The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Fellowship at the University of Cincinnati (UC) offers a diverse EMS program for the prospective fellow. The basic one year fellowship can be extended by one year if the fellow desires a Masters Degree which can be obtained through the University of Cincinnati.
The University of Cincinnati, Department of Emergency Medicine faculty has a long-standing history of regional and national EMS involvement. The staff provides medical direction for area EMS departments and four law enforcement agencies. The majority of the fellow's experience will come from two key EMS functions of the Emergency Medical Services Division of the Department of Emergency Medicine: Medical Direction of the City of Cincinnati Fire Department and The Emergency Medicine Special Operations Institute.
The Cincinnati Fire Department employs eight hundred firefighters, of which 170 are paramedics. The EMS response system is dual-tiered, including basic and paramedic first response engine companies, basic first response ladder companies, six basic ambulances, and four paramedic rescue units. The department also provides Heavy Rescue, HazMat and an Explosives Ordinance Disposal Units. The fire department is the focal point of weapons of mass destruction planning for the Cincinnati region. The fellow's duties in the fire department are flexible and can include continuous quality improvement of the EMS Service and the communications center, continuing education programs, field observation, administrative meetings, and medical director shadowing.
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The Emergency Medicine Special Operations Institute is a unique entity of the Department of Emergency Medicine at UC. The Institute has formalized previously established relationships with prehospital providers in the conventional and non-conventional setting. The Institute's primary role is to assist first responders and other specialized response teams to achieve their goals more safely through enhanced operational support, education and research. The fellow will have the option of working with any of the Institutes seven divisions: Urban Search and Rescue, NBC Counter-Terrorism, Tactical EMS, Mass gathering/Mass casualty medicine, Hazardous Materials Medicine, and Dignitary Protection.
The EMS Division also offers opportunity to teach in one of the nations premier paramedic training programs. Medical Direction for rural or suburban EMS services is also available to the fellow to round out the EMS Medical Directorship experience. The Department of Emergency Medicine also offers additional opportunity to the fellow. University AirCare, the regions only medical helicopter program, provides an opportunity for the fellow to experience the interaction between traditional ground transportation and critical care air medical transport. Wilderness medicine, toxicology, and the Greater Cincinnati Stroke Team also offer non-traditional exposure for the fellow.
The fellow is expected to be a self-motivated individual. Applicant should have completed an Emergency Medicine residency program. The successful applicant receives an academic appointment to the University of Cincinnati, Department of Emergency Medicine. Clinical hours are required to augment fellowship salary. These clinical hours involve both emergency medicine resident and physician assistant supervision.
In summary, the EMS Fellowship at the University of Cincinnati provides a broad and flexible EMS education with the support of a strong academic department and plenty of opportunity. To apply, send a cover letter and curriculum vitae to Donald A. Locasto, MD, EMS Fellowship Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Cincinnati, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0769 or Donald Locasto, MD. For more information, contact Dr. Locasto by email or phone at 513-558-8299.
