Overview of Program
Physicians practicing Global Emergency Medicine (GEM) have a goal to improve worldwide health. A fellowship in Global Emergency Medicine trains emergency physicians to work in a multitude of settings and clinical environments around the world. Many emergency physicians specifically choose the specialty due to their desire to work internationally in low- and middle-income countries but realize that skills beyond clinical practice in a U.S. Emergency Department are needed to become an expert in Global Emergency Medicine.
Our one-year fellowship (with an option for a second year) focuses on developing the fellows’ research capacity with a strong focus on research training. Collaborative efforts are aimed at fostering the development of added local capacity at international partner sites.
Mission and Vision
The UF Global Emergency Medicine Fellowship provides the expert educational tools and international experiences that can pave the way for a future career working in global emergency medicine and making a true impact worldwide.
Goals and Purpose
This fellowship program functions under the Section of Global Health in parallel with the existing EM residency program, as well as the fellowship programs in Critical Care Medicine, Emergency Medical Services and Clinical Ultrasound. Both clinical and research projects with a focus in these areas are possible.
The program has a strong focus on global health research, with opportunities to join existing projects or develop one’s own projects. Formal internal and external research training is part of the core curriculum.
The global EM fellow will receive dedicated training in neglected tropical diseases, applied public health and disaster management by content matter experts at the university and through external courses.
The goal of the fellowship is to train emergency physicians to expert levels in all aspects of global emergency care, including, but not limited to:
- Clinical Competency and Expertise in Global Emergency Medicine
- Providing clinical care in all aspects of EM in resource-limited settings
- Development of clinical skills unique to the environment, including an in-depth understanding of tropical and neglected diseases with a dedicated tropical diseases lecture series
- Educational and Teaching Competency and Expertise in Global Emergency Medicine
The program will provide fellows with the skills to be proficient educators. These include:- Bedside teaching
- Didactic sessions
- Lectures and public speaking
- Comprehensive Global Emergency Medicine courses
- Review articles and book chapters
- Cultural competency in teaching
- Research Competency and Expertise in Global Emergency Medicine
Development of research skills:- Study design
- Performing research
- Statistical analysis
- Medical writing
- Ongoing scientific discovery
- Critical analysis of the literature
- Administrative / Public Health Competency and Expertise in Global Emergency Medicine
- Development of administrative skills
- Acquisition of specific knowledge in the aspects of Global Emergency Medicine not related to direct patient care:
- Basic public health education through courses and classes offered at UF and other through internationally recognized programs (e.g., ICRC Health Emergencies in Large Populations course)
- Option to obtain advanced degrees, such as a Master degree at UF or Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine designation
- Ongoing involvement in departmental administration
- Quality assurance and improvement
- Program design and administration
- Interdepartmental politics
- System maintenance
- Advocacy Competency and Expertise in Global Emergency Medicine
- Involvement in local, national and international organizations
- Attendance of policy sessions at international meetings
Why Us?
Completion of the fellowship will provide the fellow with the requisite academic skills to be an effective clinician, researcher and teacher in the field of Global Emergency Medicine.
The UF Global Emergency Medicine Fellowship provides the expert educational tools and international experiences that can pave the way for a future career working in global health.
Graduates of global EM fellowships work in varied practice settings:
- Academic practice: education, research, humanitarian response, policy-making
- Private practice with occasional international/humanitarian work
- Full-time international/humanitarian work
- Full-time work with large international organizations
To review some of the work done by our Program Director, Dr. Torben Becker, click on his Bibliography in the National Library of Medicine.
What makes the UF Global Emergency Medicine Fellowship unique?
- UF’s proximity to the Caribbean
- UF’s contacts with hospitals and health systems in other countries which are comprehensive on multiple levels—clinical, quality improvement, research and research capacity development
- A strong focus on training in research and scholarship, specifically in the area of global health
- Developing specific local capacity through special projects such as ultrasound development and prehospital care systems
- A strong focus on critical care skills in resource-limited environments
- Elective rotations as Acting Fellow in one of UF Health’s Intensive Care Units, and on the EMS Physician Response vehicle as Prehospital Physician
International Sites
The Department of Emergency Medicine has several established international partner sites with opportunities for clinical work, education and research. Our program’s focus is currently on partners in West Africa and Haiti.
