Emergency Medicine

The International Emergency Medicine Program at BIDMC strives to promote the growth of academic programs and clinical excellence in Emergency Medicine worldwide. Its other goals are to foster international collaboration and to provide assistance to members of the international community to develop Emergency Medicine within the context of the healthcare needs of their own countries. Current active projects involve Emergency Medicine systems in Russia, Europe, Central and South America, as well as CME programs in Italy. The International Emergency Medicine program has also recently received grant funding from the United Nations to promote Emergency Medicine worldwide.

The University of Florence/Harvard Project in Emergency Medicine is a grant funded project between the Tuscan Ministry of Health, the University of Florence, Careggi Hospital, BIDMC and Harvard Medical International. The ultimate goal of this project is to develop Emergency Medicine as a training specialty at the University of Florence and to certify all emergency physicians currently practicing in emergency departments in Tuscany. Certification will be achieved by completing a year-long certification program through the University of Florence. BIDMC EM faculty visit Florence monthly to participate in clinical bedside teaching and to lecture at the weekly didactic conferences. Funded electives are available to all residents during their PGY3 year.

Global Health and International Emergency Medicine Fellowship

Harvard Humanitarian Studies Initiative for Residents

Residents can take part in the Harvard Humanitarian Studies Initiative for Residents. This program trains residents in humanitarian response to disaster and refugee crises. This two year educational program includes a two-week intensive course on humanitarian issues followed by a month-long international field placement in a humanitarian setting.

Inpatient Toxicology Program

In July 2000 an Inpatient Medical Toxicology service was established at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. This service is run by three full time board-certified toxicologists who are faculty of the BIDMC Department of Emergency Medicine.

During the Toxicology Rotation, residents receive specialized training in the care of acutely ill poisoned patients. Residents rotate through the adult inpatient service at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Massachusetts Poison Control Center at Children's Hospital Boston. They perform bedside toxicology consultation at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and phone consultation at the poison center. Daily didactic sessions are provided in the form of bedside teaching, poison center case discussions, toxicology journal club, required reading material, and a monthly interdisciplinary case conference. Residents are required to present an in-depth review of a topic in medical toxicology at the conclusion of their rotation and are encouraged to publish their review in the poison center newsletter, the Clinical Toxicology Review.

Emergency Medicine Research Interests