About the Program
In an ever-changing landscape of modern healthcare, our combined residency program addresses the growing need for dual-trained physicians.
The combined EM/IM residency program at VCU is an expansion of the existing and well-established EM and IM residencies that began training in July 2011. Our program grew out of the realization that there is going to be an ever increasing need for dual-trained physicians in the changing landscape of modern healthcare. We accept two residents per year.
Our program's clinical training, like the respective parent programs, is at both VCU Medical Center and Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center. Both sites benefit from excellent full-time teaching faculty and offer unique patient care settings and patient populations. The Department of Emergency Medicine has several EM/IM and EM/Critical Care faculty who will provide outstanding mentorship to the program residents.
Graduates of EM/IM programs have traditionally accepted academic positions and a growing number are now able to utilize both aspects of their training. The EM/IM faculty at VCU work shifts in the ED, the observation unit, as well as attend on the wards. Our program prepares our trainees for any of the limitless career options available to them at graduation. One unique niche for the EM/IM practitioner is the management of ED Observation Units that can mitigate long wait times and ED overcrowding. Other common paths taken by EM/IM graduates include research, academic and administrative positions, research, and subspecialty training in Internal Medicine and/or Emergency Medicine.
Late in the second year of training, residents will pick a specific direction they would like their training to take based on the future career goals. The EM/IM schedule has been designed to allow the unique residents drawn to the program the ability to tailor their training appropriate to the many varied paths they may take. There are pre existing tracks in both the Emergency Medicine program and the Internal Medicine program that residents can choose. Alternatively, residents can tailor their training with a large selection of EM/IM-specific rotations that correspond with the unique career paths the combined residents take.
Why VCU?
At VCU, residents get a unique, well-rounded experience in both Emergency and Internal Medicine through:
- Comprehensive training at a high-acuity academic medical center with a significant dedication to underserved populations
- State-of-the-art clinical and educational methods and technology to deliver hands-on education along with individualized personal and professional development for each of our residents
- Nationally renowned faculty members who are dedicated to teaching and training future leaders
- A diverse, inclusive work environment with a focus on equity in emergency medicine
- A family-like atmosphere that promotes wellness, resilience and community
See what residents have to say about their experience at VCU.
Curriculum
Each year, residents rotate between the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, switching every 4 months. Internal Medicine employs tandem scheduling with rotations alternating between inpatient and outpatient settings. Didactic requirements include monthly journal club sessions and regularly scheduled conferences. EM/IM residents take part in both the Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine retreats annually.
In the first year of training, residents have 8 blocks of Emergency Medicine and 5 blocks of Internal Medicine. On Emergency Medicine, interns transition into their new roles through an EM orientation block, followed by training in the adult and pediatric emergency departments, as well as experiences on relevant off-service rotations. Internal Medicine interns are introduced to inpatient floors, ICU level care, and their ambulatory continuity clinic, learning the basics of patient care through supervised autonomy.
PGY-1 Rotations
Block |
Rotation |
---|---|
1 |
Introduction to Emergency Medicine |
2 |
Pediatric Emergency Medicine |
3 |
Adult Emergency Medicine |
4 |
Anesthesiology/EMS |
5 |
Inpatient General Medicine/Elective |
6 |
Inpatient General Medicine/Elective |
7 |
Inpatient General Medicine |
8 |
Medical Respiratory ICU/Ambulatory |
9 |
Medical Respiratory ICU/Ambulatory |
10 |
Ultrasound/OBGYN |
11 |
Orthopedic Procedures |
12 |
Adult Emergency Medicine |
13 |
Trauma |
Second year residents continue their training with 8 blocks of Internal Medicine and 5 blocks of Emergency Medicine. For the first half of PGY-2 year, residents continue to hone their skills in both departments functioning as interns before transitioning into their responsibilities as senior residents in the Emergency Department and caring for the most severely ill and injured patients, while further advancing their autonomy and ability to manage medically complex patients on Internal Medicine.
PGY-2 Rotations
Block |
Rotation |
---|---|
1 |
Hematology Wards/Elective |
2 |
Oncology Wards/Elective |
3 |
Inpatient General Medicine/Night Float |
4 |
Inpatient General Medicine/Elective |
5 |
Adult Emergency Medicine |
6 |
Adult Emergency Medicine |
7 |
Adult Emergency Medicine |
8 |
Adult Emergency Medicine |
9 |
Adult Emergency Medicine |
10 |
VA ICU/Endocrinology |
11 |
VA ICU/Endocrinology |
12 |
VA Inpatient Cardiology/Elective |
13 |
VA Inpatient Cardiology/Elective |
In the third year, residents function as seniors on both the Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine sides. Throughout this year, they step into their leadership roles as managers and teachers on their interprofessional teams. Residents further explore their interests and begin to find their niche in dual-training.
PGY-3 Rotations
Block |
Rotation |
---|---|
1 |
Surgery Trauma ICU |
2 |
Adult Emergency Medicine |
3 |
Observation Medicine |
4 |
Adult Emergency Medicine |
5 |
Night Float/Rheumatology |
6 |
Elective/Rheumatology |
7 |
Inpatient General Medicine/Ambulatory |
8 |
Inpatient General Medicine/Ambulatory |
9 |
Inpatient General Medicine/Ambulatory |
10 |
Emergency Medicine |
11 |
Toxicology |
12 |
Adult Emergency Medicine |
13 |
Adult Emergency Medicine |
As fourth years, residents continue as seniors in their roles in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine and grow as teachers and leaders. Additionally, they get to dive into their track time to further customize their combined-training.
PGY-4 Rotations
Block |
Rotation |
---|---|
1 |
Inpatient General Medicine/Elective |
2 |
Inpatient General Medicine/Elective |
3 |
Coronary ICU/Elective |
4 |
Coronary ICU/Elective |
5 |
VA Emergency Medicine |
6 |
Track Elective |
7 |
Community Emergency Medicine |
8 |
Adult Emergency Medicine |
9 |
Adult Emergency Medicine |
10 |
Digestive Health/Quality Improvement |
11 |
Digestive Health/Conference |
12 |
Geriatrics/Night Float |
13 |
Palliative Medicine/Elective |
Fifth-year residents in the EM/IM program are truly leaders in the hospital and become increasingly independent, preparing to contribute to the medical community as dual-trained physicians. Through the remainder of their track time, they are able to customize their last year to kickstart their careers.
PGY-5 Rotations
Block |
Rotation |
---|---|
