The University of Iowa Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Fellowship is an ACGME-accredited program that trains one fellow per year in a multi-disciplinary format with interaction with a variety of agencies. During the fellowship year, the trainee will have dedicated clinical field time to include air and ground medical transport, SWAT medical support, didactic education, reading program, research education and dedicated research time, quality improvement activities as well as participation in event medicine. The fellowship provides support to attend the NAEMSP Medical Director's Course and national conference, the Emergency Medical Services Clinical Practice and Systems Oversight textbook and appropriate duty attire. The fellow will attend an Emergency Vehicle Operation Course (EVOC) and an Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) course.
Our mission is to innovate the practice of pre-hospital medicine by providing cutting-edge clinical care, educating the next generation of EMS physicians and discovering new ways to advance our science.
Our vision is to produce EMS physician leaders who will make a difference in the lives of the sick and injured.
In addition to the expertise provided by the participating agencies, the fellow has access to a wide array of medical experts within the Department of Emergency Medicine to include faculty trained in medical toxicology, disaster medicine, pediatric emergency medicine, education and simulation, global medicine, critical care medicine, ultrasound, palliative care, and sports medicine.
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics offers a competitive house staff salary and benefits package. The EMS Fellow will also have the opportunity to practice Emergency Medicine as an attending physician and will be compensated at an attending physician’s rate for their emergency department work.
The EMS Fellow will enjoy a wide variety of weekly didactic experiences to include standard lectures, dynamic lectures in the field, run reviews/morbidity and mortality conferences, simulation scenarios, administrative seminars and educational workshops to include formal process improvement training. The topics of instruction have carefully been chosen to emphasize and amplify key topics in EMS as well as expose the fellow to topics that may not be covered in the mainstream educational avenues. Content experts will teach and participate in the sessions which promise to be highly informative, interactive and high yield.
The textbook Emergency Medical Services Clinical Practice and Systems Oversight is required reading in the fellowship program and is a component of the overall compulsory reading program. In addition to the textbook, the fellow will review key position statements, government regulatory documents as well as read published research manuscripts on a weekly basis for discussion with the fellowship faculty. An EMS-focused Journal Club will occur on a quarterly basis where the fellow will discuss pertinent and timely EMS journal articles.
A formal research project that leads to an abstract and manuscript submission is a required component of the EMS Fellowship. The fellow will receive research-focused lectures on a monthly basis provided by members of the Emergency Medicine Research Group, mentorship from the EMS Fellowship Program Director, the Vice Chair for Research, the Director of Research Operations and guidance from the departmental research committee. Support will be provided as funds allow for the fellow to present their research during the fellowship.
University of Iowa AirCare and Air and Mobile Critical Care provides emergency and critical care transport on behalf of University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. The transport program provides out-of-hospital care to adult and pediatric patients for all presenting emergencies to include airway, neurological, cardiac, pulmonary, OB, trauma as well as critically ill neonates and children. The fellow will serve as a transport physician on rotor aircraft and ground critical care transports. Also, the fellow will assist in crew education, quality management, and protocol development and revision.
Area Ambulance Service is the regional EMS provider for Cedar Rapids, Marion and 15 surrounding communities in Iowa. Covering 250 square miles, Area Ambulance Service responds to over 16,000 calls for service each year. The fellow will spend time responding to 911 calls as well as participating in the inter-facility transport of critically ill patients. Part of the time will be spent in an ambulance and part of the time will be spent in a supervisor vehicle responding preferentially to high intensity calls. The fellow will participate in all medical director activities to include education, chart reviews, protocol development, quality improvement and community outreach.
The Cedar Rapids Fire Department’s (CRFD) EMS division works in conjunction with Area Ambulance Service to provide a quick response to the community that it serves. With a response time under four minutes to most parts of the city, fire crews can provide lifesaving interventions before an ambulance arrives. CRFD provides Advanced Life Support. CRFD’s ALS companies can administer lifesaving drugs, provide cardiac pacing, and provide advanced airway management. The fellow will spend time responding to 911 calls. Some of the time will be spent on a fire apparatus and some of the time will be spent in a supervisor vehicle responding preferentially to high intensity calls. The fellow will participate in all medical director activities to include education, chart reviews, protocol development, quality improvement and community outreach.
The EMSLRC, which offered the Iowa's first paramedic training program, has been in existence for over thirty years. The EMSLRC offers emergency medical technician (EMT) and paramedic classes. The center is also active in the education of University of Iowa faculty, staff, residents, and students. The center also provides the following instructional courses:
The fellow will be an engaged educator in the EMSLRC and gain a full understanding of EMS education as well as the responsibilities of an EMS education medical director.
Working with the University of Iowa Department of Athletics, the fellow will learn the principles of event medicine by providing and helping oversee medical coverage for events held at Kinnick Stadium and Carver Hawkeye Arena. Activities that will require medical coverage include football, basketball, wrestling as well various concerts and special events.
