Residency Program
Our three-year residency program prepares graduates for careers in all aspects of emergency medicine
The UT Southwestern Department of Emergency Medicine Residency Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
Founded in 1996, our program provides an excellent, comprehensive experience and exposure to high-quality emergency medicine and its many subspecialties. We accomplish this by reinforcing the principles of:
- Sound patient care
- Procedural expertise
- Strong clinical and conference teaching
- Innovative research and academic writing
- Humanistic and ethical considerations
- Health Equity and Community Outreach
- Community engagement
- Dedication to lifelong learning
As our goal, we mold well-balanced emergency physicians that excel in academics, community settings, and various fellowships across the country.
Mission Statement
We educate, develop, and mentor clinically excellent, compassionate, well-rounded Emergency Physicians that are committed to service and are ready to excel and lead in any clinical or academic environment. UTSW EM is committed to the development and delivery of leading edge, impactful medical education to a wide array of aspiring health care professionals across various disciplines and our community. As a world class medical center, we feature an innovative approach to training, and focus on health equity, accountability, and service. Quality education and training shall reflect the adaptive nature of medicine, while maintaining the exceptional roots at the core of our institutional mission. These characteristics of our program are in line with UTSW mission of promoting health and a healthy society that enables individuals to achieve their full potential.
What Our Residency Program Offers
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Variety of Clinical Training
One of the busiest emergency departments in the country
Our home base, Parkland Memorial Hospital, houses:- A 149-bed Emergency Department (ED) that’s the busiest single site ED in the U.S. based on volume
- Numerous other top education programs which provide the opportunity to learn from and work with premier physicians from other specialties.
Reaching the underserved population
Parkland offers a vast array of front-line experience as:- A level 1 adult trauma center
- A regional pediatric and adult burn center
- The only county hospital in Dallas County, which grants us the privilege to care for a very large underserved population.
A front row seat to expertise
At walking distance from Parkland are:UT Southwestern’s William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital, which offers:
- A destination care facility for cancer, transplant, and cardiac patients
- Resident rotations through the ED and CVICU, giving residents the opportunity to not only care for typical emergencies, but also manage LVADs, pulmonary hypertension, and ECMO.
Children’s Medical Center Dallas, which is:
- One of three level 1 pediatric trauma centers in Texas
- One of the 10 largest pediatric hospitals in the U.S.
- A PECARN research site
- Home to a world-renowned pediatric faculty.
Community rotations
Our program integrates numerous community rotations to sharpen our clinical acumen and polish our personal practice while gaining exposure to different styles of ED workflow and patient populations.These unique training experiences build physicians that are exceptionally well-rounded, clinically excellent, and capable of practicing emergency medicine in any environment.
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World-Class Faculty
More than 100 strong
Our department faculty of more than 100 have a diversity of expertise and are leaders in their fields.
Prestigious leadership- The Chair of our department, Deborah Diercks, M.D., AACEM president and was Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) president from 2015-2016.
- The Executive Vice Chair, Mark Courtney, M.D., was SAEM president from 2017-2018.
- Ray Fowler, M.D. was National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) president from 1992-1993.
- Angela Gardner, M.D. is a past president of both American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and Texas College of Emergency Physicians (TCEP).
- Ava Pierce, M.D., SAEM secretary treasurer for 2025-2026.
- We have one past American College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM) president, Angela Gardner, M.D. on staff and more than a dozen board-certified toxicologists.
- The Chair of the Institutional Review Board (IRB), Ahamed Idris, M.D., is one of our faculty.
- Many of our faculty members are double or triple board-certified.
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Resident Involvement
Our residents hone their leadership skills through participating in a variety of activities. From improving patient care to education to wellness, our residents lead and serve on both local and national levels.
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Weekly Education Conferences
Residents are excused from clinical duties in all EDs to attend Conference every Thursday from 7:30-11:30 a.m. Weekly conferences incorporate multiple modalities and use modern principles of education to maximize learner benefit, including:
- Small group, case-based, and longitudinal lectures that cover every field of Emergency Medicine tested on EM boards
- Specific content tailored to residency class (i.e. first-years receive more foundation lectures while third-years will focus more on billing, contracts, and fine tuning their practice)
- Yearly, full-body cadaver lab to practice rare procedures and yearly cadaveric hand lab
Foundations curriculum
Our Foundations curriculum utilizes a “flipped classroom” approach with suggested reading, podcasts, and video series to independently review core content. This information is then reinforced through oral board cases in small group settings.
Simulation Center
We perform monthly, hands-on procedural labs and simulation-based conferences in our state-of-the-art Simulation Center, one of the largest in the United States.