1 |
VA Emergency Medicine |
2 |
Track Elective |
3 |
Pediatric Emergency Medicine |
4 |
Adult Emergency Medicine |
5 |
Medical Respiratory ICU/Urgent Care |
6 |
Medical Respiratory ICU/Urgent Care |
7 |
Inpatient General Medicine/Track Elective |
8 |
Inpatient General Medicine/Track Elective |
9 |
Night Float/Medicin Elective |
10 |
Track Elective |
11 |
Adult Emergency Medicine |
12 |
Adult Emergency Medicine |
13 |
Track Elective |
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.
PGY-1: $57,593
PGY-2: $59,199
PGY-3: $61,330
PGY-4: $63,724
PGY-5: $65,996
We offer three weeks of paid vacation each year, with an additional time off at either Christmas or New Years.
Residents also receive expense accounts to cover the costs of educational materials and conference attendance:
PGY-1: $1,800
PGY-2: $2,400
PGY-3+: $2,600
In addition to Professional Expense Account Funds, residents are given:
NEJM Knowledge+ Question Bank
ROSH Review
PEER IX Question Bank
First Aid for Emergency Medicine
Residents receive membership fee coverage for the following organizations:
- American College of Physicians
- American College of Emergency Physicians
- Emergency Medical Residents Association
- Society of Academic Emergency Medicine
- Virginia College of Emergency Physicians
We also provide subscriptions to the following publications, along with training tools to prepare for professional examinations:
- Academic Emergency Medicine
- Annals of Emergency Medicine
The Departments of Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine are committed to supporting residents presenting original work at regional and national scientific conferences when they exceed the scope of the professional expense account.
Health Insurance
Residents are eligible for a subsidized health insurance program through Cigna. There are several plans to choose from to match your family's needs. All of the plans allow members to visit the provider of their choice without having a primary care referral.
- Health (family plan optional)
- Dental (optional)
- Disability
- Life
- Malpractice
Tax-Free Health Expenditure Account
All residents may contribute to a tax-free account that may be used to cover medical expenses not otherwise covered by their insurance. This is a great way to pay for medical expenses like eyeglasses, non-covered dental work, etc.
Subsidized Parking
Parking in a covered deck attached to the hospital is subsidized by the department.
Athletic Facilities
Residents are eligible to become members of the VCU athletic centers. With several locations throughout the city, including the state-of-the-art Cary Street Gym and the MCV Campus Recreation and Aquatic Center, residents receive a discounted membership fee. In addition, many of the athletic clubs around town offer discounts to VCU residents.
Libraries and Computing
VCU residents receive free access to VCU's award-winning online library collections, including UpToDate, MD Consult, Cochrane Collaboration, Rosen's Emergency Medicine online text and a host of free full-text journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine and Annals of Emergency Medicine. You can browse availability through VCU Libraries. In addition to the PACS radiology system available throughout the hospital, VCU Radiology Online allows physicians access to radiology studies as well as access to real-time dictations from any Internet terminal on campus.
Meal Stipend
Residents will receive a stipend to cover on-call meals. The stipend can be used at any food vendor at VCU as well as at select vending machines. Current food vendors include Wendy's, Subway, Chick-Fil-A, Panera Bread Company, as well as the cafeteria which offers sushi made fresh daily. The total amount is calculated based on number of call shifts and the location of rotations. Separate meal tickets are provided for residents at the VA during inpatient rotations there in addition to the food items stocked in the resident lounge.
Other Benefits
- Personalized VCU Health vests (2)
- Personalized VCU scrubs
- Six hours tuition credit per semester for any VCU course
- Excellent day care facilities for infants and children
- Yearly in-training examination
- Voice-recognition software for chart dictation
- Scribe use for senior residents in the Emergency Department
Resident Life
Finding family amongst co-residents
Residency is an exciting time of growth and development as residents step into their new roles as physicians, which also comes with its own challenges. While our program requires hard work, we make resident wellness a priority and are constantly working to improve resident resilience and well-being.
In addition to relationships built within the separate EM and IM residencies, our residents find friendship and support in their EM/IM co-residents. The residents make an effort to arrange social events outside of work, including holiday gatherings, river floats, and game nights. Faculty also host several events throughout the year, such as our annual graduation/new resident welcome party and white elephant gift exchange.
Richmond as a city offers plenty of opportunity to foster a healthy work-life balance, with diverse and vibrant neighborhoods, museums, music venues, restaurants, breweries, and parks. In addition to the city's own thriving outdoor scene, its location in Central Virginia makes it ideal for day trips to both the beach and mountains.
Learn more about the RichmondDiscover RVA
How to Apply
Join our talented and dedicated team
The VCU Department of Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), and prospective residents can apply using the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) offered by the Association of American Medical Colleges.
- Dean's Letter
- Medical School Transcript
- Four (4) letters of recommendation in addition to the Dean's letter. One of the letters must be from the Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine and another one must be from the Emergency Department (CORD standard letter of evaluation - SLOE).
- Personal Statement
- Medical Examination Scores (USMLE, COMLEX, FLEX, etc.)
- Photograph
Your Dean's letter, transcript and letters of recommendation will be processed by the Dean's office at your medical school upon your authorization to release this information to our program. Your USMLE scores will be transmitted via the Internet by the National Board of Medical Examiners.
The deadline for application to our residency program for July 2021 is December 15, 2020. Applications transmitted after this date will not be considered.
Our hospital is a drug free environment. All individuals offered employment are required to successfully complete a preplacement drug screening as a condition of employment.
We adhere to VCU’s statement of nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action, and welcome and encourage a diverse, inclusive residency program.
VCU third-year medical students can take a "Foundational Elective" in EM-IM (Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine). Information is available on the SOM M3 blackboard.
Fourth-year medical students (including visiting students) should contact Dr. Pawan Suri directly with interest.
Please direct questions regarding the EM/IM program or application process to:
Program Director