The fellow will gain an understanding of EMS administration and bureaucracy at the state and regional level by interacting with the state Bureau of EMS. Through a series of meetings and educational opportunities to include attendance at EMS Day on the Hill and the Iowa EMS Association (IEMSA) Conference, the fellow will be well-connected and mentored beyond the immediate confines of the fellowship.
Johnson County Ambulance Service (JCAS) provides exclusive EMS response to Johnson County and some of the surrounding communities. Services are provided to over 142,000 residents in a response area of close to 623 square miles. In addition, JCAS collaborates with the University of Iowa Department of Athletics by providing medical coverage at football, basketball, wrestling and other events. The fellow will spend time responding to 911 calls as well as participating in the inter-facility transport of critically ill patients. Some of the time will be spent in an ambulance and some of the time will be spent in a supervisor vehicle responding preferentially to high intensity calls. The fellow will participate in all medical director activities to include education, chart reviews, protocol development, quality improvement and community outreach.
The Joint Emergency Communications Center of Johnson County (JECC) is the clearing house for all 911 calls and all other emergency communications for Johnson County. The JECC serves the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year with specially trained dispatchers to answer all emergency calls for assistance. These operators receive and/or transmit emergency telephone, radio, alarm, and other types of data over multiple computer systems, then analyze it in a timely manner for the purpose of relaying the information between citizens and first responders during emergencies in order to preserve life and property. The fellow will learn about emergency communications including EMD, the concept of the PSAP as well as the role of the communications center in the broader span of EMS.
The Sheriff & Deputies are the police force for residents of the unincorporated areas of the county, and provide contracted law enforcement for the cities of Lone Tree, Hills, Solon, Shueyville, Swisher, Tiffin and Oxford. The Sheriff's Office handles all routine and emergency calls for these areas, and regularly patrols all areas of the county. They also provide security at special events in the county. The Sheriff's Office also conducts Special Operations and the fellow will be involved as medical standby (working with Johnson County Ambulance Service) to provide EMS care to officers and other peoples at the scene. The fellow will gain education regarding tactical EMS. The fellow will meet with deputies to learn about ballistics, firearms safety and will participate at the firing range under the supervision of the Sheriff's Office. Finally, the fellow will learn about tactical approaches and situations faced by the deputies to gain a better understanding of their working environment.
Keokuk County Ambulance Service is located in rural Sigourney, Iowa. The fellow will experience rural EMS at this location, and will spend time responding to 911 calls as well as participating in the inter-facility transport of critically ill patients. The fellow will learn about rural EMS challenges including farm accidents, grain bin rescue, long transport times and limited resources. The fellow will interact with rural volunteer services and understand the delivery systems of these types of services. Finally, the fellow will participate in all medical director activities to include education, chart reviews, protocol development, quality improvement and community outreach.
The fellow will be required to complete FEMA training 100, 200, 230, 700, and 800, participate in UI Hospitals & Clinics HazMat Operation Training Course, attend UI Hospitals & Clinics Disaster Management Committee meetings and participate in all disaster drills.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and due two weeks prior to interview dates.
This fellowship only accepts graduates of an ACGME-accredited Emergency Medicine Residency.
International candidates are welcome to apply; however, this program does not sponsor visas.
University of Iowa EMS Fellowship
Attn: Kelby Kiefer
200 Hawkins Dr. 1008 RCP
Iowa City, IA 52242
Or you may submit electronically at ems-fellowship@uiowa.edu
Candidates are responsible for travel and lodging arrangements and expenses to attend in person interviews.
This fellowship participates in the NRMP Match for application. Please review the NRMP website for details and deadlines.
Azeemuddin Ahmed, MD, MBA
Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine
EMS Fellowship Program Director
azeemuddin-ahmed@uiowa.edu
Peter Georgakakos, DO
Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Medical Director, Johnson County Ambulance Service
Medical Director, EMS Learning Resources Center
peter-georgakakos@uiowa.edu
Sven Steen, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Medical Director, University of Iowa AirCare
Medical Director, Keokuk County Ambulance Service
sven-steen@uiowa.edu
Kelby Kiefer
EMS Fellowship Program Coordinator
kelby-kiefer@uiowa.edu
Phone: 319-384-6468
Fax: 319-356-1138
Katie Schneider, MSN, RN
Clinical Coordinator
katherine-schneider@uiowa.edu
Hometown: Princeton, Mo.
Undergraduate: University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Columbia, Mo.
Medical School: University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Mo.
Residency: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Ill.
Alexander Colgan, MD
2020-2021
Wyoming Medical Center
Casper, Wyo.
alex.colgan.md@gmail.com
Shaila Coffey, MD
2019-2020
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, Neb.
shaila-coffey@unmc.edu
Peter Georgakakos, DO
2018-2019
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
Iowa City, Iowa
peter-georgakakos@uiowa.edu