Overview

The EVMS School of Health Professions and Emergency Physicians of Tidewater (EPT) are collaborating to sponsor a Physician Assistant (PA) Fellowship Program in Emergency Medicine. This unique program builds upon the strength of our highly successful and fully accredited PA program, combined with one of the largest and most effective emergency medicine physician practices in Virginia. Fellows accepted into the program will simultaneously be full-time EVMS students and employees of EPT.

Graduates of this one-year Fellowship Program will possess substantial skills, knowledge and competencies required in the field of emergency medicine. The PA profession continues to be ranked among the fastest growing career opportunities, and EPT continues to be the state’s single largest employers of physician assistants.

Mission

To educate and train highly motivated physician assistants in the challenging and diverse knowledge base and procedurals skills required for excellence in clinical practice in emergency medicine.

Educational Curriculum

This dynamic program includes didactic instruction and clinical training components that students will complete over 52 weeks.

Didactic Education

• Weekly Academic Conference: The backbone of the didactic educational program is five hours of weekly emergency medicine conference. During this time, topics germane to the clinical practice of emergency medicine are covered in a traditional lecture format lasting one hour each. Attendance and participation at academic conference is mandatory. In addition to the 4 hours of weekly lecture, there is a chief resident led question and answer session based upon the weekly reading assignment.
• Certification Courses: Fellows will become certified in ACLS, PALS and ATLS. Instructor certification is strongly recommended for those with the aptitude.
• Journal Club: Evidence based medicine and best practice models will be taught to the fellows in a monthly journal club format.
• Ultrasound: Every fellow will complete a 2 day (16 hour) emergency ultrasound course which combines traditional didactics with hands-on ultrasound experience.
• Examinations: In addition to the monthly post-rotation exams, there is both a mid-term and a final examination which must be successfully passed to complete the fellowship.
• Simulation Medicine: The fellow will participate in multiple simulation educational modules to hone their skills in a consequences free environment to include:

• Basic airway management
• Advanced airway management
• Physician’s Skills Lab
• Mega-code and trauma code modules
• Live Animal Lab: Twice yearly, each fellow will participate in a live animal skills lab to master emergency medicine procedural skills.

Clinical Education

Each month of clinical practice has associated with it a set of curriculum objectives, reading assignments, and a post-rotation examination to document mastery of the required material.

• Emergency Medicine - 8 months
• Trauma Surgery and Critical Care - 1 month
• Pediatric Emergency Medicine - 1 month
• Medical Intensive Care - 1 month
• Surgical Subspecialty - 2 weeks
• Ultrasound - 2 weeks

Stipend

Fellows will receive a $50,000 annual stipend as an employee of Emergency Physicians of Tidewater, beginning July 1, 2009.

Financial Aid

Fellows may be eligible to receive a deferment on payments for current student loans. Deferments must be requested of and approved by the lender. Candidates should contact the EVMS Office of Financial Aid for additional information.

Admission Requirements

• Graduation from an ARC-PA accredited program, with preference given to master's degree candidates. To be competitive, applicants should have graduated with a minimum of 3.0 grade point average in their PA program. Academic performance will be considered in the selection process.
• Certified (or certification eligible) Physician Assistant in good standing.

Application Process

• The application process is open November 1 - December 31, 2009, with late applications considered if a position is still available. Click here to submit your application.
• Provide a personal statement of not more than 250 words expressing your desire and qualifications for the fellowship position.
• Provide two letters of recommendation in support of your application - one of the letters must be from your PA program director.

Please submit all supporting documents, including transcripts to:

Rose Mwayungu, Director of Enrollment
EVMS, School of Health Professions
Lewis Hall
700 W. Olney Road, Suite 1100
Norfolk, VA 23507

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