PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY:

The Medical College of Georgia (MCG) Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant residency program, created in 2000 and implemented in 2001, is conducted entirely on campus. It incorporates didactic instruction and clinical rotations to provide PAs with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform in any emergency medicine setting.

CURRICULUM:

The core curriculum is patterned after the MCG Emergency Medicine Residency program and the current American College of Emergency Physician guidelines. The emergency medicine physician assistant resident is primarily scheduled in the main and pediatric emergency departments, but also rotates through trauma surgery, orthopedics, cardiac care unit, medical intensive care unit, and anesthesia. Each resident is provided the opportunity to participate in Advance Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advance Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, Basic Disaster Life Support and Advanced Disaster Life Support training. Additionally, they may participate in the specialized emergency medicine programs such as ultrasound, disaster medicine, tactical medicine, international medicine, wilderness medicine and event medicine. The students receive 5 hours of didactic training each week and attend a monthly journal club.

ON-SITE REQUIREMENTS:

The entire program will take place on the campus at the Medical College of Georgia.

UNIVERSITY AND INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

MCG is a teaching facility and a major tertiary referral center for the state of Georgia. It was founded in 1828 as Georgia's Health Sciences University and is an independent unit of the University System of Georgia, with schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Graduate Studies, Nursing and Allied Health. MCG Hospital was designated a level-I trauma center in 1981 and accredited as Georgia's second pediatric trauma center in 1993. It serves metropolitan Augusta and 13 surrounding counties. MCG Emergency and Express Care Services treated over 78,000 patients during the 2004 fiscal year. It occupies over 10,000 square feet and has 41 beds, 8 of which are Critical Care with state-of-the-art resuscitation equipment. The Pediatric Emergency Department and Children's Medical Center is contiguous with the main ED and is staffed with pediatric emergency physicians. The ED encompasses a 10 bed Observation Unit that has full cardiac monitoring capabilities. All ED faculty are board certified and/or residency trained in emergency medicine and most have trained in a variety of other locations and specialties. This provides an excellent diversity of approaches to clinical problems and greatly enhancing the residents' educational experiences.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

Application is made by contacting the Department of Emergency Medicine before January 30th with interviews granted for pending classes in February and March.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

• BS or higher degree from an accredited Physician Assistant program
• Three (3) letters of recommendation
• Eligible for or licensed as PA in Georgia

CREDENTIAL AWARDED:

Residency students receive a Certificate of Completion after finishing the 12 month curriculum.

ESTIMATED TUITION COSTS:

A stipend of $30,000 is paid in monthly installments. Primary text and additional reading materials will be provided.

FINANCIAL AID:

Further information is available at the Medical College of Georgia Department of Emergency Medicine website.

INFORMATION:

Additional information can be obtained by contacting Becky Lambert, Residency Coordinator, at 706-721-2613 or rlambert@mcg.edu or: Brenda Oswald PA-C, MHE, Director, Emergency Medicine PA Residency boswald@mail.mcg.edu.

NOTICE TO ALL STUDENTS:

Information contained is subject to change.