So, you have decided that you want to go into Emergency Medicine. Congratulations on choosing an exciting and dynamic field...then again, we are biased! Seriously though, EM is a great field that is growing in popularity each year. This is both good news and bad news. The good news is that the recognition of EM as a true specialty is increasing; the bad news is that so is the applicant pool! With good planning and a bit of hard work, you too can match at a program of your choice. As others before us have stated, the book by Iserson (an emergency medicine residency program director) is essential reading. To those of you interested in emergency medicine, the rotation at BUSM is a must. It is essential to connect with faculty from your institution in the field in which you plan to apply, and this is a great opportunity to work with the faculty, choose an advisor if you have not already done so, and to do well in order to get strong letters of recommendation. You want to do this rotation EARLY, most importantly to confirm that emergency medicine is right for you, and that you are right for emergency medicine. BU has a very respected and established residency program in emergency medicine. Thus, you will not only be taught by very capable faculty and residents, but you can also get an insider’s view into the BU program and the collective residents’ experience. Additionally, if you like the BU program and shine in the rotation, then your matching potential at BU will definitely increase. Finally, by completing this rotation early you may do an away rotation later and stun the faculty there with your great knowledge and skill. Both of these should also be done in a time allowing for your evaluations to be included in your Dean’s Letter, i.e. before October.

If you are thinking of emergency medicine before you finish third year, you may want to try and "hang out" in the ER when time allows. Consider asking the faculty or one of the residents if you can "shadow" them for a shift or two. Not only will you get to experience the life of an EM physician, you will be able to meet some of the faculty and perhaps find an advisor. If you are not sure of how to arrange this, try and contact Dr. Judy Linden. She is the student coordinator for the department and the residency program director, and she is an enthusiastic supporter of students. She can help you find an advisor, and will happily arrange for you to do some shifts in the department. She is a great resource, and is very supportive of students’ efforts to match in emergency medicine. Another person you should consider talking to is Todd Rothenhaus, the former clerkship director who has also served as an advisor in the past for many students.

The average number of programs applied to is around 15. After writing to programs and receiving brochures, you should be asking for letters of recommendation. As a rule, it is best to have one to two letters from EM faculty, and another from the attending from your Sub-Internship. Whether it is a medicine, surgery, or pediatric Sub-I is less important than how you perform. Work hard, show interest, and present yourself in a professional manner. If you do this, you should get a strong letter. If not, think long and hard before asking for that letter.

As for a structured timetable for the application process, and what to expect and look for on the interview trail, we again refer you to Iserson’s book. It is all laid out there in a easy to follow format, and with much more information than we could ever supply. Best of luck, and we look forward to seeing you in the Emergency Department!!