Global Emergency Medicine Fellows will spend about three months at our international partner sites. International work will include clinical activities, teaching and research. All travel is paid for by UF. The program includes paid attendance at the ICRC HELP Course in Baltimore or Geneva, Switzerland (application required).
Teaching course participants in Accra, Ghana.
Eligibility
This program accepts one fellow each academic year. Residency training in Emergency Medicine must be from an ACGME accredited program and completed by the time of matriculation. Applicants must be a board-eligible or board certified. This program does not accept J-1 Visa applicants at this time. Once a letter of offer is extended, employment will be contingent on a positive result from a criminal background screening, procurement/maintenance of a Florida Medical License and ability to meet requirements for appointment as a Faculty member.
Key Curriculum Themes
- July
Training in cultural awareness, ethics of practice in low- and middle-income countries
Purpose: Orientation/On-boarding
- August
International rotation #1 (two weeks)
Health & safety workshop
Purpose: Identify fellowship project at international site and develop fellowship project proposal
- September
Tropical Medicine workshop
Vacation (one week)
Purpose: Field-specific knowledge acquisition and regulatory compliance for fellowship project
- October
International rotation #2 (two weeks)
Purpose: Fellowship project implementation
- November
International rotation #3 (two weeks)
- December
International rotation #4 (1 week)
Purpose: Fellowship project follow-up #1
- January
Vacation (two weeks)
Clinical elective (ICU or EMS)
- February
International rotation #5 (two weeks)
Purpose: Fellowship project follow-up #2
- March
International rotation #6 (two weeks)
Purpose: Fellowship project wrap-up
- April
International rotation #7 (one week)
Purpose: Fellowship project completion
- May
Attend Global Emergency Medicine Academy at Society of Academic Emergency Medicine Annual Meeting
Vacation (one week)
Purpose: Presentation of fellowship project results
- June
Health Emergencies in Large Populations course in Baltimore (two weeks – alternative: Geneva)
Purpose: Internationally recognized course in applied public health in disaster and low-resource settings
Clinical Responsibility
The fellows in this program are appointed as post doctorate clinical associates in the Department of Emergency Medicine. They have a core clinical commitment of 768 hours working as Attending Physicians in one of the four UF Health Gainesville Emergency Departments over the course of their fellowship year. Given the irregular curriculum of this fellowship, the average of 7-8 shifts per month can be flexed in months with significant travel commitments. Options for additional hours with extra pay available.
Salary and Benefits
2023-2024 Housestaff Annual Stipends
PGY 4 – $68,452.00
PGY 5 – $71,307.00
PGY 6 – $74,264.00
PGY 7+ – $77,043.00
Benefits
Generous stipend for academic enhancement and conference attendance/presentations.
GatorBites meal program.
15 days of paid vacation. 10 days of paid sick leave.
Fellows are employed by the University of Florida College of Medicine and are considered to be PGY4-7+ housestaff for salary and benefit purposes. Please see the Housestaff Benefits webpage for more information on insurance, retirement plan, leave policy, malpractice insurance, and additional services included.
Ample moonlighting opportunities within the UF Health system at the Main ED, Pediatric ED and two freestanding EDs (Springhill and Kanapaha) for additional income, all covered by malpractice insurance and sovereign immunity.
Application Process
This fellowship program participates in the NRMP Match. Applications should be submitted through the SAEM GEMA application portal or directly to the fellowship program coordinator using their email information below. Applications should include two letters of recommendation (one from the resident program director if currently a resident), the applicant’s CV and a personal statement (not to exceed one page). Any other questions regarding applying should be directed to our fellowship program coordinator below.
Applications may only be submitted between August 1, 2023, and October 15, 2023; and Match Day will happen on November 8, 2023.
Program Faculty and Staff
Director of Global Health Programs
Torben K Becker MD, PhD, MBA, RDMS, FAWM, FAEMS, FCCM
Fellowship Program Coordinator
William C Mitchell
Graduated and Current Fellows
- 2018-2019
Ideen Zeinali, MD (now: Dallas Baylor University Medical Center) - 2020-2021
Lindsay Beamon-Scott, MD (now: University of Rochester) - 2021-2022
Cassandra Clay, DO, MSHA (now: Saint Francis Hospital)
Joseph Pompa, DO (now: EMS & Disaster Medicine Fellow at Rutgers Health/Newark Beth Israel Medical Center)
- 2023-2025