Letter from the Department Chairman   

 We have the longest standing ACGME accredited EM program in Cleveland, having started in 1991 at MetroHealth Medical Center. We have since expanded to include the Cleveland Clinic, an initiative that began in 1996. This partnership gives us the opportunity to educate our residents in caring for a wide variety of problems in a diverse set of patients. In addition, we achieved departmental status at Case Western Reserve University in 2002, providing many opportunities to expand our medical student teaching program as well as our research programs.

MetroHealth Medical Center is a unique, award-winning, county hospital. The Emergency Department experience is enhanced by a large population of pediatric patients, who are seen in an integrated manner with the rest of the patients, and an active trauma service. We have a wonderful relationship with trauma surgery, fostering the training of both the EM and surgery residents. The emergency department manages MetroLife Flight, one of the largest hospital based aeromedical transport systems around. We also have an active ultrasound program, teaching the residents the use of this tool in managing trauma, OB, abdominal pain, and guided procedures. We sponsor an ultrasound fellowship that has successfully trained a number of fellows.

Cleveland Clinic serves an international patient base with problems ranging from the routine to the rare. About 25% of the resident's training occurs at Cleveland Clinic and is heavily weighted towards cardiovascular, neurologic, and oncologic emergencies. The faculty at both institutions have an integrated approach to education and hold clinical appointments at each hospital. Both hospitals participate actively in the residency program including the lecture series, the outside journal clubs, and residency administration. The CCF sponsors our cardiovascular research fellowship.

We have an active research program involving both animal and clinical studies. This includes programs in asthma/COPD research, cardiac drug toxicity, geriatric issues in EM, pediatric studies, congestive heart failure, stroke and cardiac ischemia. The faculty have won awards from a variety of organizations for their research. Many of our residents have participated in these research studies and have published based on their work.

Many of our faculty are active in organized Emergency Medicine. The past president of ABEM is on our staff as are many faculty with committee or leadership appointments within SAEM and ACEP.

We are most proud of our ability to educate physicians in emergency medicine. Over  the last 17 years, we have graduated many residents into both academic and community practices. Our graduates have a reputation for great clinical skills, leadership qualities, and an excellent academic background. It is a tradition that we continue to expand as our program evolves.

Please feel free to contact us if you need further information. The residency coordinator can be reached at (216) 778-5088 or email at emresidency@metrohealth.org.

Sincerely,

Charles L. Emerman, MD FACEP
Chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine
Case Western Reserve University
MetroHealth Medical Center

Associate Chief of Staff for Quality and Patient Safety