Research
The Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center is dedicated to providing a research environment that fosters originality and creativity, encourages faculty and residents to pursue their research interests, and expands the knowledge base of emergency medicine. Our faculty members 
have a diverse range of research interests and experience, including clinical, epidemiological, educational, and bench research. Nationally and internationally recognized faculty have received several million dollars in funding from federal agencies such as the NIH, HRSA, CDC, and AHRQ, as well as foundations and regional agencies. Recent publications illustrate the variety and depth of the research conducted in our department.
To support research endeavors, the Department has a Patient Enroller Program to assist faculty and residents in enrolling patients into clinical studies. Further, to ensure a solid understanding of research, EM residents are provided the opportunity to complete a research project during their residency.
Areas of Interest
Acute brain ischemia/intracranial hemorrhage
Child abuse/violence prevention: A. Lenane
EMS/Prehospital care:T. Fairbanks, E. Rueckmann, M. Shah
Geriatric: M. Shah
Health Systems: S. Schneider
International Medicine: K. O’Hanlon
Intimate Partner Violence: E. Edwardsen
Medical Decision-making: G. Conners
Medical Education: E. Edwardsen, M. Spencer, L. Spillane
Patient safety: T. Fairbanks, M. Shah
Pediatric diagnostic imaging: M. Garcia
Pediatric injury prevention: A. Brayer, G. Conners, M. Garcia
Sedation: M. Spencer
Simulation: L. Spillane
Sports injury prevention: K. Veenema
Toxicology/Poisoning: S. Schneider
Traumatic Brian Injury: J. Bazarian, B. Blyth, M. Spencer
Patient Enroller Program
The Department of Emergency Medicine started a Patient Enroller Program in 1994 to assist researchers in recruiting patients for research studies. Patient enrollers are generally undergraduate students interested in a career in health care who have received specific training in conducting informed consent and collecting data for clinical research. The Enrollers are present in the Emergency Department 16 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Resident Research
Residents have the opportunity to learn to evaluate the validity of journal articles through both the research requirement and monthly journal club. Our faculty feel that the best way to understand the strengths and weaknesses of research is to be involved in a research project from conception to completion.
