Emergency Medicine Residency Program

Program Director’s Message

Thanks for looking into the Emergency Medicine Program at Cooper!  Exciting changes, bright future, dynamic and cutting edge are just a few phrases that come to mind when I think about the current and future direction of Cooper University Hospital and particularly the EM program.  Over the past fourteen years I have witnessed extraordinatory changes at Cooper: a brand new, state of the art critical care tower and operating rooms, the addition of world renowned faculty, the institution of EPIC and an agreement with Rowan University to start a four year allopathic medical school at Cooper to name a few.  These changes have allowed Cooper University Hospital to become a leader in the health care field in the region.

Over the past fourteen years the EM Residency program at Cooper has mirrored the growth, success and development of the institution.  Cooper offers residents the opportunity to provide care in a very busy, high acuity ED for patients who live in one of the nation's poorest and most dangerous cities.  We are a very busy ED with a high proportion of sick and critically injured patients and from a training standpoint it is an ideal environment to learn the art and science of emergency medicine.  This past summer we have transitioned into a brand new, state of the art ED and in the spring of 2010 construction will be finalized on the entire department with the end result doubling our previous physical space.

I am very proud of our program and the many strengths that make Cooper an excellent place to train. Over the years this program has grown into a robust academic training program for over 27 residents and fellows. There are established programs and faculty expertise in research, ultrasound, simulation, shock/critical care, medical student education, bioethics, health policy, EMS/disaster management, pediatric emergency medicine, and toxicology. We have a comprehensive ultrasound training program with two machines owned by the department. The faculty and residents routinely incorporate ultrasound into the care of patients and all graduating residents are proficient in the performance and interpretation of emergency bedside ultrasound for a wide range of clinical applications. Cooper is the region’s busiest level one trauma center and our residents gain tremendous experience with all types of traumatic injuries. Over the past five years, Cooper’s critical care exposure has exploded. The creation of a multidisciplinary team, consisting of world-renowned critical care physicians, an EM/IM/critical care faculty member, and a shock/critical care fellow exposes EM residents to cutting edge critical care medicine; particularly in the areas of sepsis, shock, and post cardiac arrest care.

As program director, I am fully committed to build on this outstanding EM program. I have tremendous insight into the program and with an outstanding team consisting of a dedicated chairman, a top-notch, high-energy, friendly, dynamic faculty, and a wonderful group of residents, the future of Emergency Medicine at Cooper is extremely bright. I believe the strongest aspect of our program and the “heartbeat” of the residency is the residents themselves. I take great pride in getting to know each of my residents and they are a fun, dynamic, diverse group of outstanding human beings. I have learned that the hallmark of a quality program lies in its ability to successfully train all residents through individualized attention. Each resident is paired with a faculty mentor to provide frequent and timely feedback and support. As a team, we are able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each resident, helping them optimize their potential. My goal for each resident during their training at Cooper is threefold: 1) become an outstanding, well-rounded EM clinician 2) develop an area of academic interest through research or by participating in one of the many academic tracks 3) set personal goals. Residency is both an exciting and challenging time in your life and I feel strongly each resident should maintain a healthy balance between work and personal interests.

Cooper’s EM graduates have enjoyed tremendous success. The board passage rate is exemplary and the EM graduates’ clinical performance has been very successful, both in the academic and community setting. I look forward to mentoring each resident through their three year training at Cooper and take great pride in continuing Cooper’s outstanding tradition. If you are looking for a training program with a high acuity, culturally diverse patient population, a high-energy, friendly faculty with a wide range of academic interests, a program with a strong sense of family, a program able to provide individualized attention and the opportunity to work alongside a tremendous group of people… the residents and nurses (while having a lot of fun along the way too!), then Cooper may very well be the EM program for you as it was for me over fourteen years ago. I encourage you to look at Cooper as a place to train and become part of the Cooper family and tradition.

Andrew L. Nyce, M.D.
Program Director