Emergency Medicine Residency

Good Samaritan Hospital offers our residents a competitive salary and benefits package. Some residency programs offer additional perks to help you as you learn.

Total Annual Salaries

July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025

• PGY 1 $77,500
• PGY 2 $79,500
• PGY 3 $82,500
• PGY 4 $87,500
• PGY 5 $89,500
• PGY 6 $91,500

*Includes $1,000 for required rotational travel expenses

Benefits

CME annual:

• PGY 1 $1,000
• PGY 2 $1,500
• PGY 3: $2,500
• PGY 4: $2,500
• PGY 5: $2,500
• PGY 6: $2,500

Stipends: Including in Salary

Housing stipend: $3,500

Meals: annual meal stipend $3,000. No free meals provided.

Cell phone stipend: $500

Uniform Stipend: $500

Education stipend:

• PGY 1: $1,000
• PGY 2: $1,500
• PGY 3: $1,500
• PGY 4: $2,000
• PGY 5: $2,000
• PGY 6:$ 2,000

Chief resident stipend (will identify senior chief for programs once selected) additional stipend $3,000.

In addition, Emergency Medicine residents also receive:

• Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)
• American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) membership
• American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (ACOEP) membership
• Days off each year to attend an EM national conference
• Online review courses

PGY 1

PGY 2

PGY 3                                                                                             

Affiliated Sites

To ensure a diverse and well-rounded experience, the program has affiliations with:

• FDNY EMS
• Level 1 urban emergency medicine facility
• NYC Poison Control Center
• The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland

• Burn Medicine
• Cardiology
• Coronary Care Unit (CCU)
• Dermatology
• Emergency Medicine Clinical Decision Unit
• Emergency Medicine Critical Care
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• General Surgery
• Hand Surgery
• Infectious Disease
• Internal Medicine
• International Medicine
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS)
• Pediatric Anesthesia
• Plastic Surgery
• Psychiatry
• Rural Medicine
• Urology

• Cadaver Lab
• EM lecture conference series, weekly
• Grand rounds
• Journal club
• Morning case conference presentations
• Morning teaching/sign-out rounds
• Procedure lab
• Simulation lab
• Structured reading program
• Radiology and EKG take-home quizzes, biweekly
• Trauma conference
• Ultrasound training
• Wellness retreat

As an Emergency Medicine resident, you will complete, publish and present a clinical case report based on an interesting or rare case worth. You will also conduct an independent research project. The goals of these requirements are to advance knowledge of the basic principles of scientific inquiry, including research design, project implementation, statistical analysis, and application to patient care.

You will conduct the research project in close contact with a faculty mentor in an area of your choice. Each case report and research project is published in a professional academic journal and presented at national or regional conferences. Our Emergency Medicine residents often place in presentation competitions at national conferences. Residents gain pride in their work, honor for our program and hospital, and often receive gift cards.

Research activities are supplemented by journal club sessions, which are often hosted at a faculty member or resident’s home. You learn to critically evaluate published studies, apply new knowledge and techniques to clinical practice, and communicate up-to-date information to a patient. We value and encourage evidence-based medicine, and we want to prepare you for lifelong learning.

Case Presentations and Posters

In addition to the following case presentations, our residents have also had research published in prestigious medical journals.

Influence of Emergency Department Daily Volume on Utilization of Computed Tomography Scans

Katherine Lang, DO, David Levy, DO, Victoria Levy

When EDs become busier during high volume days, it sometimes becomes difficult for providers to spend a significant amount of time at the bedside obtaining histories. We wish to see if providers change their imaging ordering practices on busier days, perhaps as a counter measure to evaluate for pathology when time at the bedside is limited.

The Incidence of Clinically Significant MRA Findings for TIA Patients in the CDU

Amanda Pacheco, DO, Robert Bramante MD, Victoria Levy

Our ED runs a Clinical Decision Unit/Observation Unit where patients with stroke-like symptoms can be dispositioned to while they wait for further MRI imaging to evaluate for cerebrovascular accidents. This study looks at how often these patients ultimately have abnormal MR findings when placed in this unit.

Small Bowel Obstruction in an Adolescent Male with No Apparent Risk Factors: A Rare Case of Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome

Brianna Thiessen, DO, Christine Hickey, DO, Reethamma Daniel MD

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) is an uncommon condition that can lead to upper gastrointestinal obstruction. While it is a rare diagnosis, it is important to consider SMAS in the differential diagnosis of a pediatric patient presenting with bilious emesis and no other risk factors for intestinal obstruction.

Correlation Between the Use of Warning Lights and Sirens and Vehicular Collisions during Emergency Medical Service Transport

Henry Marr, DO, David Levy, DO

This is a survey project to determine how often local EMS drivers have gotten into accidents when using warning lights and sirens.

