Emergency Medicine Medical Student Education

Comprehensive Exposure and Experience in Emergency Medicine

The Department of Emergency Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) offers medical students a broad spectrum of clinical, didactic, and research experiences.

As a Level 1 Trauma Center handling approximately 57,000 patients annually, BIDMC serves as a training ground for around 100 medical students each year. This exposure allows students to hone their skills in the assessment and management of acutely ill patients, as well as engage with a variety of clinical procedures.

Clinical Shadowing in the Emergency Department

Harvard Medical School (HMS) students have the opportunity to shadow faculty and residents of the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency at BIDMC. This hands-on experience allows students to observe the workings of a busy emergency department and engage with expert clinicians. For more information, please email Nicole McShane.

Research Opportunities for Medical Students

BIDMC’s Department of Emergency Medicine is home to an active and diverse research program spanning both basic and clinical sciences. Areas of research include Sepsis, Resuscitation, Geriatrics, Public Health, and Health Services, among others. Students interested in learning more about emergency medicine research opportunities should contact Dr. Nathan Shapiro.

Clinical Informatics Elective

BIDMC offers a two-month, full-time clinical informatics elective for medical students with a strong foundation in computer programming. This elective introduces students to clinical informatics through a focused research project in areas of interest to the Department.

The elective aims to familiarize students with formal methods in clinical informatics, research methodologies to evaluate informatics interventions, and the role of informatics in emergency care.

Informatics Research Elective

The Emergency Medicine Informatics Research Lab at BIDMC is seeking students with strong programming skills to assist with ongoing projects. Opportunities are available for:

• Medical Students (credit available)
• EM Residents (credit available)
• Undergraduate Students in Computer Science
• Graduate Students in Computer Science

For more information on the Informatics Research Elective, please refer to the Course Syllabus. Interested students should email Dr. Steven Horng.

HMS Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG)

The Emergency Medicine Interest Group at Harvard Medical School offers medical students unique opportunities to explore the field of emergency medicine through lectures, events, and networking with experts.

Emergency Medicine Fourth-Year Rotation

The fourth-year Emergency Medicine rotation at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) offers medical students an intensive and immersive clinical experience in a high-volume, high-acuity setting. As a Level 1 trauma center, BIDMC provides students with the opportunity to manage a wide range of emergency cases, from critical trauma patients to complex medical emergencies.

During the rotation, students work closely with attending physicians and residents, refining their clinical skills in assessment, diagnosis, and management of acutely ill and injured patients. This hands-on experience is complemented by didactic sessions, which deepen students' understanding of emergency medicine and its multifaceted nature.