Emergency medicine resident practices assisting a patient's airway

Graduate medical education in emergency medicine at Mayo Clinic

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Overview

Centered on the principle "The needs of the patient come first," the Emergency Medicine Residency in Rochester, Minnesota, provides the highest quality resident training experience through exposure to a diverse and clinically challenging patient population and academic opportunities, all in preparation for a versatile career in emergency medicine. 

Regardless of whether you pursue an academic, community, or rural setting in which to practice, you will have the skills required to make a positive impact and be successful.

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Program overview: Mayo Clinic Emergency Medicine Residency in Rochester, MN

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Program overview: Mayo Clinic Emergency Medicine Residency in Rochester, MN

At Mayo Clinic, we're a family that works together as a team to support one another.The faculty members here are diverse, and the off-service rotations are unparalleled with world-renowned staff in departments such as cardiology, orthopedics, and neurology. Renowned scholars who have written text on advanced cardiovascular life support as well as advanced trauma life support reside here, too.

Additionally, our patient population is extremely complex with a great variety of pathology.

If you're interested in research, the opportunities are endless. You also have a vast amount of resources available to pursue your own individual interest in emergency medicine.

Lastly — and this is probably one of the most important reasons to train here — you, the resident, play not only an integral role in designing the program, but also a crucial one.

Accreditation

The three-year Emergency Medicine Residency is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Program history

The Emergency Medicine Residency began training its first resident in 2000. Since then, more than 100 residents have completed training in the program. Each year, nine residents are welcomed into the residency.

Frequently asked questions (and answers)

What types of patients will I see in a week working in the emergency department?

On average and depending on your postgraduate level of training, you will see anywhere from one to three patients an hour. In a week of seeing "average" patients, you will see a dozen patients with chest pains, one or two of whom will have ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) on their electrocardiograms (ECGs). You'll also work on many overdoses; abdominal catastrophes, such as abdominal aortic aneurysms, perforations and mesenteric ischemia; and several gastrointestinal bleeds.

You will perform several procedures each week secondary to any number of medical conditions, such as flash pulmonary edema, and see about a half-dozen patients with syncope and trauma. Several patients will have fractures for numerous reasons.

You will see many patients with atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate, and you will convert a patient's rhythm either chemically or electrically depending on the clinical scenario.

How is the relationship between trauma surgery and the emergency department?

To summarize it in one word: excellent. Our trauma teams are composed of half emergency medicine residents and half surgery residents. The trauma teams have excellent communication during the resuscitations, and we work very well together. We work hand in hand with surgery residents during our surgical intensive care unit (SICU) months. This is a great time to bond and establish relationships that are needed for communication later in the emergency department.

How is the pediatric experience at Mayo Clinic?

We spend about 20% of each month in the pediatric emergency medicine care area. We see the seasonal variation inherent in pediatrics. Additionally, in the first year, you have a dedicated month seeing pediatric emergency medicine patients. The teaching is excellent — our pediatric emergency medicine faculty members frequently receive teaching awards.

How can I get good emergency medicine training at a place that only sees "zebras"?

While Mayo Clinic is a referral center for all of southeastern Minnesota, southwestern Wisconsin, and northern Iowa — and yes, many parts of the rest of the world — it is also a primary caregiver for all of southeastern Minnesota. This is the heartland of the Midwest. The majority of what we see is bread-and-butter cases from local and surrounding rural and urban community patients. The zebras only drop in a minority of the time.

Emergency medicine residents practice in the simulation center

Your training experience

As a resident at Mayo Clinic, you'll have access to robust clinical, educational, and research resources. You'll find support inside and outside of the campus to promote wellness and ensure work/life balance.

More about the curriculum

More about life as a resident

Program director James Homme, M.D.

More from Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education

Mayo Clinic resident checking heartbeat of teen patient

Choosing Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic campus in Rochester, Minnesota.
Campus and community

Rochester, MN

Group of consultant, nurse, and residents discussing case in hallway at Mayo Clinic.

Stipend and benefits