The BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine enhances and facilitates high-impact clinical and translational emergency care research and is among the most highly funded emergency medicine research programs in the country, making profound discoveries that are being translated into practice and improving patient care.
As reflected by the depth of research activity in our department, we take an inclusive approach to research wherein all faculty and trainees are encouraged to develop their ideas and engage in research. Our research enterprise is supported by a robust and intentionally agile research infrastructure. The success of these efforts is evidenced by our significant research funding, high impact publications, and translation of research findings into clinical practice and policy.
Our Department Chair, Dr. Manish Shah, is an accomplished and respected leader in emergency care research, as are many of our faculty investigators, yielding critical discoveries in areas such as dementia and emergency care for older adults, antimicrobial stewardship, and health disparities, supported by robust efforts in health informatics. Our research programs and services are also one of the fastest growing areas of the department.
Conference Research Curriculum
Our didactic research curriculum covers high-yield, practical topics that help residents develop the necessary skills to critically appraise research literature and complete a scholarly project prior to graduation.
We have designed our curriculum so that it is accessible and engaging for individuals with all ranges of research experience, providing them with tools that will aid residents in completing their required scholarly project. This curriculum is augmented by several lectures throughout the year by emergency medicine faculty investigators, as well as by visiting experts.
These skills are put into practice during Journal Clubs throughout the year that serve to develop residents’ abilities to evaluate and assess research for its quality and validity, which is essential to evidence-based practice.
Year 1: Introduction to scholarship, study design, and appraising tscholarly literature
Year 2: Basic statistical testing, qualitative and survey research methods
Year 3: Publishing your work, statistical software, and obtaining funding
Scholarly and Quality Improvement Projects
Residents are matched with a faculty mentor shortly after arriving at UW as an intern. In the fall of their PGY 1 year, residents meet with both the Resident Quality Lead and their faculty mentor to discuss expectations for both quality improvement and scholarly projects. Based on their individual interests, residents may also be matched with members of the Research Executive Committee who will offer residents guidance in exploring their scholarly goals.
Residents are supported by faculty mentorship and the support of our extensive research infrastructure through the process of taking an idea for scholarly work from concept to tangible product. For many residents, this often results in presenting at national conferences or submitting manuscripts.