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Wellness
The resident-run Wellness Committee organizes monthly social events that help maintain balance during residency. Our Wellness activities include:
- Monthly outings
- A new intern welcome dinner
- Volleyball team
- Soccer team
- Running group
- Wellness Week
- Annual class day off
- Karaoke night
- Secret Santa
- Snacks for the resident lounge
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Fellowships
Whether you are set on a fellowship or still undecided, we have many options available. The Department of Emergency Medicine offers fellowship programs in:
- Clinical Ultrasound
- Critical Care Medicine
- Emergency Disaster and Global Health
- Emergency Medical Services
- Hyperbaric and Undersea Medicine
- Medical Education in Emergency Medicine
- Medical Toxicology
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Simulation-Based Medical Education
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Global Health Rotations
Previous opportunities for global health rotations have taken our EM residents to diverse locations, including:
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ethiopia
- Guatemala
- Kenya
- Malawi
- South Africa
- Thailand
- New Zealand
We are especially proud of our longstanding partnership with New Zealand, where we send R3 residents for a funded two-month rotation in a community emergency medicine setting. This rotation has been a cornerstone of our global health offerings, providing residents with a unique, compensated experience. Our program remains committed to supporting residents in exploring rotations in regions of personal and professional interest.
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Women in Medicine Group
The UT Southwestern Women in Medicine group is dedicated to supporting women in academic emergency medicine by fostering professional growth, mentorship, and leadership development. Our group provides a platform for women physicians to connect, share experiences, and advocate for gender equity in the field. Through networking events, educational workshops, and career development opportunities, Women in Medicine aims to empower women to achieve their full potential in emergency medicine and contribute to a diverse and inclusive academic environment.
Women in Medicine Group of the Class of 2027.
Our Commitment
The UT Southwestern Department of Emergency Medicine is committed to enhancing an environment that fosters excellence in health care education, innovation, and discovery.
5:4
Resident Male/Female Ratio
1
Veterans Among Residents
Culture of Support
Our residents support each other through social activities including:
- Monthly journal club meeting
- Monthly podcast club meetings
- Frequent gatherings and activities hosted by trainees and faculty, including flag football, pool volleyball, and bowling
Meet Some of Our Residents
Coming from California, I was looking for a residency that combined strong clinical training with a true sense of community — and I found that at UT Southwestern. The residents and faculty immediately felt like family, and the training here is unmatched. We work in the busiest emergency department in the country and become very comfortable with high-acuity cases and procedures. I get to care for a wide range of patients at Parkland, our county hospital, while also rotating at Clements for more specialized care and at Children's for pediatric emergencies. We also have a fantastic simulation center and ultrasound department. One of my favorite parts of our program is working concerts at the American Airlines Center! UT Southwestern has pushed me to grow while surrounding me with people who support and inspire me every day.
Madeleine Silverstein, M.D.
Resident
After completing my away rotation at UTSW, I knew I had found my home. The diverse patient population, the incredible attendings, and—best of all—the supportive, fun-loving coresidents made the decision easy. The atmosphere here is truly unmatched. Our clinical training is second to none, with hands-on experience at Parkland—the busiest ED in the country—as well as at Clements University Hospital and Children’s Medical Center. The patient volume, acuity, and pathology are unparalleled. But what sets this program apart are the lifelong friendships I've formed—people I will treasure forever.
Daniela Usuga, M.D.
Resident
Coming from Chicago, I knew I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and experience something new—and after my interview at UT Southwestern, the decision felt easy. The whole day had such a genuine, welcoming energy, and the residents really stood out. They were smart, down-to-earth, and clearly had each other’s backs. I could tell this was a place where people worked hard, but also truly enjoyed being around one another. What sealed the deal for me was the unparalleled volume and acuity on top of that! A year later, I’m so grateful I trusted that feeling, I'm growing every day and surrounded by amazing residents and faculty.
Malavika Prakasan, D.O.
Resident
I’m proud to train at UT Southwestern because it offers a high-acuity, high-volume clinical environment that consistently challenges me to grow as a physician. The strong academic culture, supportive faculty, and diverse patient population create an ideal setting to build both clinical excellence and leadership skills in emergency medicine.
Marcus Gonzalez, M.D.
Resident
Through my time in medical school, the UTSW residents were superb clinicians and teachers. It was evident through their compassionate delivery of high-quality care that training at UT creates well rounded, patient centered physicians. I knew I could count on a clinically challenging and positive environment to shape the early stages of my career. My experience here has only confirmed this, and I’d make the same decision over and over again! I hope you consider UT Southwestern for your training!
Hailee Browne, M.D.
Resident
Leadership
