About the Program
We are committed to provide excellence in emergency medicine education, research, and medical service to our patients and community.
Program History
Since 2010, the Henry J.N. Taub Department of Emergency Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine has offered a one-year EM Fellowship for physician assistants. Building upon PA's generalist medical education, the fellowship will enable physician assistants to become an integral team member in the specialty field of emergency medicine. The fellowship is a complement to Baylor's Emergency Medicine Residency. Our program gives each fellow the necessary skills to work competently and efficiently in every aspect of emergency medicine.
Program Highlights
We prepare physician assistants for a career in emergency medicine as competent, highly functional members of the emergency healthcare team.
Our program provides physician assistants with further education, specialized clinical and professional experience that distinguishes them from non-specialty trained PAs.
The curriculum and training or our program prepares physician assistants for the Emergency Medicine CAQ Exam.
Why Pursue Postgraduate Education?
It’s an exciting time to be a physician assistant! We are truly an important piece of ever changing health care reform. According to the AAPA in 2007 over 12 percent of all emergency department visits are seen by advanced practice providers. This is expected to increase exponentially in the upcoming years. PAs play a vital role in the future of emergency care.
Emergency medicine is an exciting specialty focused on the treatment of acute and urgent medical conditions. Emergency practitioners treat the full spectrum of patients using skills ranging from those of a general practitioner to specialists. While not required, there are several benefits of completing an emergency medicine fellowship.
Perhaps the most important and noticeable is the increased knowledge base. This is achieved by working along side board certified emergency physicians and reinforced with didactic training. It can be difficult to obtain a job in emergency medicine without experience; the fellowship is a great way to gain valuable experience. There are also many both tangible and non-tangible benefits including: Increased respect from physician colleagues, potential for increased compensation, increased productivity and patient satisfaction, potential for leadership positions and promotions, advanced skill proficiency, and many more.
Admissions and Benefits
We interview applicants three times a year. Start date is contingent on obtaining privileges through Harris Health System. Onboarding is typically a 90-day process. If you are a new graduate, we recommend applying to the interview date that is closest to your graduation date.
| Interview Season | Application Deadline | Interview |
| Spring | March 15 | May |
| Summer | June 15 | August |
| Winter | Oct. 15 | December |
- Graduation from an ARC-PA accredited PA program
- Valid Texas PA License
- NCCPA Certification
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
- Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)
- DEA Registration
- Completed application and CV
There is no set start date for the fellowship program. Licensing and credentialing can be a lengthy process in Texas. A rolling admission allows for flexibility and ensures each fellow is able to start as soon as credentialing is completed.
Our curriculum is based on monthly topics so each fellow will complete the entire curriculum regardless of start date. Regular procedure and skill workshops ensure each fellow receives procedural training early in the program.
There is no set start date however we do group interviews into three seasons. If invited to interview, there will be approximately three interview dates to choose from. All interviews are conducted on Wednesdays.
Applicants are encouraged to apply two-three months before each interview period.
To request an application email empafellowship@bcm.edu.
After submission of your application, you will be required to submit a CV in PDF format. Directions on how to submit your CV will be outlined in the application.
You will receive an application with detailed instructions on how to apply. The application consists of personal information, academic and work history, references, and essay questions. A minimum of two references are required. We will contact each reference on your behalf. There is no need to submit letters of recommendation directly to the program. Each reference will fill out an evaluation and be given the chance to provide written feedback.
For questions contact ericm@bcm.edu.
An annual salary of $50,000 plus $1000 CME is awarded to each applicant who matriculates into the program.
PA fellows are hired as faculty at Baylor College of Medicine and are eligible for full faculty benefits including health, vision, dental, life, disability, and retirement.
Curriculum
The PA fellowship curriculum mirrors the physician residency program. The fellows are integrated into both clinical and didactic portions of the EM physician resident training. PA Fellows will be incorporated in all lectures, workshops and skill labs required of physician residents.
Our program trains fellows to be efficient in all areas of emergency medicine but our program emphasizes training in ultrasound, trauma/critical care, orthopedics, and pediatrics.
Fellows will work in all areas of the emergency department including acute care, urgent care, critical care, and trauma. All patients are staffed with an attending physician.
There are three off service rotations during the fellowship training.
- Ultrasound
- Orthopedics
- Pediatrics
Fellows are evaluated periodically and given feedback on their clinical and procedural competency. The fellows will be evaluated on the following core competencies:
- Patient Care
- Medical Knowledge
- Practice Based Learning
- Systems Based Practice
- Professionalism
- Interpersonal Skills and Communication
Fellows are encouraged to complete an administrative or research project during their training, but it is not a requirement for graduation. Procedural Training is a key component of the program. Fellows will become familiar with the following procedures.
- Basic: IO Placement, Laceration Repair, Abscess I&D, Splinting
- Intermediate: Intubation and airway management, Central Line, Paracentesis, Arthrocentesis, Basic eye procedures, Arterial Line Placement
- Advanced: Chest Tube, Fracture Reduction
- Other: Resuscitations, Procedural Sedation
Director's Message
View a message from Eric Martinez, MPAS, PA-C, director of the Emergency Medicine Physician Assistance Program.
Affiliates
Affiliations with leading research and healthcare institutions in and around the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest healthcare complex, provide access to an exceptionally diverse array of people and resources. Discover how our affiliations enhance our education programs.