Educational Highlights

At first glance many residency programs appear to offer a very similar experience. The following are some features of NYHQ which we believe really distinguish us from the rest of the pack.

International Emergency Medicine 

We treat a diverse population of patients in our busy emergency department. Over 120 languages are spoken by our patients and a major focus of our department is on understanding and improving emergency medical care for new Americans. We encourage our resident and attending physicians to engage in international emergency medicine exchanges to further our department’s understanding of diversity in emergency medicine. Many residents have taken advantage of overseas experiences with recent rotation sites that include: China, Dubai, Israel, Africa, Brazil and Mexico. The goals of our international program are:

• Learn about the medical, socioeconomic, cultural, political, psychobiological and epidemiological forces affecting patients and providers
• Develop clinical and technical skills to improve the practice of emergency medicine in the home country
• Study a core set of readings on issues shaping the international and cross-cultural practice of emergency medicine
• Analyze differences and similarities between the emergency medicine systems at home and abroad
• Improve understanding of basic language, cultural norms, and medical expectations of patients and providers
• Explore key health issues relevant to immigrant patient populations

In 2007, we established an exchange program with the Emergency Medicine Department at Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing, one of the premier teaching hospitals in China.

Ultrasound

Residents at NYHQ have the opportunity to receive superb training in bedside emergency ultrasound. There are several fellowship-trained Ultrasound Attendings who work with residents both in formal bedside teaching shifts as well as regular clinical shifts. The Ultrasound Division is strengthened by the two ultrasound fellows that NYHQ trains each year. Ultrasound is formally taught in the curriculum via lectures given during conference throughout the year, and during dedicated ultrasound rotations in both the PGY-1 and PGY-2 years. Presently our department has 4 ultrasound machines that are readily available to residents for clinical or teaching purposes. The Ultrasound Division is very active in teaching and research, and many residents have chosen to do research projects in this area. Additionally there is an opportunity for residents to travel to Tanzania, Africa where NYHQ has an ongoing outreach project training practitioners to use portable ultrasound in a rural setting where other diagnostic modalities such as X-ray or CT are not readily available.

Simulation Lab

NYHQ maintains a state-of-the-art simulation laboratory that is used extensively for resident teaching and training. During the course of the academic year, the lab serves as the setting for testing both procedural and medical/surgical/pediatric resuscitation competency. In addition, Tuesday morning rounds take place weekly in the lab. During these rounds, the residents engage in hands on, interactive, multidisciplinary scenarios that focus on topics including Management of STEMI, Stroke, Cardiac Arrest to name of a few.

Research

Many faculty are very active in research activities and there is ample opportunity for residents to obtain a significant experience in this area. These efforts have the full support of the Department as there are from 5 to 10 part-time research associates and a full-time, salaried research coordinator available to assist residents with projects. A majority of our residents are able to present their work at a national-level academic conference.