Why a Fourth Year

Less than a quarter of emergency residency programs have a fourth year built into the curriculum. While some people may see an additional year of training as taking time away from starting a career, our residents value the many benefits that come from a wholly integrated, 48-month program.

"The fourth year at UofM is truly utilized as an opportunity to help you find your path in emergency medicine. There is a big focus on allowing you to carve out your niche within the field and you get extensive support and the flexibility in your training to make this happen." 

Florian Schmitzberger, MD PhD, Class of 2022

8 Great Reasons to Choose Four Years

More time to:

  1. Learn.
  2. Develop your clinical skills.
  3. Round out your résumé.
  4. Hone your soft skills.
  5. Lead in a supervisory role.
  6. Develop your specialty.
  7. Teach.
  8. Refine your career goals.

With a fourth year, our residents have time to complete comprehensive, broad-based training in a variety of diverse clinical training environments. A fourth year allows us to provide a deep rich experience in areas like critical care and pediatric emergency medicine.

By the time you reach your fourth year, you are clinically independent yet still have a support system in a structured setting to back you up. You gain invaluable experience staffing interns and working on the flow of the department. The longitudinal career development opportunities a fourth year affords will set you up for the most competitive fellowships and job openings.

"I appreciated the fourth year for so many reasons. It facilitated my involvement in national EM organizations during my time in residency, allowed me to further develop medical education as a niche in advance of submitting job and fellowship applications, and provided me with experience supervising junior learners while still having the support and mentorship of an EM attending while developing these skills. It allowed me to enhance my scholarly productivity as a resident and to feel confident and prepared for the ultimate career path I chose to pursue." 

Mary Haas, MD, MHPE, Assistant Program Director