Thank you for your interest in the University of Utah Occupational Medicine Residency program. The rapidly expanding scope of occupational medicine and increasing demand for graduates of residency programs make the field a particularly attractive one. Our residency is part of the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH), which is jointly operated by the University of Utah and Weber State University.
The Rocky Mountain Center was established in 1977 and has maintained an occupational medicine residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) since 1978. The residency is a two-year program with the first year OEM-1 (formerly PGY-2) focused on academic coursework and applicable clinical rotations and the second year OEM-2 (formerly PGY-3) focused on a combination of academic, clinical, practical (field), and research experiences. All residents are required to obtain a license to practice medicine in the state of Utah.
The OEM-1 year includes coursework leading to a Master of Occupational Health (MOH) degree. The MOH core courses include Introduction to Industrial and Environmental Toxicology and Physiology, Introduction to Occupational Epidemiology, Applied Occupational Biostatistics, and Administration and Management of Health and Safety Programs. Residents are also required to take courses in industrial hygiene, ergonomics, occupational safety and health, preventive medicine, and occupational injuries and diseases. The MOH degree requires 32 semester hours of academic credit completed over two semesters. Application to the graduate school for the MOH degree should be submitted along with application to the residency program.
During the OEM-2 year, at least 14 weeks of preceptorship are required at available industry and government locations to gain experience in comprehensive occupational health and safety programs. Current sites include locations such as Chevron (Houston, Texas), Hill Air Force Base (Ogden, Utah), NASA Kennedy Space Center (Florida), Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (Bremerton, Washington), OSHA (Washington, D.C.), National Institutes of Safety and Health (Alaska and Ohio), Workers Compensation Fund (Utah), and state labor and public health agencies. Residents are trained in the comprehensive management of workers with occupational injuries and diseases at the University of Utah Occupational Medicine Clinics. Rotations in other specialties are selected according to the resident’s prior training. It is rare for OM residents to have night or weekend calls.
RMCOEH’s faculty includes occupational medicine physicians, certified industrial hygienists, specialists in safety/ergonomics, epidemiologists, nutritionists, and physical therapists. Faculty members of the University of Utah’s Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and other departments provide training in other specialty areas. The Occupational Medicine Residency program participates in the voluntary program established by directors of occupational medicine residencies to encourage uniform dates for applications and notification about acceptance to residency programs.
Please submit your application and attachments as soon as possible. We make offers for positions beginning on the date agreed to by the national OM Residency program Directors for the following year. RMCOEH seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services, and activities for people with disabilities. Reasonable prior notice is needed to arrange accommodations.
To review the ACGME specialty requirements for residency training in occupational medicine, visit ACGME, and to review the current board certification requirements visit the American Board of Prevention Medicine.
Please feel free to call us at any time at 801-581-4800 if you need any additional information. We appreciate your interest in our residency training program.
Sincerely,
Eric Wood, MD, MPH
Director, Occupational Medicine Residency