Emergency Medicine
EMS Fellowship
Collaborative Training with EMS Experts in Southern Arizona
Fellows gain hands-on experience working alongside EMS physicians, nurses and paramedics across multiple high-performing local EMS agencies in southern Arizona.
The Department of Emergency Medicine offers a one-year, ACGME-accredited Emergency Medical Services (EMS) fellowship designed for emergency medicine residency graduates. The program prepares fellows for the ABEM EMS board exam and future leadership roles in EMS. With more than 30 years of leadership at the international, national and local levels, the department has a strong reputation in EMS research and clinical practice.
The fellowship includes a comprehensive curriculum featuring didactics, independent EMS physician field response, PSAP medical oversight and a broad experience in EMS special operations. Fellows receive broad exposure to prehospital care for acutely ill and injured patients. In addition to a strong core EMS experience, the program offers mentorship and training in specialized areas such as space medicine, flight medicine, wilderness medicine, HAZMAT, tactical and military medicine, pediatric EMS, disaster response and university-based EMS systems, supported by expert faculty in each field.
Joshua B. Gaither, MD, FACEP
Clinical Specialties
Daniel L Beskind, MD, MPH, FACEP
[Placeholder for Gail Bradley, MD]
Robert N.E. French, MD, MPH
Melody J. Glenn, MD, MFA
Philipp L. Hannan, MD
Rachel D. Munn, DO
Amber D. Rice, MD
Jennifer J. Smith, MD, PharmD
Daniel W. Spaite, MD
Christopher G. Williams, MD
[Placeholder for Christopher Richards, DO]
The College of Medicine – Tucson Department of Emergency Medicine has been a leader in EMS internationally, nationally and at the local and state level for more than 30 years. Our physicians have received international recognition for their EMS research and clinical activities. Through our work in southern Arizona, EMS fellows have the opportunity to learn by working side by side with EMS physicians, nurses and paramedics engaged with multiple outstanding local EMS agencies, providing medical direction for the majority of the patients receiving prehospital medical care in the region.
Through a dedicated EMS fellowship curriculum including didactic time, independent EMS physician field response, public safety answering point (PSAP) medical oversight and a variety of other EMS activities, fellows gain experience in the provision of prehospital care for a variety of acutely ill and injured patients. Additionally, with the expertise of our faculty, we are able to offer not only an outstanding core EMS fellowship experience, but also other niche EMS faculty support in:
- Space Medicine
- Flight Medicine
- Wilderness Medicine
- HAZMAT
- Tactical and Military Medicine
- Pediatric EMS
- Disaster Planning/Response
- University-based EMS Systems
Fellows will have the benefit of training in a regional system of EMS care that provides a diverse patient population and response environment. In addition to gaining administrative experience through participation in regional and state committees, fellows will attain clinical experience at the following locations:
Banner – University Medical Center Tucson
Through clinical practice at the largest base hospital in southern Arizona, fellows will monitor and respond to requests for online medical direction and provide other administrative support for EMS issues in the system.
Tucson Fire Department (TFD)
TFD provides 911 responses and ALS transports for the city of Tucson and offers an ideal opportunity to gain experience in a high-volume, high-acuity, urban EMS system.
Northwest Fire District (NWFD)
Through clinical practice with NWFD, the largest fire district in the state, fellows will work with the EMS supervisor on shift to respond to a wide variety of high-acuity or high-risk calls in urban and suburban locations throughout the Tucson Metropolitan area.
Special Operations
EMS fellows will participate with the regional special operations teams on multiple projects, including astronaut recovery, hazardous materials management, technical rescue, swift water rescue, military and tactical EMS, special event support, etc.
University Emergency Medical Services & EMS Degree Program
Work with undergraduate students from the University of Arizona to teach a wide range of EMS courses ranging from a university-based EMT training program through critical care paramedic courses, and then help them to provide basic life support first response for 911 calls on the university campus.
Rio Rico Fire District (RRFD)
Through a rotation with this outstanding rural agency, fellows experience rural EMS operations, long-distance transports, community paramedicine, and a treat and refer program.
BannerAir
Through an optional rotation with BannerAir, fellows participate in helicopter-based primary scene responses and inter-facility transport.
Duration: 52 weeks
- 1 week orientation
- 42 weeks EMS fellowship core content
- 4 weeks – vacation
- 2 weeks – outside conference (NAEMSP, wilderness)
- 1 week – maintenance of certification/certification testing
EMS Fellowship Core Content Week
- EMS education day – 0.5 days per week
- EMS admin day – 1 day per week
- EMS field practice – 1 day per week
- Northwest Fire District (NWFD)
- EMS subspecialty field practice – 1 day per week
- Rural and long-distance ground transport – Rio Rico
- Flight – Banner Air
- Communications – Tucson Fire Department / BUMCT Online Medical Direction
- Maintenance of clinical skills – 12 hours per week
EMS Fellow Administrative Responsibilities
- Regional EMS committee meetings – PDR, med directors, trauma, providers, SAEMS
- Research – participate in ongoing EMS research focus unit project
- QI – develop, implement and complete QI project
- Provider oversight
- Review prehospital care
- Participate in ongoing provider education
Completion of Training
Upon completion of this subspecialty training, fellows will have the fundamental clinical knowledge and skills necessary to practice medicine in the prehospital and other austere environments. This training program will allow quality fellows to sit for the EMS subspecialty board exam offered by the ACGME.
- Number of fellows per year: 1-3
- Length of fellowship: 1 year
How to Apply
Applications will be accepted the year preceding the fellowship training. Interested applicants should register through the National Resident Match Portal (NRMP) and request their application documents from Tiani Wright. The NRMP code for the program is 1015112F0. Please refer to the NRMP website for 2025 application dates and deadlines. Applicants will only register with NRMP for the match. An interview is required before selection for training. Applicants are encouraged to send application materials well before the internal closing date of September 1, 2025.
Application Requirements
Candidates should submit the following information to Tiani Wright for consideration:
- Completed application
- Current CV
- Letter of interest
- Three letters of recommendation (one from the program director and at least one from an EMS medical director)
Eligibility
All applicants must have graduated from an ACGME-accredited emergency medicine residency and be board-certified or board-eligible with the American Board of Emergency Medicine. In addition, the applicant must qualify for Arizona medical licensure.
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