University Health Truman Medical Center (UH TMC) continues to follow all CDC recommendations for testing, treatment, and PPE. Each provider has access to appropriate PPE while working in the emergency department. We are fortunate to have exemplary hospital leadership, including several who are emergency physicians. Our former Chair, in his role as UH TMC’s Associate Chief Medical Officer, serves as the leader of the incident command center responsible for managing the hospital’s COVID-19 response. Dr. O’Rourke, our Associate Program Director is also the ED operations director and has been a key liaison between our residents and hospital leadership. Our department spearheaded hospital-wide COVID airway simulation training and has hosted regular ED town halls with our Chair, hospital, and department leadership addressing our response to COVID-19. Our residents have the ability to submit anonymous questions and recommendations in advance. Our hospital sends daily e-mail announcements regarding our COVID-19 response that are helpful and relevant.

UH TMC has been a community leader during the COVID pandemic. We are keenly aware that the patient population we serve has been disproportionately affected by COVID. To that end, UH TMC has sponsored multiple community testing sites, initiated a drive-up testing site, and our physicians have participated in multiple community events, including educational panels, mask distribution, and mass vaccination efforts. We are currently promoting and offering vaccines to patients and visitors in the ED.

Our department research team has also participated in two large CDC funded multi-center projects, COVERED and PREVENT, both of which have led to multiple publications and have informed CDC recommendations. See our Research page for more information.

Our residency is committed to both promoting and supporting equality for all within the program. We are happy to announce our scholarship for disadvantaged students that will be sponsored by our very own emergency department funds.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Student must be in good standing in medical school.
• Student must be pursuing a degree at an LCME-accredited medical school
• Student must have a financial need for assistance

Application Process:

• Apply though VSAS/VSLO
• Email Lara Maisch at Lara.Maisch@uhkc.org for the Disadvantaged scholarship application. Please include dates you wish to rotate in this email.
• Submit a letter of intent: why you qualify for this scholarship, career plans, why you are interested in our program, and a little bit about yourself. This should be submitted to Lara Maisch when you submit the application form.

Please let Clerkship Faculty know if you have any questions:

Melanie Camejo, MD: Melanie.Camejo@uhkc.org
James O’Brien, MD: James.O’Brien@uhkc.org
Lara Maisch: Lara.Maisch@uhkc.org

Our residency program stands with both University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) and University Health Truman Medical Center (UH TMC) in our commitment to supporting and expanding diversity, equity and inclusion within our community and our residency. UH TMC was named a 2020 Champion of Diversity by the Greater KC Chamber of Commerce.

To work towards that goal, our residency didactics include teaching on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Recent examples include lectures led by local university and hospital affiliate DEI leaders and case-based learning about bias and issues specifically affecting LGBTQ patients. We have implemented a scholarship program for underrepresented minority (URM) medical students that is currently available. Click here for more information.

At UMKC SOM, there is an active Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) led by Tyler K. Smith, MD, MPH. The UMKC SOM Office of DEI has instituted a regular newsletter highlighting important initiatives, providing faculty development, as well as resources for our learners. In June 2020, the Office of DEI began a series of student, trainee, faculty, and staff forums to facilitate dialogues necessary to support and promote a safe place for difficult discussions. The new Stay Woke Spotlight in the UMKC Office of DEI newsletter highlights students, residents, faculty, and staff that make an impact on diversity, equity, and inclusion at the UMKC School of Medicine (SOM). UMKC Faculty leadership hold regular town halls among students and faculty to address DEI issues.

We currently have an EM resident and faculty involved with the Housestaff Emerging Academy of Leaders (HEAL) for Underrepresented Groups through UT Southwestern. We also have a resident representative on the UMKC resident DEI advisory group UNITED. We also have a faculty member who currently serves as the supporting staff for the Latino Medical Student Association for UMKC.

UMKC EM welcomes LGBTQ students, residents, and faculty. We will continue to support our LGBTQ department members and will address bias and other issues faced by this patient population in our didactics. UH TMC has a multi-specialty LGBTQ clinic designed to meet the unique needs of this patient population and has been designated an LGBTQ healthcare equality leader by the national Healthcare Equality Index.

Our residency program and Department welcome all and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination against any member of our community on the basis of gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, age, religious beliefs, race/ethnicity, citizenship, relationship status, parental status, or disability. We are continuously working on reducing barriers for URM in medicine learners, creating a safe and supportive learning environment, and recruiting and keeping a diverse group of residents and faculty.

