Welcome to EM Bookends!

The idea behind this is to provide a unique curriculum for the EM learner, that balances Fundamentals and board-review in the form of small group case-based instructor-led discussions, with up-to-date evidence-based Asynchronous learning in the form of flipped-classroom small groups, all while not overwhelming your academic schedule.

In this way, for each system the residents first review the basic medicine in (hopefully) the least tedious way possible, and then a week or two later get to discuss the cutting edge evidence on that same topic. This leaves two weeks a month to do whatever else you wish during conference.

Here’s how it works:

(though of course use the material in any way and to any degree you want)

Week 1 - Fundamentals: (estimated time 4h)

Each conference starts with a 1-hour powerpoint review summarizing to the best of our ability the key points for each core topic. This is offered in both .keynote and audio-recorded format, so you can either use the slides yourself, or have the residents listen to the lecture at home the night before. Then we split into four stations, each led by a core faculty member (or senior resident can do it). Each group starts with a unique oral-boards-style case. A resident is chosen to be in the ‘hot seat’ to try and solve it. These are complex and challenging, but doable if you keep a level head. Each case takes roughly 10-15 minutes. Then, after a short de-brief on the case itself, the group mediator leads a discussion based offered questions [Level 1: PGY-1, Level 2: PGY-2, Level 3: PGY3-4] over the next 30-45 minutes.

Week 3 - Asynch: (estimated time 4h)

(estimated time 4h) Prior to each conference, ~4 articles with associated stim questions are given to each of the 4 groups, with the expectation that the residents at least look over the articles at home. Each conference starts with a brief case presented to the whole group. The case is intentionally poorly run and usually has a bad outcome. Then, for the next hour, we split into 4 groups and the residents discuss the articles amongst themselves, using the question templates to guide them. When everyone is done, we come back as a whole, and a faculty member leads a discussion based off each group. Some questions are theoretical, and can be vetted to members of other groups, while other questions more specific to the articles are directed towards members of that group. In this way, everyone stays involved and can learn about what each individual group had discussed. ~30minutes x4 groups. Finally, time permitting, we review the podcast which is summarized on a powerpoint.

[Note: Each topic is divided into 4 subtopics to the best of our ability, as so is not always comprehensive. The articles are hand-picked each year to be relevant, representative, and up-to-date, but again are based off our opinion and do not represent a comprehensive literature review]

Questions? Complaints? —> dedwar02@gmail.com (Dave Edwards, MD)