In the latest installment of our PD Q&A series, we are highlighting the Emergency Medicine Residency at UMass Chan-Baystate. We spoke with the current PD Dr. Adam Kellogg about what makes their program unique and what they look for in potential residents.
Nestled in the heart of beautiful Western Massachusetts, Baystate Health’s Emergency Medicine Residency program exists as a distinguished affiliate of the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. Based in the city of Springfield, the birthplace of the sport of basketball, Baystate’s EM residency provides residents with the intensity and high volume of a Level 1 trauma center while allowing the unique opportunity to choose between urban or rural living.
Baystate’s Emergency Medicine Residency is designed to provide a well-rounded experience in both clinical practice and personal development. Standing out as the only facility of its caliber in Western Massachusetts, the ED provides care for over 122,000 patients annually and is a level one adult and pediatric trauma center. It serves a diverse population including both urban and rural communities, offering residents a wide range of cases and clinical experiences. Residents benefit from a curriculum that reflects the population it serves; from urban to community practice, with rotations through various specialties including pediatric emergency medicine, trauma, and critical care. Additionally, Baystate offers unique opportunities for residents to engage in international medicine, giving them the chance to treat patients in underserved areas globally. Emphasis is placed not only on technical skill development but also on maintaining a sustainable work-life balance. Shifts are generally no greater than nine hours, night shifts are kept in short blocks, and residents typically work fewer than 45 hours per week on average.
The program offers fellowships in wilderness medicine, EMS, ultrasound, medical education, pediatrics, research, administration, health equity. In line with its goal to promote the wellness of residents and attendings, the program recently become one of very few institutions in the US to offer a fellowship in leadership in wellness.
Outside the clinical realm, Baystate residents enjoy a vibrant and supportive culture. Monthly wellness meetings provide a space for discussions about work-life balance, and fun events like trivia nights and annual retreats foster a sense of community. The area itself is rich with outdoor activities; Western Massachusetts offers a beautiful setting for residents to enjoy hiking, skiing, and other recreational activities during their downtime. With a lower cost of living compared to many metropolitan areas, residents also find that they can enjoy a high quality of life without sacrificing a quality education.
What are the best aspects of Baystate’s EM residency?
The easy answer is “the people.” Our ED is very busy, with some of the highest acuity of any academic ED in the country. In that type of environment, the people you work with make all the difference.
What do you look for in interested applicants to Baystate?
This might sound like a cliché, but the most important qualities are being kind, honest, and hard-working. Being kind in your interactions and with yourself, embracing honesty (especially being willing to say “I don’t know”), and having the drive to put in the work will ensure your success here. Those who enjoy training the most at Baystate are team players, future team leaders, and are internally motivated to grow and improve.
What sets Baystate’s EM residency apart from others?
There are many excellent residencies, especially in New England. What sets Baystate apart is the opportunity to train in an environment that prepares you for the full spectrum of emergency medicine. We are evidence-based and academic enough to prepare you for working in a major referral center, teaching the next generation of emergency physicians. At the same time, we foster the independence and autonomy necessary to excel in community or rural practice.
From a personal perspective, and in line with the experiences shared by fellow students, residents, and attending physicians, the defining quality of Baystate’s ED is its people. Every physician in the Baystate ED embodies the qualities of a true role model, tirelessly providing high-quality education and patient care with remarkable efficiency, empathy, and kindness.