Pawan Suri, MD
Associate Professor

Pawan Suri, MD
Associate Professor
Division of Observation Medicine
EM-IM Residency Program Director
Division of Observation Medicine Chair
Email: pawan.suri@vcuhealth.org

Joel Moll, MD, FACEP
Associate Professor

Joel Moll, MD, FACEP
Associate Professor
EM Residency Program Director
Medical Education Fellowship Director
Email: joel.moll@vcuhealth.org

Rebecca Miller, MD
Assistant Professor

Rebecca Miller, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine Residency Program Director
Email: rebecca.miller@vcuhealth.org

Taruna Aurora, MD
Assistant Professor

Taruna Aurora, MD
Assistant Professor
Division of Observation Medicine
Clinical Decision Unit Co-Director
Email: taruna.aurora@vcuhealth.org

Megan P. Donohue, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor

Megan P. Donohue, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor
Department of Emergency Medicine
Email: megan.donohue@vcuhealth.org

Frank Fulco, MD, RPh
Associate Professor

Frank Fulco, MD, RPh
Associate Professor
Department of Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine Residency Associate Program Director
Email: frank.fulco@vcuhealth.org

Joel René Morrissey, MD
Assistant Professor

Joel René Morrissey, MD
Assistant Professor
Division of Observation Medicine
Email: joel.morrissey@vcuhealth.org

