Experience with a multidisciplinary emergency medicine clerkship

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Introduction of a mandatory emergency medicine clerkship in 1979 for senior medical students.
• The clerkship was coordinated by the Department of Surgery with interdisciplinary support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the structure and impact of a novel emergency medicine clerkship.
• To evaluate the integration of clinical and academic components in emergency medicine training.

Main Methods:

• Combined clinical participation in emergency care.
• Included a balanced academic program: lectures, conferences, and advanced cardiac life-support (ACLS) training.

Main Results:

• The emergency medicine clerkship became a popular and productive educational experience.
• The program stimulated positive changes within the emergency unit.

Conclusions:

• A structured emergency medicine clerkship can enhance medical training.
• Integrated academic and clinical programs positively impact emergency care settings.