A fully integrated program with outstanding clinical and educational experiences in multiple hospitals to help you reach the next level of your medical training
Emergency medicine (EM) is a unique practice. Whereas patients typically prepare to see a doctor, patients can’t choose their emergency room doctor. They’re being seen at a vulnerable, often scary, time. This is why the faculty at Wright State focus on building connection with patients to create future doctors they would want their own family to go to.
In an emergency, this means not only gaining knowledge and skills but also practicing with intentional empathy and awareness. The EM residency program values cultivating this over making sure our residents publish in academic journals. Learning to build connection and trust with patients has to come before publishing, and our faculty members lead by example to create exceptional EM doctors.
Why Choose Wright State?
Our program excels in clinical teaching opportunities in a variety of hospitals with dedicated academic and clinical faculty. A curious and problem-oriented attitude is fostered by innovative teaching, case analysis, cooperative research, and faculty role models. Confidence is promoted through active evaluation and feedback.
We emphasize bedside teaching, simulation, critical care, ultrasound, EMS opportunities as well as an outstanding curriculum and are integrated in both high- and low-resourced regions.
Students often comment that this residency’s flexible rotation schedule offers a better work-life balance and less burnout than might be expected in a rigorous residency. You’ll deeply grow your knowledge and confidence instead of being spread thin.
Receive mentorship from faculty and residents, gain opportunities to get hands-on practice with procedures, and be able to receive a letter of recommendation for your future path. Enjoy a residency that keeps you close to home and family—without the overwhelm.
Diversity of Education
Exposure to different emergency department settings provides a broader clinical experience and helps develop adaptability in various health care environments. You’ll have exposure to a diverse patient population, improving diagnostic and decision-making skills.
Attendings with Diverse backgrounds
Learning from faculty with varied experiences and specialties enhances medical knowledge and exposes you to different approaches to patient care. You’ll get networking opportunities and insights into different career paths within emergency medicine.
Simulation Experience
Hands-on training in a controlled environment allows you to practice clinical procedures and emergency scenarios without risk to patients. Getting immediate feedback from faculty improves clinical decision-making, technical skills, confidence, and competency in high-pressure situations.
Mentorship
One-on-one guidance from experienced physicians helps you navigate medical school, residency applications, and career planning. You’ll get academic and emotional support, fostering professional growth and resilience.
ITE/Didactic Curriculum
A structured learning approach strengthens foundational medical knowledge and prepares you for exams. Engaging didactic sessions enhance understanding of emergency medicine principles and practical applications.
Resident Camaraderie
A supportive learning environment helps you integrate into the team, easing the transition into clinical rotations. This encourages teamwork, collaboration, and a positive learning culture, reducing stress and burnout.
Interactions between Residents and Non-Residency Faculty
You’ll build professional relationships with specialists and faculty outside of your residency, which broadens clinical perspectives and deepens understanding of interdisciplinary care.
Feedback Structure
Regular, constructive feedback helps you refine clinical skills, improve performance, and identify areas for growth. You’ll be surrounded by an encouraging culture that values continuous learning and self-improvement, preparing you for residency expectations.
Ready to step into Emergency Medicine?
About the Program
Director: Mike Ballester, M.D.
Mission, Vision, Values
Mission Statement
As a full academic department in a community-hospital based medical school, we graduate highly competent and compassionate physicians with a strong foundation in the practice of emergency medicine, as well as with resiliency, well-being and a dedication to lifelong learning. Our program encompasses clinical and didactic experience in emergency and critical care medicine, emergency department and emergency medical services administration, teaching techniques, and principles of research and publication.
Vision
- Graduate civilian and military emergency physicians capable of working in any setting across the globe
- Provide exposure to a wide range of patient ages, backgrounds, and pathology through rotations at multiple hospitals in the region
- Integrate the latest in technology and evidence-based medicine into the clinical practice and didactic education of our residents and medical students
- Select and train residents from diverse backgrounds who will use their skills and training to benefit communities in need and, in the case of our military residents, protect and serve our country wherever they are deployed
Values
- Emergency medicine education should reflect breadth and depth, with a wide range of exposure to patients with differing backgrounds in a variety of settings
- Resident physicians must learn through hands-on experience and graduated responsibility throughout residency
- Resident physicians are best taught by working closely with board-certified emergency physicians coming from a broad background to include community-based and academic practice
- Emergency medicine plays a vital role in undergraduate medical education, teaching student doctors how to approach patients with undifferentiated complaints, identify life-threatening illness, and apply acute care at the bedside
- Emergency medicine does not begin and end at the doors of the emergency department. Emergency physicians should have experience in prehospital & in-hospital medicine, critical care, and other core areas that directly impact patient care
- Emergency physicians play a role in the community beyond their clinical practice, taking an active role in local, regional, state and national organizations, to include military medicine, and these roles should be fostered in residency training
Program History
The idea of an Integrated Residency in Emergency Medicine was considered soon after the inception of the medical school itself in the mid-1970s. By 1976, a group of individuals, including James Agna, M.D., George Lechner, M.D., John Beljan, M.D., and others, had discussed the formation of the residency using the clinical facilities at Kettering Medical Center. Supplemental services would be gained by relationships with Greene Memorial Hospital and Dayton Children's Medical Center. From the beginning, the training program had a free-standing relationship with the dean of the medical school. A well-known educator and researcher in emergency medicine, Carl Jelenko, III, M.D., was brought on board in late 1976. By 1977, the training program was approved and the first residency class of two individuals, Craig Miller and Craig Williams, began in 1978. The program rapidly expanded its capacity, and the next class had four members.
At this time in the development of the specialty, training in emergency medicine was two years in length. Therefore, the first graduating class completed its training in June 1980. At the same time, due to successes in the growth and recognition of the program as one of the first 10 programs in emergency medicine in the United States, Dr. Jelenko and his team were recognized by the School of Medicine with full academic departmental status in mid-1980. Wright State had the fourth full academic Department of Emergency Medicine in the country!
In late 1980, the many continued plans and positive anticipation for growth were seriously compromised by a debilitating stroke to the founding chair, Carl Jelenko, M.D., who had a known history of diabetes mellitus. Through much of 1981, the department was held together through the considerable efforts of clinical faculty, the acting chair, James Agna, M.D., and the single faculty member, James Jagger, M.D. The residents at that time had a major role in sustaining the integrity and forward momentum of the department.
Glenn C. Hamilton, M.D., an assistant professor of emergency medicine and internal medicine at the University of Cincinnati, was recruited by the Wright State School of Medicine Dean William Sawyer, M.D., Ph.D., to be the new department chair, effective January 1, 1982. Dr. Hamilton, initially trained in internal medicine at the University of Michigan, served as director of Wayne County General's Emergency Department in Detroit, and completed a two-year residency in emergency medicine with Peter Rosen, M.D., at the Denver General Hospital Program.
At the time of his hiring, there was one faculty member (James Jagger, M.D.) and 30 residents in training, and the newly constituted RRC in Emergency Medicine was to arrive in six months. In a relatively short period of time, the didactic curriculum was modified, Miami Valley Hospital was included as a full partner, and an additional three faculty were hired to begin in July 1982. These included Jonathan Singer, M.D. (University of Cincinnati Pediatrics), Frederick Epstein, M.D. (University of Cincinnati Emergency Medicine) and John McCabe, M.D. (Wright State Emergency Medicine). With this initial talented team, a supportive environment and a wonderful cadre of residents, the program survived its first RRC visit in June 1982 and has not looked back since.
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Join us at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine. Contact us today to learn more or apply now to start your journey.