responsible for the supervision of all patient care within the Department. They work closely with interns on each case, providing guidance, teaching, and clinical support. They are responsible for the “flow” of patients within the Department, ensuring appropriate communication with medical consultants and admitting teams, and coordinating patient treatment and disposition plans with the attending physician. The Baltimore VA Medical Center contains a 22-bed Emergency Department which sees approximately 32,000 patient visits per year. Both PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents obtain clinical experience at this site where they work exclusively with supervising EM attendings. The site offers extensive experience in the treatment of a unique population of high-acuity patients. Mercy Medical Center’s 42-bed Emergency Department manages 45,000 patients per year, and provides a site where PGY-2 residents work closely with attending physicians in an urban community setting. Shifts are scheduled such that only one EM resident is present in the Department at any given time. This allows residents the opportunity to select interesting cases, perform all invasive physician-level procedures, manage acute resuscitations, and work with a variety of attending physicians. During the senior year, residents may choose to rotate at either Baltimore-Washington Medical Center or Washington County Hospital. These sites offer additional EM experience in suburban and semi-rural environments, respectively. Here residents gain experience in busy community Emergency Medicine practices.
Residents obtain experience treating pediatric patients at several clinical sites. University of Maryland Medical Center’s Emergency Department sees approximately 19,000 pediatric cases per year. Residents work designated months during the first two years and several shifts each month during the final year in the Pediatric ED, and are supervised by board-certified Pediatric Emergency Medicine attendings. Residents also spend two months of Emergency Medicine training at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. This urban tertiary-care pediatric hospital’s ED treats approximately 65,000 patients per year, and is a Level 1 pediatric trauma center. A designated month of pediatric airway management with pediatric anesthesiologists is incorporated into the third year of residency. Additional experience is gained at both Baltimore-Washington Medical Center and Washington County Hospital. University of Maryland is also one of only three locations in the country to offer a 5-year EM/Pediatrics combined residency program.
The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center is the only free-standing trauma hospital in the nation, and the birthplace of the concept of “The Golden Hour”. A Level 1 trauma center, it receives over 7,000 trauma patients per year. Residents participate in four months of designated training at Shock Trauma, during which they become well-versed in the latest techniques in the evaluation and treatment of acute traumatic injury. Specific training in airway management of traumatically injured patients is gained through an additional month of trauma anesthesia.
The use of ultrasound has become an integral part of the practice of Emergency Medicine. Ultrasound techniques and utilization are practiced throughout all of the clinical Emergency Departments at which residents train. A designated month of ultrasound training is also incorporated into the clinical curriculum for each year of residency. The Focused Assessment of Sonography for Trauma (FAST) exam is utilized in the initial evaluation of every trauma patient at Shock Trauma. Residents become adept at both ultrasound-guided peripheral and central venous access, as well as incorporating ultrasound in the diagnostic evaluation of the aorta, hepatobiliary system, heart, kidneys, gravid uterus, and soft tissue. Ultrasound is utilized in virtually all acute resuscitations, including cardiopulmonary arrest. University of Maryland also offers an ultrasound fellowship training program.
PGY-1 residents receive seven months of training in various Emergency Department settings, including two months of designated pediatric Emergency Medicine. The remainder of the year includes four-week rotations in the following areas: trauma, obstetrics, anesthesia/ultrasound, inpatient cardiology service, and two ICU months. PGY-2 residents receive ten months of training in various Emergency Department settings, including two months of designated pediatric Emergency Medicine. Other rotations include trauma, EMS/toxicology/ultrasound, and trauma anesthesia. PGY-3 residents receive seven months of Emergency Medicine training. Additional rotations include pediatric anesthesia/ultrasound, two months of trauma, and three elective months. One month may serve as an away-elective, including options for international rotations.