Educational Activities

Didactics

Didactic sessions are held on a weekly basis. They are moderated and lead both by faculty and residents. Session activities include lectures, case presentations, morbidity and mortality conferences, and procedural workshops that cover the core curriculum throughout each resident’s tenure.

Simulation Lab
The Clinical Simulation Center is a joint venture between Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and Memorial Medical Center.  The first simulation that was run at the center was held in October of 2008 for SIU fit week.  The facility since has found many uses both in undergraduate and graduate medical education. The center has a classroom that will hold up to 18 students.  It has a simulation ED room, OR room, and patient room.  It houses 2 control booths that run scenarios on the facilities two simulators, SimMan and iStan. The facility is equipped with multiple cameras used for playback, debriefing, and research purposes.  The simulation center has proved to be a valuable tool in training students and residents for high acuity situations and will be an integral part of the SIU EM program’s core curriculum.

Skills Lab

Through generous donations by U.S. Surgical and Memorial Medical Center the SIU/U.S. Surgical Skills and Research Lab opened its doors in May 2000. It is a state of the art facility that houses specialized tools and equipment used in training SIU students, residents, and staff surgical procedures. Skills workshops range from the basics of wound closure to full blown computerized simulation of laproscopic procedures. Our residents will have the opportunity to use this facility to practice and perfect their techniques in central line placement, thorocostomy tube insertion, cricothyroidomy, and other life saving procedures.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is finding itself to be a new core topic in emergency medicine. It has found to be a valuable tool both in quick and efficient screening of emergency conditions and in assisting in life saving procedures. Integrated into SIU’s EM curriculum are didactics and workshops focusing on core competencies in EM ultrasonography.  Areas covered include but are not limited to:

1. Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST Exam)
2. Cardiac assessment in pulseless arrest
3. Sonographic assessment of the kidney and bladder
4. Focused assessment for aneurysm or intimal defects in the abdominal aorta
5. Focused assessment of the gall bladder and billiary system
6. Evaluation for live interuternine pregnancy
7. Screening evaluation for patient’s with suspected DVT
8. Ultrasound guided peripheral line placement
9. Ultrasound guided central line placement

Journal Club

Journal club meetings are held throughout the year.  Articles from Annals of Emergency Medicine as well as articles selected for their contribution to emergency medicine evidence based knowledge are discussed.  A 12-month rotating curriculum covering EBM concepts will be part of the Journal Club to insure that major core topics are covered.  Journal club meetings are held in many venues ranging from in town restaurants to personal residences of faculty members. The hope is to provide an inviting and relaxing atmosphere to spawn academic debate and interesting discussions.