Full Moon Mania: Busting the Myth of Surge in the Emergency Department Based on the Lunar Calendar

Callee Heywood, DO, Adam Schwartz, DO

The project looks into the myth that EDs become busier during full moons. It looks at a number of statistics, including psychiatric holds, volume and acuity.

A Complicated Case of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis

Amanda Pacheco, DO, MS, David Levy, DO, Robert Gekle, MD

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare finding, but one that must be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with a variety of chief complaints to the ED, especially those with complaints of headache and vague neurologic symptoms. There is often a delay in the diagnosis of CVT given the typically ambiguous presentation. CVT is easily misdiagnosed. Without considering it among the differential diagnoses, one might not order the diagnostic CT venography or MR venography, which is often required, as CT without contrast may be entirely normal. We present a case of a patient with multiple risk factors for CVT who presented to the ED several times over a 6-week period. He had a recent diagnosis of aseptic meningitis and was ultimately diagnosed with a transverse sinus thrombosis requiring immediate anticoagulation. This case exemplifies the need to keep CVT on the list of differential diagnoses, and if clinical suspicion is high enough, to order the appropriate advanced imaging.

Pyloric Stenosis in Monozygotic Twin Girls

Andrew Leubitz, DO, MBA, Reethamma Daniel, MD, FAAP

Childhood emesis is a common chief compliant in the ED with the pattern of projectile vomiting in infants being highly suggestive of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS). IHPS has an incidence of two to three per 1,000 babies in the general population, > 80% are males, 90% diagnosed between two- and seven-weeks old. Our case examines the diagnostic work-up of pyloric stenosis, in the rare presentation in the setting of monozygotic twin girls, diagnosed concurrently in the ED and confirmed in the operating room.

Prevertebral Hematoma Secondary to Cervical Spine Fracture in a Geriatric Patient with Dysphagia Following a Fall from Standing Height

Katherine Lang, DO, Kathleen Sullivan, DO, Wojciech Bober, DO

Cervical spine injuries occur in approximately 3.7% of all trauma patients. As such, it is important to consider cervical spine fracture, even in patients with seemingly minor injuries, especially if they have certain risk factors, such as advanced age or ankylosing spondylitis. Prevertebral hematoma, though rare, is a serious potential complication of cervical spine fractures. This particular case emphasizes the importance of maintaining a low threshold for cervical spine imaging in the elderly despite risk stratification tools.

Upper Cervical Epidural Abscess Resulting in Respiratory Compromise After Lumbar Steroid Injection

Jordan LaFave, DO, Robert Bramante, MD

We discuss a case in which a 45-year-old male patient developed an upper cervical epidural abscess 48 hours after receiving a lumbar steroid injection. The patient presented with diminished strength in all four extremities and respiratory distress secondary to the space-occupying lesion near his spinal cord. He was eventually discharged to rehabilitation, but never regained full strength in his arms or legs.

Safe Smoking?: A Case of Blast Injury from an Exploding Electronic Cigarette

Brady Pennig, DO, Steven Zimmerman, MD, Adam Schwartz, DO, Steve Sattler, DO

Emergency medicine physicians must remain up to date and aware of all new public health risks. Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have recently been proposed as long-term substitutes for smoking or as an ultimate means to cessation. The safety of e-cigarettes has recently been questioned. We describe a 58-year-old male who presented to our community ED with severe facial injuries following an e-cigarette explosion.

A Case of Delayed Cardiac Tamponade After Elective Cardiac Stenting

Henry Marr, DO, David Levy, DO

A 57-year-old male presented to the ED with complaints of multiple episodes of syncope occurring over the last two days when he had undergone elective cardiac catheterization with placement of two cardiac stents. His initial ED ECG showed complete heart block and bedside sonography showed a small pericardial effusion without evidence of other abnormality. He was sent to the catheterization lab for evaluation of stent patency and then with evidence of cardiac tamponade from coronary rupture, he was subsequently taken to the operating room where a pericardial window was performed.

Exposure to Observation Medicine in United States Emergency Medicine Residency Training Programs

Patrick Cary, DO, Robert Bramante, MD, David Levy, DO, Robert Gekle, MD

The goal of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of observation medicine (OM) education in EM residencies. The survey was distributed in 2017 to program directors and core faculty in EM residency programs throughout the United States. Our study found that 46.7% of respondents exposed their residents to a dedicated OU. Our results were compared to a survey performed by Mace et al. in November 1999 to January 2000 and did not appear to show a significant increase in didactics or clinical rotations in OM over the past 16 years despite a growth in OM units.