Christina Vitto, MD
Assistant Professor

Christina Vitto, MD
Assistant Professor
Division of Observation Medicine
PGY-5 (Chief Residents)
James Humble, MD (Chief Resident, PGY-5)
Email: james.humble@vcuhealth.org
Education
- BSC, University of Tennessee, 2012
- MD, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, 2016
Clinical Training
- Combined Residency in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2016-present
Experiences
- Research: University of Tennessee under Drs. Jim Bailey and Craig Barnes
Academic Interests
- High Risk Patients
- Space Medicine
- Medical Centered Patient Home
- Quality Assurance/Improvement
Hobbies/Interests
- Kayaking
- Board Games
- Astronomy
- Camping
- Cooking
Zach Zemore, MD (Chief Resident, PGY-5)
Email: zachary.zemore@vcuhealth.org
Education
- BS, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012
- MD, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2016
Clinical Training
- Combined Residency in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2016-present
Experiences
- Research: Virginia Commonwealth University, Biomedical Engineering, Ambulatory Non-Invasive Therapeutic Hypothermia
- Volunteer Work: Falmouth Volunteer Fireman’s Association, Firefighter/EMT, 2006-present
Academic Interests
- Critical Care
- Sepsis
- Therapeutic Hypothermia
- EMS
Hobbies/Interests
- Gardening
- Brewing
- Cooking
- Walking My Dog
- Traveling
PGY-4
Burke Best, MD (PGY-4)
Email: william.best@vcuhealth.org
Education
- BS, Hampden-Sydney College, 2013
- MD, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 2017
Clinical Training
- Combined Residency in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2017-present
Experiences
- Research: Eastern Virginia Medical School, Department of Vascular Surgery
- Work: Norfolk Academy, Coordinator for Medical Externship
Academic Interests
- Critical Care
- Ultrasound
- Academic Medicine
- Quality Improvement
Hobbies/Interests
- Coaching Lacrosse
- Poker
- Quality Time with Friends and Family
- Professional Sports
Rebecca Goodwin, MD (PGY-4)
Email: rebecca.goodwin@vcuhealth.org
Education
- BSC, College of Idaho, 2010
- MD, University of Washington School of Medicine, 2017
Clinical Training
- Combined Residency in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2017-present
Experiences
- Research: Ultrasound in Resource Limited Settings, Dr. Sachita Shah, 2014
- Program Director and Volunteer Coordinator for Global Emergency Care Collaborative, 2010-2014
- Wilderness First Responder
Academic Interests
- Resource Limited Medicine and Global Health
- Social Determinants of Health
- Wilderness Medicine
- Palliative Care
Hobbies/Interests
- Biking (Mountain or Road)
- Rock Climbing
- Backpacking/Hiking
- Playing Outside in General
- Doing All of the Above with my Dog, Roomba
PGY-3
Joseph D. Lykins V, MD (PGY-3)
Email: joseph.lykins@vcuhealth.org
Education
- BS, University of Oklahoma, 2013
- MD, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, 2018
Clinical Training
- Combined Residency in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2018-present
Experiences
- Toxoplasmosis - Clinical research on congenital infection and point-of-care (POC) testing for infection and gestational screening program development in developing and developed world; epidemiology; bench work focused on anti-parasitic medication, vaccine development - Rima McLeod, MD, 2013-2018
- Sepsis - Fluid resuscitation and impact on outcomes of failing to meet CMS/SSC guidelines in patients with comorbid conditions increasing risk of adverse outcomes from volume overload (ESRD, CHF); impact of delays in appropriate antimicrobial therapy on outcomes - Mike Ward, MD, 2017-2018
Academic Interests
- Infectious Diseases
- Global Health, International Medicine, Tropical Medicine
- Care in Low-Resource Settings
- Resuscitating the Physical Examination
- Clinical Ethics and the Doctor-Patient Relationship
- Healthcare Disparities
Hobbies/Interests
- Reading
- Poetry
- Traveling
- Listening To/Playing Music
- Martial Arts (especially Taekwondo)
Soberjot Singh, MD (PGY-3)
Email: soberjot.singh@vcuhealth.org
Education
- BS, Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, 2016
