Emergency Medicine APP Onboarding & Transition-to-Practice Program

Current EM PA Fellows with Fellowship Director, Eric Martinez.

About the Program

The Baylor College of Medicine Emergency Medicine Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Transition-to-Practice Program reflects our ongoing commitment to excellence in emergency medicine education, patient care, and professional development. We remain dedicated to supporting APP growth across all stages of practice, whether entering the field as a new graduate, transitioning into emergency medicine from another specialty, or further advancing and refining existing emergency medicine experience.

Our program is designed to provide a structured, competency-based pathway that facilitates successful integration into emergency medicine practice through progressive clinical autonomy, focused education, and individualized mentorship.

Program Overview

As emergency medicine continues to evolve, APPs play an increasingly important role in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. The Emergency Medicine APP Transition-to-Practice Program was developed to provide a standardized and supportive onboarding experience that prepares APPs to practice confidently and effectively within the emergency department environment.

Recognizing that incoming APPs bring diverse clinical backgrounds and levels of experience, the program utilizes multiple training pathways tailored to individual experience while maintaining a consistent progression toward clinical competency.

Admissions

Graduation from an accredited PA or NP program
NCCPA certification (for PAs) or national board certification (for NPs)
Texas APP License
DEA Registration
Basic Life Support (BLS)
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)
CV and three professional references (phone numbers and email addresses)
New graduates are welcome to apply pending licensure/certifications.

See Career Opportunities below.

All pathways follow a structured progression model emphasizing patient safety, professional development, and clinical excellence.

New Graduate APP Track
Experienced APP (Non-Emergency Medicine Background) Track
Experienced Emergency Medicine APP Track

APPs will be hired as faculty at Baylor College of Medicine and are eligible for full faculty benefits, including health, vision, dental, life, disability, and retirement.

View the Baylor benefits package here.

For Questions Contact: Christopher Overcash, PA-C, Director of APP Education and Onboarding

Program Highlights

The Emergency Medicine APP Transition-to-Practice Program includes:

Structured onboarding and orientation curriculum
Progressive advancement of clinical autonomy through competency-based milestones
Early dedicated shadowing clinical experiences
Direct attending physician mentorship and supervision
High-yield emergency medicine didactic curriculum
Simulation and procedural skills training
Exposure to diverse emergency medicine practice settings, including trauma, critical care, and acute/urgent care
Standardized competency assessments through direct observations, shift evaluations, monthly review
meetings, and chart audits
Individualized feedback and mentorship throughout the program
Opportunities for continued professional growth and leadership development

Curriculum

The educational curriculum integrates clinical practice with focused didactic experiences designed to strengthen emergency medicine knowledge and procedural proficiency.

Educational components include:

Emergency department workflow and operations
Electronic health record (Epic) training, documentation practices, and billing and coding education
Core emergency medicine topics and high-yield presentations
Procedure workshops and skills laboratories
Simulation-based training sessions
Case-based discussions and ongoing educational conferences

Upon completion of the program, APPs who join our faculty team may have opportunities for continued professional growth and career development. Potential opportunities include:

Participation in educational initiatives within the Baylor College of Medicine PA Program
Involvement in departmental committees and quality improvement efforts
Pursuit of leadership and mentorship roles within the department

Our Commitment to APP Development

Baylor College of Medicine remains committed to the continued education and development of emergency medicine APPs beyond initial onboarding. Our goal is not simply to prepare APPs for clinical practice, but to cultivate highly skilled, collaborative, and adaptable emergency medicine providers who will contribute to the future of patient care, education, quality improvement, and leadership.