University Health Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Website

TMC LGBTQ Care Page

UMKC School of Medicine Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Medical Education Fellowship

We are excited to offer Medical Education Fellowship Training with an emphasis in Simulation Education. This 1 or 2-year non-ACGME fellowship program is designed for those interested in a career in academic emergency medicine and seeking to build skills in teaching, curriculum development, leadership and mentoring, simulation-based education, and medical education research. 2-year fellows will complete a Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE) degree( Graduate Certificate for 1-year fellows).

Program Mission:

To foster the professional growth and development of future emergency medicine academicians and simulationists through a robust curriculum and formalized mentorship that ideally leverages the strengths of the organization, its people, and the fellow.

Goals (summary, selected):

After completion of the fellowship program, the fellow will be able to:

• Explain the theoretical basis, benefits, and limitations of clinical and non-clinical teaching, including simulation-based medical education.
• Deliver effective clinical and non-clinical theory-based instruction to both large and small groups.
• Effectively use a variety of technologies to teach, learn, and communicate.
• Demonstrate leadership that is evidence-based and reflective of the fellows’ inherent skillset
• Develop and execute educational research that contributes to the advancement of health professions education and patient care.

Dimensions

There are 4 key dimensions to the program outlined below. The following will assist the fellow in developing skills that fall under each dimension: The Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE) degree coursework, participation in fellowship didactics, attendance at select regional and national workshops and conferences, and experiential learning through projects and mentorship in University Health Dept EM and UMKCs simulation center.

• Teaching Skills, Theory, and Educational Principles
• Educational Research Methodology
• Educational Program Administration & Leadership
• Simulation-Based Medical Education Theory, Practice

Program Highlights/Benefits

• Competitive fellowship salary. Additional stipend above University’s PGY-4/5 salary.
• Full-time employment benefits as a fellow at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
• Faculty Appointment in the University Health Department of Emergency Medicine.
• Clinical shifts at the teaching sites of the UMKC Emergency Medicine Residency Program: University Health and Children’s Mercy Hospital.
• Protected non-clinical time for the fellowship curriculum with an average of 8 shifts per month
• Funded Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE) degree (certificate for 1-year fellow).
• Generous CME for registration and travel to select regional and/or national simulation conferences during each year of the program.
• Additional $1,000 yearly stipend for continuing medical education.
• Internal and external moonlighting permitted.
• Potential for additional funded registration and travel for regional or national abstract or didactic presentations.
• Robust mentoring and feedback, including regular contact with fellowship directors and program mentors.

Candidates must have graduated in good standing from an ACGME-accredited emergency medicine (EM) residency program and must be board-certified or board-eligible in EM.

Application Process

Please contact Emily Hillman, MD, MHPE, and Melanie Camejo, MD, MHPE, for questions or more information. Qualifications include Board Certified or Board Eligible in Emergency Medicine (residency trained at an ACGME-approved program), must have graduated in good standing, and a strong interest in academic emergency medicine career.

 Applicants are asked to provide:

1. Curriculum vitae with contact information for three references. At least one reference should be a member of residency program leadership.
2. A letter of recommendation
3. A statement outlining reasons for pursuing a combined Medical Education/Simulation Fellowship. No longer than 250 words.

Applicants will be invited to interview during September or October. We will extend a match offer in Nov-Dec. Applicants must be accepted into the UMKC Masters of Health Professions Education (MHPE) Program to start the fellowship. There is one fellowship position available for the current application season.

Current Fellows

Gabriel Ceceñas-Salas, DO
2023-2024
Medical School:University of North Texas Health Science Center – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
EM Residency: University of Missouri-Kansas City/University Health-Truman Medical Center

Chris Elberts, DO
2023-2024
Medical School: AT Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
EM Residency: University of Missouri-Kansas City/University Health-Truman Medical Center; Chief EM Resident 2022-2023

Fellowship Graduates

Lacie Bailey, MD, MS
2021-2022
Medical School: University of Missouri
Medical Education-Simulation Fellowship: University of Missouri-Kansas City/University Health

Dr. Bailey has accepted an academic EM faculty position at Medical College of Wisconsin in the Department of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Bailey made tremendous contributions during her fellowship. She taught over 40 hours of EM resident conferences including a significant number of simulation sessions. She received outstanding faculty evaluations. Her notable fellowship outcomes include:

