This month, Joshua Broder, Program Director of Duke University Emergency Medicine Program, spoke with the EMRA Medical Student Council about applying for EM residencies and opportunities at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, NC. Read on for Dr. Broder's program highlights and insight on the residency culture.
What sets your program apart from others?
Our program has a commitment, modeled on the NASA Apollo missions and the vision of John F. Kennedy, to "Choose the Moon." For us, this means setting our sights on the difficult challenges in emergency medicine, to change the field for the better. As Kennedy said, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” This metaphor inspires us every day to persevere for a higher purpose. Our mission reinforces our core values of outstanding patient care, cutting-edge graduate medical training, research innovation, service, and leadership.
What are the benefits of attending a 3 vs. 4 year EM residency program?
Our 3-year program offers outstanding clinical training, plus the opportunity to do scholarly activity in one of the world's premier academic medical centers. Finishing in three years provides flexibility to pursue additional fellowship opportunities, including many offered locally. Duke offers fellowships in Emergency Ultrasound, Hyperbaric and Undersea Medicine, Global Health, Research, Critical Care, and Disaster Medicine. For residents who seek a more in-depth training experience, we also offer the opportunity for a sabbatical year for a research fellowship embedded within residency.
What is something that students may not know about your program?
Duke Emergency Medicine was founded in 2001, with the residency opening in 2002. We're a close-knit family with tremendous team spirit and a welcoming atmosphere. We earn top marks for our culture of teamwork and collaboration; our faculty are also nationally recognized for their outstanding teaching, including 3 recipients of ACEP and CORD (Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine) national faculty teaching awards. Our graduates have formed a supportive networking group across the country. Our faculty and graduates serve in leadership positions in academia, advocacy groups, and professional societies. Check out our alumni website for more information.
What range of USMLE/COMLEX Step 1 scores do you look for in an applicant for the program?
We understand fully that standardized test scores reveal only one facet of an applicant's performance, and we value many other attributes, including teamwork, compassion, and scholarly interests and innovation. In general, successful applicants to our program score above the 50th percentile on national standardized tests.
What kinds of opportunities for research exist? Do you look for residency candidates with research experience?
For applicants with research interests, Duke offers unparalleled opportunities. Residents can pursue clinical research, as well as partnerships in basic science labs, the School of Engineering, and our Global Health Institute. The Duke Clinical Research Institute and Duke Translational Research Institutes are some of the largest and best-resourced research bodies in the world. We value prior research experience but also seek to newly introduce creative residents to the vast potential of a career in Emergency Medicine Research.
Do you have opportunities to explore global health at your institution?
The Duke Global Health Institute is a pillar of the University, with undergraduate and graduate degrees, research opportunities for students, residents, fellows, and faculty, and a truly global footprint. In 2017, the institute had 506 active research projects! Our director of Global Health, Catherine Staton, MD, is one of a small number of emergency physicians funded by the NIH for her global health research. Residents in our program collaborate with Dr. Staton on projects in locales as far flung as Brazil and Tanzania. For those seeking a career in Global Health, our fellowship provides ample training in research methods for the academic study of Emergency Medicine in Global Health.
What are some qualities that your program looks for in applicants?
We are a committed team of physicians who believe firmly in providing the best and most compassionate patient care, creating the most engaging and effective education, and exploring the frontiers of emergency medicine through research. We seek bright, creative, caring, resilient, optimistic, hard-working, and team-oriented physicians to join us in these pursuits.
Interested in learning more about Duke University EM? Get details!