Thank you for your interest in the Case Western Reserve University/MetroHealth Medical Center/Cleveland Clinic Emergency Medicine Residency. As you are considering Emergency Medicine residency programs, we’d like to share with you the things that make the CWRU/MetroHealth/Cleveland Clinic Emergency Medicine program special – and made it our choice for residency.

 We practice emergency medicine at both MetroHealth Medical Center, a Level 1 Trauma Center and award-winning county hospital, and at the Cleveland Clinic, a world-class medical institution. The combined opportunities at these two institutions provide for a complete emergency medicine program.

MetroHealth is the Cuyahoga County medical center. We see an enormous amount of adult and pediatric trauma cases and lead the trauma team of emergency and surgery residents. Pediatric patients currently make up about one-third of the volume, and we see a wide variety of surgical and medical pathology. The facilities at MetroHealth are quite nice, with a Critical Care Pavilion that opened in 2004. The 70+ bed Emergency Department includes enhanced and large trauma bays, urgent care center, and a 24-hour observation unit. MetroHealth is a regional Adult Level I Trauma Center, a regional burn center and stroke center, and has a high-acuity neonatal intensive care unit.

Working at the Cleveland Clinic provides us with the skills needed to work with subspecialty consultants and private physicians, as well as provides exposure to transplant patients, oncologic patients, and those with rare illnesses. The Cleveland Clinic also has one of the largest observation medicine units in the country. Cardiac and stroke care at both facilities is cutting edge. The work environment at both institutions is collegial – we have excellent relationships with the medical and surgical services and very good support staff.

We provide medical command and didactic instruction for Cleveland EMS and fly with Metro Life Flight, one of the nation’s preeminent and busiest aeromedicine programs. Emergency ultrasound is an integral part of the residency, with our program also sponsoring an ultrasound fellowship. We also have the opportunity to practice event medicine through coverage of the Cleveland Browns football games and other area sporting events and concerts.

There are more than 30 attending physicians between MetroHealth and Cleveland Clinic who are committed to both teaching and research. Attendings at both institutions are approachable, good bed-side teachers, and have a great variety of expertise and research interests. There are numerous opportunities for involvement in research and writing. Faculty members are well-connected, and the program is well represented in ACEP and SAEM committees and elected positions. Residents are encouraged to participate in state and national Emergency Medicine organizations. A number of faculty members are part of ABEM – both as contributors to the written board exam and as oral examiners.

Cleveland enjoys all four seasons and there are plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. The Cuyahoga County park system offers places for hiking, running, biking, and cross country skiing. Resident and faculty involvement in sports varies from ultimate frisbee to hockey leagues. The Cleveland Orchestra is one of the best in the world and the theater district is the largest performance complex outside of New York City. There are a number of great restaurants around town. Roller coaster aficionados can make regular trips to Cedar Point to ride the world’s highest, fastest roller coaster. Lake Erie offers boating, jet skiing and beach activities.

Housing opportunities are available for every style and budget within commuting distance of both Cleveland Clinic and MetroHealth. Many of us have purchased homes. Residents live in loft apartments downtown, newly renovated apartments and houses within cycling distance of MetroHealth, in a number of the communities within Cuyahoga County, and even in outlying counties. The city is divided into east and west sides by the Cuyahoga River – each with its own characteristics and flavor. The east-side vs. west-side debate seems to be renewed with each incoming class. We’ve never achieved a consensus, but we hope you’ll consider coming to Cleveland and joining the debate.

 Michael Glasenapp, Jonathan Keary, and Deborah Kimball (Chiefs 2010-2011)

Questions?  Feel free to email us!     mglasenapp@metrohealth.org;  jkeary@metrohealth.org or dkimball@metrohealth.org