• Fellow educational research/QI project: development, implementation and outcome evaluation of a novel smart phone app and web-based ECG curriculum for EM residents.
• Publication accepted pending revisions in Missouri Medicine (anticipated late 2022-early 2023)
• Selected as a Track Chair for a National Conference- Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine
• EM Foundations Case Author

Here is what Dr. Bailey has to share about her Fellowship experience at UH-Department of Emergency Medicine and UMKC EM Residency:

“The medical education and simulation fellowship at the University of Missouri – Kansas City and University Health at Truman Medical Center was the best step that I could have taken to jump start  a career in academics. Having trained at another institution, the faculty and residents immediately welcomed me into the program and helped me quickly find my way my first year out of residency as a new attending. I felt like I had been there for years within the first few weeks. The clinical experiences at a level I trauma center were the perfect introduction to an academic career. The mentorship from Drs. Hillman and Camejo is really what makes the program unique. Both have strong academic backgrounds and served as mentors throughout the fellowship. There was the perfect amount of guidance and autonomy for a fellow allowing me to focus on my interests while also getting exposure to all aspects of medical education. The Health Professions’ Education program compliments the medical education and simulation fellowship to provide the backbone for teaching medical education at all levels. The additional lectures from the emergency department faculty helped to round out important topics not covered by the health professions’ education program such as mentorship, time management, and leadership. The fellowship helped me build my CV with research experience, curriculum development, and publishing a peer-reviewed article along with getting involved with a national committee. The amount of clinical and professional growth I had during one year of fellowship was exponential. My only regret is not being able to stay for the second year of fellowship due to my husband’s job change.” ~Dr. Lacie Bailey, 21-22’ MedED Fellow

Fellowship Leadership

Melanie Camejo, M.D., MHPE
Assistant Professor Emergency Medicine
Fellowship Director
Associate EM Residency Director
EM Student Clerkship Director

Emily Hillman, M.D., MHPE
Associate Professor Emergency Medicine
Residency Program Director
Associate Fellowship  Program Director
Director of Simulation Education – UMKC SOM

Our residents and faculty have developed a wellness curriculum to face the unique challenges involved in emergency medicine training. We have aimed to substantiate wellness by incorporating it into regular and dedicated conference time. Our wellness activities focus on service, resiliency, and career development, and will continue to grow with creative ideas to support and empower residents.

In 2018 we officially started our departmental Wellness Committee with both residents and faculty members.  We understood the importance of resident input and feedback into their own wellness.  Who else would know what residents need, in terms of wellness, other than residents themselves? Our Wellness Committee continues to expand and actively plans activities and curriculum for the year. This year we added a 4^th elected chief resident position specifically dedicated to wellness!

In August of 2018, we had our first service day at Jewish Vocational Services where we assembled furniture for incoming refugee families. Our second, in May 2019, was at The Kansas City Assessment and Triage Center, a local mental health crisis center. We held conference there, revamping their courtyard with new flowers, vegetables, and picnic tables. While giving back to our community we reflected on the social adversity of our patients and became familiar with a disposition resource available to us in the ER. On service days this year we volunteered at a local shelter and an animal rescue that both serve our community.

We continue to host wellness days that offer guest speakers, field trips, community service projects, book clubs, career information, and financial education; all ideas from residents wanting to better our program. The Wellness Committee manages department awards, shout-outs, “Saves of the Month” and miscellaneous gifts in efforts to recognize those who go above and beyond.  Ultimately, we aim to sustain a positive, open environment for all residents to feel welcome and fulfilled.

Attempting to keep our faculty and residents well during the COVID-19 pandemic has been both fulfilling and a challenge.  We strive to instill the importance of mindfulness and healthy habits by incorporating and practicing mindfulness, good sleep hygiene, and exercise into daily life.  During our lockdown period we utilized zoom conferencing for many of our wellness days.  One of our very talented residents hosted a cooking class via zoom which was a universal hit!  During warm weather conferences we took advantage of the weather by taking residents to a local lake for kayaking, paddle boarding, and some water side yoga.

In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic our program also understands the other pandemic that is happening simultaneously, the physician burnout pandemic.  Study after study shows the importance of institutions placing a value on the well-being of their providers.   Our department leadership understands the importance as well; providing financial and logistical support.

Wellness Curriculum

• Intern Welcome Week
• Service Days (spring and summer)
• Career Workshop
• Resiliency Day
• Post In-Training Exam Festivity
• Book Club
• Healthy habits
• Mindfulness and Exercise
• Miscellaneous outings, consultant mixers, gift giving, awards