The Allegheny Health Network, in close collaboration with regional EMS agencies, offers a one-year immersive experience in EMS medicine. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and prepares EMS fellows for board certification in EMS medicine. 

The practice of prehospital medicine, more commonly known as emergency medical services, involves components of public health, pediatrics, trauma, and acute resuscitation. EMS physicians must possess a broad skill base and interface with a diverse population of patients and clinicians. EMS physicians are responsible for the delegated practice of EMTs and paramedics and monitor the clinical care they provide outside of the hospital. The challenges unique to prehospital medicine require that future EMS physicians receive training in rescue techniques, mass gathering medicine, toxicology, emergency management, and research methods. The EMS fellowship will prepare clinicians for subspecialty board certification in EMS and train the next generation of prehospital leaders and EMS medical directors.

The first month of the fellowship program is dedicated to familiarization with regional EMS services in addition to completing required courses in medical oversight and emergency vehicle operation. The EMS fellow can focus on specialized aspects of prehospital medicine such as: education, critical care transport, and air medical care. Experience is also provided in tactical and mass gathering medicine. Research is integrated into the fellowship curriculum, and EMS fellows will interact with area scholars through projects involving the Strategies to Innovate Emergency Care Clinical Trials Network (SIREN) as well as other research opportunities within the Division. 

A physician response vehicle has recently been put into service to allow the EMS Fellow to respond to scenes in the surrounding region and provide direct patient care and on-scene medical direction to AHN medical command service agencies.  The vehicle is equipped with standard ALS equipment and medications.  Additionally, the vehicle also carries a transport ventilator,  specialized equipment, and additional medications for physician-level scope of practice in the prehospital setting.  The EMS fellow will have priority access to this vehicle after they are cleared for independent field practice.  

The Division of Prehospital Care Services at the Allegheny Health Network is responsible for the emergency triage, transport, and stabilization of patients throughout Western Pennsylvania. The LifeFlight program, one of the first to fly in the Northeastern United States, operates five helicopters and provides ground transport to patients requiring ICU level care. The Prehospital Care Services personnel are active in EMS provider education and participate at local, regional, and state conferences. AHN operates a centralized patient referral center and a Community Paramedic program. EMS fellows will assist medical directors and program administrators with quality improvement initiatives. Exposure to administrative aspects of EMS medicine takes place through regular attendance at regional medical advisory councils and state sponsored meetings.
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We invite you to learn more about the EMS fellowship program! Please contact the program director with any specific questions or comments. The Allegheny Health Network’s EMS Fellowship participates in the National Resident Matching Program. Fellows are compensated at their appropriate PGY level and are provided with a generous educational stipend to cover conference and fellowship-related expenses. Other benefits include health insurance, an employee assistance plan, access to child care, and hospital parking.

If you are interested in applying to our program, a complete CV, USMLE/COMLEX scores, and three letters of recommendation are required to initiate the application process. Please forward these materials to the Program Director.  

Fellowship Program Director
Chadd E. Nesbit, MD, PhD, FACEP, FAEMS