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The Next Generation of Leaders in Pediatric Emergency Medicine

The Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) fellowship at the University of Utah/Primary Children's Hospital (PCH) places each fellow in a well-designed clinical and research program emphasizing the skills needed for future academic success.

This clinical experience is complemented by instruction in research design and methods, leading to completion of original research projects.

EM Fellows

Goals

The goal of the Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellowship program is to produce academically-oriented PEM physicians with superb clinical skills and the ability to expand the field's knowledge base. The traditional PEM fellowship is a three year program for pediatrics residency trained applicants, and a two year program for emergency medicine residency trained applicants. Fellows acquire experience and skills to fulfill their maximal potential as a clinician, researcher, teacher, and administrator. In addition to the traditional PEM fellowship tracks, we also offer a PEM-Global Health (PEM-GH) fellowship track, and a dual PEM-Child Abuse (PEM-CAP) fellowship program. Please see the llnks on this page for more information about PEM-GH and PEM-GH.

Our fellowship has several features that make for a unique and enriching fellowship experience:

  • We have a high acuity with a historical admission rate of >20%. This leads to a great clinical experience where fellows are actively involved in managing very sick and complicated patients.
  • We have a very large catchment area covering >400,000 square. That means that fellows gain experience taking care of the sickest patients in the Intermountain West and learn how to provide on-line medical control during pediatric resuscitation prior to arrival to a tertiary children’s hospital.
  • We have an excellent trauma experience at both Primary Children’s Hospital and Intermountain Medical Center during the designated Trauma Rotation. At both of these Level 1 Trauma Centers, PEM fellows take an active role in leading resuscitation of traumatic patients and performing critical procedures.
  • The overarching goal of our Fellowship and the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine is to help our physicians pursue a meaningful career. Our attendings and fellows have a variety of clinical and academic interests and our Division has numerous resources available to help faculty and fellows pursue their career goals.
  • There are few better places for a work-life balance than Salt Lake City! Utah’s capitol city offers easy and fun living where fellows have access to a vibrant city life with restaurants, big-name concerts, major sporting events, museums, a renowned ballet company, Broadway shows, opera…all minutes from the hospital.  Moreover, our fellows benefit from unparalleled access to an outdoors scene that is truly one-of-a-kind.

Primary Children's Hospital

Primary Children's Hospital is a high-acuity tertiary referral center for medical, surgical, and trauma care, with patients coming from large parts of six western states. PCH’s 35-bed ED sees about 45,000 patients annually, and includes an 18-bed short-stay observation unit also overseen by our division.

Research, Policy, and Advocacy

Fellows' responsibilities go beyond patient care, including opportunities resident teaching and patient care, but the division is also very active in research and is additionally involved in many areas throughout Primary Children’s Hospital and the community:

  • Pediatric transport
  • Trauma care
  • Resuscitation
  • Injury prevention
  • Disaster management
  • Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC)
  • Outreach
  • Global, rural, and underserved child health
  • Child advocacy
  • Simulation

Staff from Diverse Fields

The Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine consists of 26 PEM BC/BE faculty, 7 pediatricians, 7 fellows, 5 administrative staff, and 2 research staff. Some faculty also have additional training:

  • 1 Child Abuse Pediatrics trained
  • 2 Sports Medicine trained
  • 2 Emergency Medicine trained
  • 1 Ultrasound fellowship trained
  • 2 Global Health trained
  • 2 with MBA
  • 4 with MPH
  • 1 with MSPH

Our PEM Division faculty include the following

  • Pediatrics Residency Program Director
  • Immediate Past President of AAP Utah Chapter
  • Primary Children’s Hospital Medical Directors:
    • Trauma
    • Pediatric Life Flight
    • Emergency Department
    • Rapid Treatment Unit (Observation unit)
    • Quality
    • Disaster Preparedness
    • Informatics
    • Pediatric Specialty Services
    • Outreach
    • Pediatric Clinical Programs
    • Associate Chief Medical Officer

CONTACT US

Michael Miescier, MD

Program Director

Zachary Drapkin, MD

Associate Program Director

Laurel Fortun

Program Coordinator

ped.education@hsc.utah.edu