In the latest installment of our PD Q&A series, we are highlighting the Kingman Regional Medical Center EM residency in Kingman, AZ. We spoke with the current PD Dr. Shane Sergent, DO, in 2022 about what makes his program unique and what he looks for in potential residents.
What sets your program apart from others?
Kingman is a hidden gem located along Route 66 in Northern Arizona, just 100 miles south of Las Vegas. Our ER sees a diverse patient population and presentations including multisystem traumas, extreme temperatures and envenomations. Our hospital services a wide catchment area of over 75,000 people and we see approximately 4500 patients per month in the emergency department. Our residents train in an unopposed environment allowing them to practice and become proficient in a variety of emergency medicine based procedures. The residents are able to function with a high level of independence and become comfortable and autonomous early in their training. Although it may seem as if training in a rural setting without the luxury of specialists would be difficult, our residents are stronger for it and are able to practice comfortably in any setting upon graduation.
What are the benefits of attending a three- vs. a four-year EM residency program?
Because of the high-volume and high acuity training that our residents are exposed to, they are able to become competent physicians in just three years. WIth a 3 year program, the focus is on core emergency medicine training including critical care and toxicology.
What is something students may not know about your program?
Our program provides students and residents with a variety of tracks and opportunities depending on their individual interest. We foster an environment that allows our residents to develop skills outside of the traditional EM training in order to decrease burnout and increase job satisfaction. Some of these tracks include global health, ultrasound, medical education, EMS, Wilderness, leadership and healthcare administration, simulation, and research.
How do you feel about the change to pass/fail Step 1 grading?
We pride ourselves on a holistic review of applicants, and examination scores are only one part of that. We don't anticipate the change in score reporting to affect how we review applicants.
What kinds of opportunities for research exist? Do you look for residency candidates with research experience?
Students or residents with an interest in research have ample opportunity to be as active and involved as they would like to be. Our research track prepares residents for a career in academic research. While we encourage those with an interest in research, it is not
a requirement for our candidates to have previously participated in research.
Do you have opportunities to explore global health at your institution?
We have plenty of opportunities to explore global health within our program. International Medicine and Tropical Disease electives offer truly unique educational opportunities. Understanding the immense benefit this education can have on resident development, we have arranged numerous international opportunities for both medical students and residents. Residents can take part in short-term outreach trips or global health rotations in numerous countries.
Participants will encounter medical conditions unique to rural and low-income tropical populations, relying on their knowledge to provide skilled, hands-on care to patients. KRMC’s residency program also offers an international observership program, enabling international
physicians to rotate with our program to facilitate the exchange of knowledge.
We also provide support for residents interested in Master of Public Health (MPH) or Master of Global Health degrees, graduate-level programs that emphasize the practical facets of public health.
What are some qualities that your program looks for in applicants?
We look for applicants that are well rounded in all aspects including extracurricular activities, awards/achievements, leadership experience, teamwork, and adaptability. We also look for self motivated applicants who can create their own learning opportunities.
Can you describe any attributes and qualities that make applicants stand out?
We believe that all applicants will become successful EM docs wherever they train. Applicants who stand out to us are those who are proactive while on shift, who are responsive to feedback, and who function well in a fast paced emergency setting.