About the Program

In an ever-changing landscape of modern healthcare, our combined residency program addresses the growing need for dual-trained physicians.

At the VCU combined Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine (EM/IM) residency program, our mission is to develop healthcare leaders who excel in building connections, advancing education, and delivering comprehensive patient care. We are committed to nurturing a community of professionals dedicated to advancing medical knowledge, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and providing compassionate, holistic care to every patient.

The VCU EM/IM residency program, which began in July 2011, integrates the well-established Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine residencies. We accept two residents per year, offering a unique dual training experience.

Our clinical training takes place primarily at the VCU Medical Center main campus and the Richmond VA Medical Center. VCU Medical Center is a high-acuity, tertiary academic facility and a Level 1 trauma, stroke, burn, and comprehensive cancer center. VCU is a safety net hospital, dedicated to providing care for a predominantly underserved patient population. Residents also gain experience at the nationally ranked VCU Children's Hospital of Richmond, a free-standing VCU-affiliated emergency department, and a local community ED. Our diverse training sites enable residents to work alongside trauma surgeons, national leaders in transplant and pediatric care, develop strong ultrasound skills, and care for our veteran population.

Upon graduation, VCU EM/IM residents are proficient in managing emergent, acute, and chronic conditions, preparing them to excel in any emergency department, internal medicine unit, or primary care clinic. VCU’s EM/IM faculty practice in a variety of settings, including the ED, Observation Unit, the EM/IM-developed Proper Care Clinic, and the Internal Medicine teaching wards. Our program prepares residents with the expertise to explore diverse career paths, including managing Observation Units, as well as engaging in research, academia, rural and critical access medicine, or pursuing subspecialty training.

In their second year, residents select a training path tailored to their career goals. The program’s flexible schedule offers access to pre-existing tracks in both Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, as well as EM/IM-specific tracks designed to support the unique interests and career trajectories of our combined residents.

We have ten EM/IM-trained faculty to support our residents. Our community is built through various activities throughout the year, including our graduation and intern welcome party, holiday gift exchange, and summer river retreat. As a VCU EM/IM resident, you will become part of our family!

Curriculum

Each year, EMIM residents rotate between the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, switching every 4–5 blocks. Each block is 4 weeks long.

Didactics & Professional Development
Residents participate in monthly EMIM journal club sessions and weekly departmental conferences. They also attend both the Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine annual retreats, strengthening cross-departmental collaboration.

Internal Medicine Rotations
Internal Medicine rotations follow a tandem-block schedule, alternating between two weeks of inpatient care and two weeks of outpatient or consult services, providing balanced exposure to both acute and longitudinal patient care.

Advanced Training & Track Time
During PGY-4 and PGY-5, EMIM residents have 20 weeks of dedicated “track time” to develop expertise in an area of their choosing. Previous residents have pursued individualized tracks in observation medicine, administration, ultrasound, resource-limited medicine, global health, and addiction medicine. Tracks are fully customizable and designed in partnership with faculty mentors to support each resident’s career goals.

EM/IM-Led Initiatives

EM/IM-trained clinicians develop a unique perspective of healthcare, which allows them to find innovative solutions in health systems and patient care. EM/IM residents have the opportunity to work with faculty on these initiatives, including several of our active projects:

• Proper Care Clinic: This initiative EM/IM developed clinic provides rapid, virtual follow-up after ED visits to help prevent readmissions and connect patients with appropriate outpatient services.
• HIV Emergency Department Testing: EM/IM residents implemented the capability of HIV testing in the emergency department with coordinated health department follow up to ensure appropriate connection to treatment. 
• Social Determinants of Health Screening: All ED patients are screened for housing, food, financial insecurity, and other needs. Patients who screen positive are connected with ED-based outreach workers who help provide resources, establish primary care with local providers, and initiate insurance screening.
• ACCESS-EM: A VCU School of Medicine curriculum that teaches residents how to approach system development in low-resource and global settings. More details can be found here.
• Utilization Management: Residents will gain an appreciation and understanding of the benefits and impacts of physician advisors by working alongside EM/IM faculty who serve as physician advisors for the VCU Health System.
• Primary Care Curriculum for EM Residents: EM/IM faculty and residents developed and implemented a primary care curriculum designed to equip Emergency Medicine residents with the skills to manage common chronic diseases within the ED. This innovative curriculum emphasizes practical approaches to longitudinal patient care, bridging the gap between acute care and chronic disease management. The curriculum was developed in collaboration with Boston University, led by former VCU EM/IM graduate who now serves as faculty there. The work has been recognized nationally and was presented at ACEP 2025, highlighting its impact on resident education and patient care. 

Prior EM/IM Initiatives:

• Rapid Disposition Team: EM/IM residents and faculty worked with a multidisciplinary care team to assist with complex discharges, particularly in challenging patient cases.
• Remote Patient Monitoring (Rom-Com): Provided COVID-positive patients with pulse oximeters and clinician check-in calls to monitor their health at home, offering guidance on when to return to the ED if needed.

Salary and Benefits

VCU is proud to offer competitive salaries compared to housestaff across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Cost of living adjustments occur each year.

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How to Apply

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