- MD, SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, 2018
Clinical Training
- Combined Residency in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2018-present
Experiences
- Research: GI Manifestations of Scleroderma Review Paper, Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Sickle cell population, Efficacy of Fluoroquinolone use in post prostate biopsy sepsis prophylaxis; Taurine’s effect on cocaine behavior sensitization
- Work: Narrative Medicine Group Facilitator
Academic Interests
- International Medicine
- Wilderness Medicine
- Global Health
Hobbies/Interests
- Meditation
- Rock climbing
- Hiking
- Kick Boxing/ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
- Board Games
- Long Boarding
PGY-2
Hannah Kissel-Smith, MD (PGY-2)
Email: hannah.kisselsmith@vcuhealth.org
Education
- BS, BA, University of Toledo, 2015
- MD, University of Toledo College of Medicine, 2019
Clinical Training
- Combined Residency in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2019-present
Experiences
- Research: University of Toledo, Department of Emergency Medicine, Bedside Echo in ED
- Volunteer Work: CommunityCare Clinics, Co-founder of the Labre Traveling Clinic
- Work: Gymnastics Coach, ED Scribe, German Tutor
Academic Interests
- Access to Care in Underserved Populations
- Global Health
- Point of Care Ultrasound
- End-of-Life and Palliative Care
Hobbies/Interests
- Board Games
- Making and Drinking Coffee
- Brewing Kombucha
- Spending Time with My Dogs (Leo and Hal)
- Running/Jogging/Being Outdoors
- German Language and Culture
Hillary Wiles-Lafayette, DO (PGY-2)
Email: hillary.wileslafayette@vcuhealth.org
Education
- BS, University of Connecticut, 2013
- DO, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2019
Clinical Training
- Combined Residency in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2019-present
Experiences
- Work: Pharmacy Technician, 2013-2015
Academic Interests
- Healthcare Process Improvement
- Vector-borne Disease
- Observation Medicine
Hobbies/Interests
- Running
- Rowing
- Morgan Horses
- Watching HGTV
PGY-1
Katherine Mulligan, MD (PGY-1)
Email: katherine.mulligan@vcuhealth.org
Education
- BS, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2016
- MD, The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, 2020
Clinical Training
- Combined Residency in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, starting July 2020
Experiences
- Research: East Carolina University, Vidant Injury Prevention Program, Pediatric Passenger Safety
- Volunteer Work: Co-Director Greenville Community Shelter Clinic; Service-Learning Distinction Track at the Brody School of Medicine; Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Continuity of Care Project to Improve Healthcare and Access to Resources for Homeless Patients in Greenville, NC
Academic Interests
- Healthcare for the Underserved and Service in Medicine
- Healthcare Disparities and Social Determinants of Health
- Global Health
- Quality Improvement Initiatives and Research
- Palliative Care
- Observation Medicine
- Critical Care
Hobbies/Interests
- Distance Running
- Road Biking
- Reading
- Kayaking
- Visiting and Hiking in State and National Parks
- National Public Radio (NPR)
- Bluegrass Music
- Family Game Nights
- Yoga
Jessica Patton, MD (PGY-1)
Email: jessica.patton@vcuhealth.org
Education
- BA, University of Virginia, 2012
- MS, Tulane University, 2015
- MD, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2020
Clinical Training
- Combined Residency in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, starting July 2020
Experiences
- Research: Tulane University - Role of MDM2 in P53 Pathway; Virginia Commonwealth University/Richmond Ambulance Authority - EMS Utilization in Minority Populations
- Volunteer Work: Volunteer EMT with Charlottesville Albemarle Rescue Squad, 2010-2014; Hands-Only CPR Classes for Low Income Housing Residents with Richmond Ambulance Authority, 2016-2018
- Work: Lab Assistant, 2014-2016; ED Scribe, 2015-2016
Academic Interests
- Emergency Medical Services
- Observation Medicine
- Wilderness/Disaster Medicine
Hobbies/Interests
- Hiking with My Dogs (Piper and Finley)
- Disc Golf
- Reading Science Fiction/Fantasy Books
- Live Music
- Eating Pizza