Welcome from the Department Chair and Program Director

We have the longest standing ACGME accredited Emergency Medicine program in Cleveland, having started in 1991 at MetroHealth Medical Center. In addition, we achieved departmental status at Case Western Reserve University in 2002, providing many opportunities to expand our medical student teaching program as well as our research programs. 

MetroHealth Medical Center is a unique, award-winning, county hospital. The Emergency Department experience is enhanced by a large population of pediatric patients, who are seen in an integrated manner with the rest of the patients, and an active trauma service. We have a wonderful relationship with trauma surgery, fostering the training of both the EM and surgery residents. The emergency department manages Metro Life Flight, one of the largest hospital-based aeromedical transport systems around. We also have an active ultrasound program, teaching the residents the use of this tool in managing trauma, OB, abdominal pain, and guided procedures. We sponsor an ultrasound fellowship that has successfully trained a number of fellows. We have an established EMS fellowship with several of our graduates remaining on faculty. In addition, we have one of the few EM based Addiction Medicine fellowships in the country.

We have an active research program involving both animal and clinical studies. This includes programs in asthma/COPD research, cardiac drug toxicity, addiction medicine, pediatric studies, congestive heart failure, stroke, and cardiac ischemia. The faculty members have won awards from a variety of organizations for their research. Many of our residents have participated in these research studies and have published items based on their work.

Many of our faculty members are active in organized emergency medicine. The past president of ABEM is on our staff, as are many faculty members with committee or leadership appointments within SAEM and ACEP. The past president of Ohio ACEP is on our faculty and currently serves as the President of the medical staff.

We are most proud of our ability to educate physicians in emergency medicine. Over the last 35 years, we have graduated many residents into both academic and community practices. Our graduates have a reputation for great clinical skills, leadership qualities, and an excellent academic background. It is a tradition that we continue to expand as our program evolves.

Thank you for your interest in our Residency Program. We look forward to helping you achieve your academic, research and clinical goals.

Sincerely,

Charles L. Emerman, MD FACEP
Chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine
Case Western Reserve University
MetroHealth Medical Center

Thank you for your interest in The MetroHealth System/Case Western Reserve University Emergency Medicine residency program. Our goal is to provide excellent patient care and to provide you with excellent clinical training to help you become the best emergency medicine specialist possible.

I have a special interest in The MetroHealth System/Case Western Reserve University Emergency Medicine residency program. I joined the residency in 1995 and have remained at MetroHealth ever since. I was a longtime assistant program director before being promoted to Program Director in June 2019.  I am committed and dedicated to this residency, and I believe learning and practicing emergency medicine should be fun. This is one of the most exciting, competitive, and innovative programs in the country. It is also one of the premier Emergency Medicine residency programs in Cleveland starting in 1991 and still going strong today. We have an extensive alumni network throughout the country. As a graduate of this program, you will be confident in your ability to work anywhere in any Emergency Department setting.

Emergency medicine is best learned in the Emergency Department. Our program provides residents with the opportunity to learn at a Level 1 Adult trauma center and Burn Center for Northeast Ohio as well as three community Emergency Departments. MetroHealth is a large county, safety net hospital. We have three community sites where residents get experience in community emergency medicine. The range of pathology is diverse and challenging. You will have exceptional exposure and training in critical care, trauma, and ultrasound.  Residents are exposed to the best county and community Emergency Department settings that Cleveland has to offer.

Our curriculum is innovative, interactive, and includes bedside teaching and rigorous didactic and small group sessions. Monthly journal clubs provide critical appraisal of literature.  We have nationally recognized faculty teaching ultrasound.  We have an on-site, multi-disciplinary simulation experience every other week for learning critical life-saving skills. Our fellowship programs in ultrasound and EMS enhance residents’ learning and experience. Our aeromedical transport service, Metro Life Flight, provides residents the opportunity to be active members of the medical crew. Residents are also involved in teaching medical students from Case Western Reserve University, Ohio University, and NEOMED.

Thank you for your inquiry into our residency. We look forward to helping you develop the clinical, academic, and personal skills you will need for a long successful career in Emergency Medicine to succeed. We wish you all the best in your medical career, and we hope that you choose to begin your career with us!

Sincerely, 

Sandra Najarian MD FAAEM
Program Director
The MetroHealth System/Case Western Reserve University Emergency Medicine Residency- Class of 1998