The Los Angeles County EMS Agency and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine sponsor a 1-year EMS and Disaster Medicine Fellowship. There is also an option for a 2-year fellowship with advanced degree.

We are accredited as an EMS Fellowship Training Program by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

The fellowship is a unique collaboration between the Los Angeles County EMS Agency, one of the largest EMS Agencies in the world, the Los Angeles County Fire Department, a 9-1-1 provider agency serving a majority of the 88 cities in L.A. County, and the Department of Emergency Medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Our goal is to create a fellowship experience that prepares the physician to become a specialist in EMS and Disaster Medicine. This training will be sufficient to allow the fellow to pursue a career as an EMS medical director for a local EMS agency or for a fire department, an academician implementing EMS research, a clinician in emergency medicine or pediatric emergency medicine with expertise in EMS, and/or as a national expert in EMS and Disaster Medicine.

Fellows will be expected to meet all requirements set forth by the American Board of Emergency Medicine for EMS Fellowship candidates.

Clinical Experience

• 6 clinical shifts/month in the emergency department at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center – a high-volume LA County Hospital, Level I Trauma Center, Pediatric Medical Center, STEMI Center and Disaster Resource Center. Duties include providing patient care and supervising resident physicians and medical students.

• Online medical direction at Harbor-UCLA Base Hospital.

• Field care with LA County Fire Department and other LA County Provider Agencies. Duties include medical direction and direct field care.

• Participation in local EMS specialty training (eg. Tactical EMS, Urban Search & Rescue, etc.)

Administrative Experience

• Attendance at Los Angeles EMS Agency’s Medical Advisory Council and Pediatric Advisory Committee quarterly meetings and other relevant local and regional EMS meetings.

• Membership in the EMS Medical Directors Association of California (EMDAC) and attendance at quarterly meetings.

• Participation in the following activities at the LA County EMS Agency: system development; protocol revision; disaster preparedness activities; and mass gathering planning.

• Attendance at Harbor-UCLA departmental faculty and fellow meetings.

Teaching Experience

• Teaching and curriculum development for paramedic trainees at the J. Michael Criley Paramedic Training Institute.

• Contribution to the EMS system annual continuing education ‘EMS Update’ and bimonthly EmergiPress educational products.

• Delivery of a Grand Rounds presentation, for Harbor-UCLA Department of Emergency Medicine during normally scheduled conferences.

• Preparation of Tape Reviews and teaching emergency department residents at the Harbor-UCLA Base Physician Course.

Research Experience for 2-year Candidates

• Fellows completing the 2-year fellowship will be expected to participate in research training through attainment of an advanced degree (MPH/MS) and conduct a hypothesis driven research project.

• Fellows will receive a highly competitive compensation package.

• Benefits include medical and dental insurance and 4 weeks paid vacation per year.

• Fellows will be provided shared office space and computer, secretarial support, and access to the Department’s medical library, copy machine, and facsimile equipment.

• Additional educational funds may be provided to support educational expenses and scholarly presentations at state or national conferences.

• Qualified candidates have completed or will complete an emergency medicine residency or pediatric emergency fellowship and wish to pursue a career in EMS/Disaster Medicine. There is one position available each academic year.

• Candidates should complete the Fellowship Application and return it to Rafael Esparza, Fellowship Coordinator & Dr. Shira Schlesinger, Fellowship Director.

Application deadline: September 1st of the application year

Shira Schlesinger, MD, MPH, FACEP, FAEMS
Director, EMS Fellowship
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine
1000 W Carson St., Box 21, Torrance CA 90509
Phone: (562) 378-1600
Email: sschlesinger2@dhs.lacounty@dhs.lacounty.gov

Rafael Esparza
Coordinator, EMS Fellowship
1000 W. Carson St., N14, Box 21, Torrance, CA 90509
Phone: (424) 306-5429 office
Phone: (424) 306-5400 main
Email: resparza2@dhs.lacounty.gov