Meharry Medical College Students

Welcome to the Department of Emergency Medicine!

The Department of Emergency Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center offers multiple experiences and courses across all years of medical school to help students learn more about the specialty of emergency medicine (EM) and acquire the knowledge and skills to manage common emergencies.

Learn more about emergency medicine experiences and courses for Meharry medical students below.

Opportunities for pre-clinical and clerkship students

Observational Experiences

Interested MMC medical students should email Auda Hutto to learn more.​

Opportunities for post-clerkship students

Emergency Medicine Advanced Clinical Elective (EM ACE)

All visiting students must have completed the core clerkships at their home institution. Visiting student spots are available annually from June to September. The rotation follows the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine academic calendar, and students must be available for the duration of the rotation. 

The EM ACE will introduce medical students to emergency medicine and the initial management strategies for common life-threatening emergencies. Students will develop an approach to common undifferentiated patient complaints and a practical skill set in basic airway management, electrocardiogram interpretation, and resuscitation. During the course there are didactic sessions, procedure labs and high-fidelity simulations. 

Clinical shifts are spread across a variety of practice settings (adult and pediatrics) and offer a broad exposure to emergency care. On shift, students will work closely with emergency medicine faculty and residents to identify sick patients and develop differential diagnoses and management plan. 

Interested students should apply through AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO).

Applying to an Emergency Medicine Residency

Below is an example of a typical timeline for applying to EM residency programs. It is presented as a guide for those considering a career in emergency medicine and is not meant to replace the guidance of a trusted advisor or mentor. It does not represent the only path to pursuing an EM residency.

 

1. 
Applying to Aways
 

Winter of Year 3

  •  You will need to apply to three-five rotations. Most students only need to do one away rotation.
  • You will use VSLO to apply to most rotations.
  • Resources to find rotations include the SAEM Clerkship Directory and EMRA Match.
  • You will need a CV to apply.

2. 
Emergency Medicine Coursework

Winter/Spring Year 3

  • This is a great time to take your EM coursework.
  • VUSM students can take the integrated science course and the advanced clinical experience.

3.
Letters
 

Summer of Year 4

  • You will get at least one letter of recommendation from your home EM rotation and one from your away rotation.
  • This is a good time to think about who else can write you a letter of recommendation.
  • Information about the Standard Letter of Evaluation (SLOE) used in the EM can be found here.

4. 
Residency 
Applications

Summer/Fall Year 4

This is the time to put together your ERAS application which will include at least the following: 

  • Personal statement
  • Description of professional activities, accomplishments and research