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Departments of Medicine, Family Medicine and Pediatrics

Divisions of Emergency Medicine (MacEmerg)

Electives

Undergraduate Electives

Undergraduate medical students can request a two-week emergency medicine elective where they will work seven shifts in our general emergency departments in Hamilton. Shifts are scheduled directly with a faculty member and focus on the care of patients who present to the emergency department with a wide spectrum of conditions.

Learners will be able to participate in patient care in the following ways:

  • Initial assessment of patients
  • Differential diagnosis generation
  • Initial management
  • Consultations to other services
  • Participation in resuscitations

The Department of Pediatrics offers electives in pediatric emergency medicine. Visit their website for more information about undergraduate pediatric emergency medicine elective opportunities.

Teaching Sites

Shifts are generally balanced between day/evening and night shifts. Shifts are scheduled at three of our general emergency department sites.

  • Hamilton General Site – The Hamilton General Hospital (HGH) is the regional referral center for trauma, cardiac, stroke, vascular and neurosciences programs. It is a busy, high acuity department in downtown Hamilton and caters to a significant number of structurally marginalized patients. Rotations at the HGH exposes learners to issues of substance abuse, blunt and penetrating trauma, infectious diseases and other health problems that can affect marginalized populations.
  • Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre – The Juravinski Hospital is adjoining the regional cancer center. As such, many of the patients who present to the emergency department (ED) have complex conditions that require significant work up and management. This, coupled with a large number of patients from the surrounding area, makes the Juravinski an excellent teaching site with a wide breadth of patient types.
  • St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton – The St. Joseph’s Hospital is a high-volume site, with good exposure to cases involving toxicology, psychiatry and nephrology.

Formal Teaching Opportunities

Visiting elective clerks are welcome to attend teaching sessions, as follows:

  • PGY1 Rounds – Tuesday mornings at 8:30 a.m. – Currently online over Zoom
  • FRCPC EM Rounds – Thursday mornings from 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Hamilton General Site – all rounds are open except morbidity and mortality (M&M) rounds. Given the nature of M&M Rounds, they are restricted to emergency medicine (EM) residents and faculty
  • Journal Club – Variable time/location – please contact the EM Chief Residents as capacity may be limited

Meetings

  • Both the FRCPC and CCFP-EM Program Director are willing to meet with students to discuss the EM programs in Hamilton.
  • If you would like more information about setting up an undergraduate elective, please contact the program administrator.

Postgraduate electives

Residents are typically scheduled for approximately 15 shifts over a four-week elective. Residents on elective will have the opportunity to participate in all teaching and academic activities and be able to connect with faculty members and program leadership. We generally encourage interested residents to apply for an elective as early as possible as spots can fill up.

Junior residents (PGY-1 or PGY-2) who are interested in setting up an elective can email the elective administrator.

Senior residents (PGY-3 or higher) who are interested in setting up an elective can email the elective administrator.

The Department of Pediatrics offers electives in pediatric emergency medicine. Visit their website for more information about postgraduate pediatric emergency medicine elective opportunities.

Teaching Sites

Shifts are generally balanced between day/evening and night shifts. Shifts are scheduled at three of our general emergency department sites:

  • Hamilton General Site – The Hamilton General Hospital (HGH) is the regional referral center for trauma, cardiac, stroke, vascular and neurosciences programs. It is a busy, high acuity department in downtown Hamilton and caters to a significant number of structurally marginalized patients. Rotations at the HGH exposes learners to issues of substance abuse, blunt and penetrating trauma, infectious diseases and other health problems that can affect marginalized populations.
  • Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre – The Juravinski Hospital is adjoining the regional cancer center. As such, many of the patients who present to the ED have complex conditions that require significant work up and management. This, coupled with a large number of patients from the surrounding area, makes the Juravinski an excellent teaching site with a wide breadth of patient types.
  • St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton – The St. Joseph’s Hospital is a high-volume site, with good exposure to cases involving toxicology, psychiatry and nephrology.

Formal Teaching Opportunities:

Residents on elective are welcome to attend teaching sessions, as follows:

  • PGY1 Rounds – Tuesday mornings at 8:30 a.m. – Currently online over Zoom
  • FRCPC EM Rounds – Thursday mornings from 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Hamilton General Site – all rounds are open except morbidity and mortality (M&M) Rounds. Given the nature of M&M Rounds these rounds are restricted to emergency (EM) residents and faculty.
  • Journal Club – Variable time/location – please contact the EM Chief Residents, as capacity may be limited