Core Curriculum

Didactic Sessions | Clinical Rotations

Special Teaching Sessions

In addition to the core curriculum, EM residents will participate in special sessions scheduled in lieu of grand rounds lectures. This gives them the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and practice in real-world type settings. Some of these sessions are held during resident orientation month with special training sessions in EMS, Mercy Flight, Ultrasound, and ACLS courses.

Some of the special sessions throughout the year are listed below.

EMS Base Station Course - Erie County Fire Training Academy, held during orientation month for incoming residents

Emergency Vehicle Operations Training - held during orientation month

Cadaver Lab - The Department of Emergency Medicine provides an annual opportunity for residents in the 2nd year of training, to develop cognitive and motor skills in a wide range of procedures, including: thoracotomy, cricothyrotomy, central line placement, and arthrocentesis, to name a few. This procedural cadaver lab is held at the Anatomy Department of the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. It includes small group practice, discussion, and background materials. The faculty of the Department of Emergency Medicine provide guidance and feedback for this exercise. It has proved to be an especially popular activity for the residents.

Mercy Flight - Residents have the opportunity to fly with Mercy Flight, a local air medical helicopter service, during their EMS rotation. Residents completing the EMS scholarly track may choose to spend additional time with Mercy Flight. An orientation is scheduled for all incoming residents.

Simulation Training - Simulation training allows the resident to gain "real-world" experience, with critical decision-making in a time-sensitive environment. The resident will gain a better understanding of the outcome of those decisions in a controlled environment, managing clinical cases using a simulation mannequin.

Grand Rounds Cold Weather Emergency & Outdoor Winter Sports Injury Training at Kissing Bridge Ski Resort, Glenwood, NY - held annually at Kissing Bridge Ski Resort, Glenwood, NY (approximately 1/2 hour from Buffalo) - covers topics such as cold injury and emergencies, outdoor emergency care, and hands-on immobilization/stabilization "on the hill".

EM Resident Auto Extrication Drill with the Buffalo Fire Department, Rescue 1

Coast Guard Rescue & Cold Water Emergencies, Erie Basin Marina -
Real-world experience in water emergencies provided by the Coast Guard