Overview of Fellowship
The GW Disaster and Operational Medicine Fellowship within the Department of Emergency Medicine is a 2-year program in the Nation’s Capital that provides physicians the comprehensive knowledge and experiences required for a career in disaster medicine. The distinctive program design challenges physicians to enhance critical thinking skills while preparing to be physician-leaders ready to deliver high-quality health care in any environment.
Goal:
To equip physicians with the specialized knowledge, skills and experience necessary to effectively manage emergency systems and become leaders in disaster and medicine.
Objectives:
- To develop physician expertise in emergency management and its application to disaster and operational medicine
- To provide practical application of emergency management principals through multiagency experiences
- To cultivate future leaders in disaster medicine across all disciplines and practice settings
- To engage with key stakeholders and gain insight into the collaborative environment of disaster preparedness and response
- To foster research in emergency management and encourage innovative approaches to disaster problem sets
Curriculum:
Overview:
The curriculum includes published peer-reviewed didactic content in conjunction with experiential learning opportunities through local partners, federal entities and international organizations. Fellows are taught by world-renowned faculty and expert practitioners. The curriculum is divided into experiential, academic and clinical components as follows:
Experiential:
Fellows participate in mandatory apprenticeships in operational medicine, hospital emergency management, emergency medical services, global disaster response and local and federal disaster planning. Our partners include DC Fire and EMS, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA), the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health and others. Each fellow provides medical direction for the GW Operational Medicine Program where they assist in planning large mass gatherings and provide medical care in austere settings including first amendment activities, athletic competitions, state events, and concerts in the National Capital Region.
Academic:
Fellows complete graduate level coursework, local and national certification courses, didactic days and journal clubs. Fellows conduct at least one approved research project during the program duration with the goal of publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and presentation at a national or international conference.
Clinical:
Fellows work as attending physicians at two clinical sites – the DC Veterans Affairs hospital and United Medical Center. Fellows also provide medical oversight and clinical coverage of mass-gathering events in DC through the Operational Medicine Program.
Effective Dates and Application Requirements:
The duration of the Disaster and Operational Medicine Fellowship is two years with academic dates of August 1st to July 31st. Fellows accepted into the program must be board eligible/certified in emergency medicine. Applications are accepted throughout the year with interviews occurring in September and October.
Interested applicants should send a copy of your letter of intent, curriculum vitae, and three reference letters including one from your emergency medicine residency program director. Reference letters should be sent by the recommender. Completed applications should be sent to the Fellowship Director, Dr. Laura Tilley (contact information below).
Laura Tilley, MD, FACEP
Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine
Director, Disaster and Operational Medicine Fellowship
Chief, Disaster and Operational Medicine Section
2120 L Street NW
Suite 450
Washington, DC 20037
Email: ltilley [at] mfa [dot] gwu [dot] edu (ltilley[at]mfa[dot]gwu[dot]edu)