A Randomized, Prospective Comparison of Food Versus Non-food Based Gelatin Homemade Ultrasound Phantoms

Clarice Zhang, DO, Robert Bramante, MD, Robert Gekle, MD, David Levy, DO

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has become readily available as a bedside resource and has been proven to be beneficial to patients. There is a need for affordable homemade ultrasound phantoms that reproduce the texture and resistance of human tissue, have sufficient ultrasound penetration to enable the identification and location of targets, have a long shelf life, and have no infection control issues. Our study supports our hypothesis that the non-food-based model outlasted the food-based models when evaluating Knox gelatin, agar gelatin, and ballistic gelatin. The Knox gelatin model was the preferred model for imaging but had a shelf-life of only 15 days.

Perception of EMS Towards the Use of Warning Lights and Sirens

Michael J. Slisz, DO, Steven Sattler, DO

National data demonstrates the use of warning lights and sirens by EMS providers for non-emergent patient transports increases the risks of motor vehicle collisions (MVCs), and usually decreases patient transports by less than two minutes. This study seeks to determine the extent of local EMS provider knowledge regarding the information/risks of using warning lights and sirens, and the amount local providers have been using warning lights and sirens for patient transports compared with number of MVCs they were involved in.

Comparing Return Rates Between Patients Treated in the Observation Unit with IV Antibiotic Therapy Versus Patients Discharged from the ED with Oral Antibiotic Therapy

Joanna Marino, DO, Robert Bramante MD, Radhika Malhotra, MD

Cellulitis is a common complaint in the ED with no definitive guidelines to direct outpatient versus inpatient treatment. Observation units (OU) are emerging as a bridge between treat and release patients, and inpatient hospital admission. A brief stay in the observation unit to provide IV antibiotics can decrease recidivism rates to the ED for patients diagnosed with cellulitis.

Bilateral Carotid Artery Dissection Masquerading as Strep Pharyngitis

Adam Schwartz, DO, Joanna Marino, DO, Christine Hall, DO

Carotid artery dissection (CAD) is a relatively rare cause of ischemic stroke. Spontaneous bilateral CAD is a rare and poorly understood process associated with a poor prognosis. The most commonly reported symptoms on presentation of CAD include headache, neck pain, and neurologic deficits. These vague symptoms can make diagnosis difficult.

Good Samaritan Hospital offers fourth-year medical student electives in EM, which are available year round. The number of students doing an elective is limited to avoid diluting the educational experience of all rotators. Through the EM elective, you become an integral part of the rotation and part of the ED team. Our emergency medicine faculty and residents are energetic and highly motivated to promote EM and ensure an educational and rewarding rotation.

You are responsible for the complete care and management of their assigned patients from initial work-up through disposition. There are many opportunities to practice basic procedures, as well as possibly performing more invasive or emergent procedures. You work under the supervision of the ED attending and a senior resident when assigned to the same team.

To arrange an EM elective, contact the Department of Medical Education at Good Samaritan Hospital at 631-376-4163 or Dawn.Sperling@chsli.org.

Scheduling

During a typical four-week rotation, you will have fourteen 12-hour shifts (7 a.m.–7 p.m., 7 p.m.–7 a.m. or 11 a.m.–11:00 p.m.). We make every effort to honor special scheduling requests that are within the guidelines of the schedule.

Academics

• Core reading material — Topics reflect the fundamentals of emergency medicine. During the final week of the rotation, you sit for an exit exam and evaluation.
• Morning conference — During shifts on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, rotators attend case presentation conferences and have an opportunity to present one case during their rotation.
• Specialty workshops — Every Tuesday, we present a hands-on session to teach students the fundamental skills in the areas of suturing, splinting and EKG and radiography/ultrasound.
• Walking/Sign-out rounds — Formal bedside rounds are made at shift changes (7 a.m. and 7 p.m.). This allows the ED attending and residents to hand off patients to the next team. You will actively participate when learning points related to the patient caseload are discussed.
• Wednesday educational conference — You are required to attend and participate.

Evaluation

Students are graded based on shift evaluations, feedback on morning report presentations, EKG and radiology quizzes, and an exit exam. In addition to our evaluation of the student's performance on their rotation, students have the opportunity to evaluate their rotation experience. Students who would like a standardized letter of evaluation (SLOE) should request it before the end of their rotation.

Other Available Rotations

Good Samaritan Hospital is also a major affiliate and teaching campus for the New York Institute of Technology — College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYIT-COM) and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. We offer third and fourth-year medical student rotations in multiple specialties, including OB/GYN, Surgery, Family Medicine and Pediatrics.

The program started in 2005 and switched from AOA to ACGME accreditation.

Yes, we accept graduates from MD and DO medical schools. The program has ACGME accreditation. The program received initial accreditation the first time it applied. We are in the initial accreditation phase. The program started in 2004 as a DO-only program and is in good standing with the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the accrediting body. We included all ACGME requirements in anticipation that the two accrediting bodies would merge or change. With the movement to have all prior DO-only programs become ACGME accredited, we now accept both MD and DO medical schools graduates.

