It is with great personal pride that our Department graduated its 27th class of residents this past June (251 total graduates) and began our 30th year. Late summer is always a very exciting time of year, as we’ve said goodbye to our graduates who are settled into new fellowships and clinical positions and have welcomed and oriented our intern class. Providing optimal care and our tradition of exemplary clinical education for our residents and students is our priority. Our recent graduates embraced and benefited from our Department’s culture of teamwork and mentorship. In the past 5 years we met the challenge to assist Drexel /Hahnemann EM trainees and gained RRC approval to expand to 13 residents per year; graduated Medical Education Fellows, met approval as a Level 3 Geriatric ED, incorporated DAX documentation and opened a new 10 bed admit/boarding area.
Our seniors often communicate with me a few weeks into new positions with comments such as: “A card is not enough to express my gratitude for everything you have provided me and our program. You have taught me so many pearls in the ED and thank you for trusting me to care for your patients, giving me confidence, and for helping shape me to become a professional, competent, compassionate attending, with attention to longevity through wellness. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Cooper University Health Care is vibrant and thriving in South Jersey. Our ED census is well over 80,000 patients, with almost 13,000 being children. Over 25% of our patients require further inpatient evaluation, reflecting very high acuity. I have been in a leadership role at Cooper and our medical school (Cooper Medical School of Rowan University) for 40+ years and Emergency Medicine has the utmost respect of all departments and the Dean. In 1995 our residency was accredited, in 1997 we were the 54th academic department of Emergency Medicine established in the country, and in 2016 CMSRU graduated its first 4-year class. In 2004 we joined an elite group of departments of emergency medicine with NIH grant support, which continues to this day. I am actively involved in every strategic decision that impacts Emergency Medicine and meet regularly with the Co-presidents of Cooper University Health Care, and the Dean of CMSRU. In addition, my appointment on the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee of Chairs at Cooper has provided me the opportunity to represent all faculty and our mission. This means I have support to continually improve operations in the ED, our residency, fellowships, student programs, and clinical research. EM plays key roles at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU), South Jersey's first four-year allopathic school.
Our graduates are extremely competitive in academic, fellowship, and community positions. The central theme of training at Cooper is our residents’ sense of ownership of the department from day one and our commitment to maintaining the balance of service and education. Expertise in all areas of EM with specific emphasis in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Ultrasound, EMS, interpreting EKGs, advanced approach to OUD, Geriatrics, systems-based practice, billing/coding, QI/QA education, and patient experience education makes our graduates very attractive. We have a unique focus training our residents administratively and teach how to negotiate finances post training. We provide the highest quality emergency care for our patients, while teaching the future clinicians and leaders of our specialty. This is a "can do" department and health care system, and you will not find a more supportive environment in which to train.
Our Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine provides state-of-the-art pediatric care and education in an adjacent, yet separate eight-bed pediatric ED. Ultrasound is utilized daily in our practice diagnostically and therapeutically, in the ED, PED, Trauma, and ICU and have our own cutting edge US fellowship. We are actively involved in the Camden community, including grant support for victims of violence, outpatient addiction services, EMS leadership, and local educational speaking engagements. We have developed three unique EM-run community Urgent Care Centers, which support Cooper’s overall mission.
Visiting students rotating in our department invigorate our undergraduate teaching. A recent past student rotator contacted me and stated:
“As a rotating student I had the opportunity to see firsthand how incredible the culture is in your department and how happy both faculty and residents are on a daily basis. Cooper aligns with many of my career goals, as resident and student mentorship and education are valued and prioritized. From the incredible sim sessions to dedicated student teaching shifts, to mini “chalk talks” held by the Chiefs, the dedication to teaching was truly unmatched. It struck me how much opportunity, support and empowerment you offered to female faculty, a program characteristic which cannot be understated. I’ve appreciated how incredibly special Cooper is!”
Your biggest challenge will be selecting the program that fits your individual career goals. I hope this additional information assists you in your decision. Our diverse faculty love emergency medicine at Cooper, and our residents are very special, integral members of our department. Perhaps you will have the opportunity to join us!
Michael Chansky, MD
Chair and Professor of Emergency Medicine
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University