Combined residency training in emergency medicine and internal medicine: an update on career outcomes and job satisfaction.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to provide an update on the career outcomes and experiences of graduates of combined emergency medicine-internal medicine (EM-IM) residency programs.


METHODS
The graduates of the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) and American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)-accredited EM-IM residencies from 1998 to 2008 were contacted and asked to complete a survey concerning demographics, board certification, fellowships completed, practice setting, academic affiliation, and perceptions about EM-IM training and careers.


RESULTS
There were 127 respondents of a possible 163 total graduates for a response rate of 78%. Seventy graduates (55%) practice EM only, 47 graduates (37%) practice both EM and IM, and nine graduates (7%) practice IM or an IM subspecialty only. Thirty-one graduates (24%) pursued formal fellowship training in either EM or IM. Graduates spend the majority of their time practicing clinical EM in an urban (72%) and academic (60%) environment. Eighty-seven graduates (69%) spend at least 10% of their time in an academic setting. Most graduates (64%) believe it practical to practice both EM and IM. A total of 112 graduates (88%) would complete EM-IM training again.


CONCLUSIONS
Dual training in EM-IM affords a great deal of career opportunities, particularly in academics and clinical practice, in a number of environments. Graduates hold their training in high esteem and would do it again if given the opportunity.
Kessler
Chad S
CS
Department of Emergency Medicine, The Jesse Brown VA Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA. Chad.Kessler@va.gov
Stallings
Leonard A
LA
Gonzalez
Andrew A
AA
Templeman
Todd A
TA
D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D003625:Data Collection; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education*; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States