Yes, the EM program always sets aside time for the candidates to informally meet and interact with current residents without faculty. This usually occurs on interview day. There are some questions best answered by residents. Be wary of a program that does not provide this opportunity. It may mean that residents are discouraged from speaking freely for concern about what they may say.

Senior EM residents have the role of Trauma Team Captain, while junior EM residents perform the technical procedures. The ED does not have surgery or anesthesiology residencies, so there is no “turf war” for trauma cases. Emergency physicians must be ready for whatever comes through the doors, so we prepare our residents to be able to perform advanced invasive procedures, as well as basic stabilization and team leadership. Very little is out of the scope of practice for our residents.

The ED team is responsible for all medical resuscitations. Senior EM residents have the role of directing the resuscitation (with an attending present), while junior EM residents perform technical procedures. We encourage junior residents to become proficient at procedures as soon as possible. As our senior residents gain comfort with their technical skills, they transition to a leadership role during resuscitations and coordinate care for complex medical cases. This process results in competent young physicians capable of managing critically ill and unstable patients.

The Pediatric ED at Good Samaritan Hospital sees one of the highest volumes of children in New York. We place a strong emphasis on pediatric clinical education. We know that adequate exposure to pediatric EM is essential. Rotations of acceptable quality and frequency ideally in a dedicated pediatric ED is the optimum route to this exposure.

In EM, ultrasound is a modality that has become indispensable and, in many cases, the standard of care. It is included on EM board exams and is a required part of EM education.

Most of our ED is credentialed for point-of-care ultrasound with a direct link to store and interpret studies in our PACS system. We perform many studies that are not done by radiology, such as the FAST, RUSH, focused echocardiography, head and neck, airway, lung, and procedural guidance. For studies that are also performed by radiology, we have 24/7 radiology-performed ultrasound for cases where we may not be able to obtain adequate images. We provide regular lectures and practical sessions, in addition to the routine clinical applications in conjunction with our fellowship in Emergency Ultrasound.

Yes, the more experience and skill residents obtain, the more proficient they become at independently assessing and rendering treatment. Graduated responsibility over the course of a residency program is required to produce competent self-sufficient emergency physicians. A program should have clearly defined goals, as well as a defined method of ensuring residents meet those milestones to continue advancing.

Yes, Good Samaritan Hospital has a fully accredited Department of Emergency Medicine with representation on the hospital’s medical board.

It is important to note that some institutions do not have a Department of Emergency Medicine. In these instances, the ED operates under another specialty, such as the Department of Surgery or Department of Medicine. This could result in critical administrative decisions being made by people other than emergency physicians. Resources may be scarce and shared with other programs/departments.

We have a very collegial relationship with the other services. Most services do not have residents, so the specialist attending physicians directly care for patients. This gives residents ample face time with our specialists who go over important teaching points from interesting cases. We have multiple guest lecturers from other specialties contributing to the enhancement of resident conference as well.

Through the Department of Graduate Medical Education, our program participates in monthly collaboration and sharing of information and resources. The department’s administration has full representation on the hospital’s medical board and have equal footing with all other departments.

The ED has the final say. There is no fight or debate about it. We do not have a MAR or admitting hospitalist that can block an admission. This is an important question to ask because not every ED facility is set up this way.

Your co-residents and interns become a very significant part of your life. We do not have a sense of competition or conflict between our residents. Instead, we offer a supportive environment that is conducive to education. Residency involves a large commitment of time and hard work. You need to be surrounded by people who interact well and are supportive of each other. You can get a feel for this during the day of your interview. Doing a rotation in the hospital you are considering is often the best way to get a feel for a program.

One of the built-in features of our program is to foster positive relationships between our residents and attendings. These interactions include one-to-one mentor meetings, social events and informal opportunities.

When considering a program, ask yourself: Do residents and attendings get along? Do they have a good time together? Do they dislike each other? Am I going to enjoy working with these people for four years?

Our chief residents make the schedule, which is then reviewed by an attending, to ensure it is fair and reasonable. Our patient load is sufficient for you to develop procedural and clinical proficiency as an emergency physician. We have a comprehensive patient mix with a reasonable workload and many interesting clinical cases, while allowing time for academics and other interests.

Residency is a full-time job and then some. No matter what field or institution you choose, you are going to spend a lot of time away from home. In our program, we regularly organize special events for residents, their immediate families and significant others. It gives a chance for the most important people in our lives to be included in our residency family. We also foster relationships through regular individual resident meetings with a faculty mentor and Big Brother/Big Sister program as well as general residency meetings to address issues.