Facts & figures
- 2008 Specialty is established
- 7 affiliated clinical schools
Emergency medicine
Educating physicians in providing effective emergency care
From resuscitation to traumatology, broken bones and acute poisoning, we train emergency physicians to manage the full spectrum of physical and behavioural emergencies.
Study options
In essence, it's all about our students and what they want from our specialty. We offer an abundance of learning opportunities and access to clinicians in the Emergency Department. Studying with us is effective and rewarding.
Whether you want to see patients, learn procedures or discuss management, emergency medicine provides a wealth of clinical material.
Learn more about the Doctor of Medicine program at the Sydney Medical School.
We welcome applications for Australian and international medical students who wish to spend up to 8 weeks in our specialty's emergency departments
For more information about undertaking an elective placement, see the elective placements page.
These innovative degrees have been designed by critical care clinicians for doctors interested in emergency medicine, anaesthetics and intensive care medicine.
Coursework includes basic sciences, retrieval medicine and pain management, teaching in simulation and clinical communication and decision making relevant to the practice of critical care. You will gain insights into how research informs practice and undertake a critical appraisal of the evidence guiding practice in an area of critical care medicine.
- Graduate Certificate in Medicine (Critical Care Medicine)*
- Graduate Diploma in Medicine (Critical Care Medicine)*
- Master of Medicine (Critical Care Medicine)*
*Requires a medical degree
The University offers a range of research opportunites to help you pursue your passion. You can undertake a:
To learn more about research opportunities in the Faculty of Medicine and Health visit our postgraduate research page.
Some critical care units of study are available as non-award courses. If you are interested in completing a non-award unit please contact the course coordinator.
View available units of study to learn more.
Please note that CRIT5008 Evidence and Ethics in Critical Care is not available for non-award study.
How to train in emergency medicine
Training in emergency medicine is a pathway to an exciting and fulfilling medical career. This field offers flexible hours and training, work-life balance and wide-ranging career opportunities.
As emergency physicians are required to manage a variety of clinical presentations, your training will incorporate a variety of sub-specialties and clinical experiences.
Training in emergency medicine in Australia and New Zealand is overseen by ACEM (Australasian College for Emergency Medicine). It is divided into three stages:
- basic training (minimum 2 years) – involving in-hospital clinical experience, such as internship and medical officer terms.
- provisional training (minimum 1 year) – commitment to emergency medicine training, including entry (primary) exam and interview.
- advanced training (minimum 4 years) – supervised specialist training including sub-specialty terms, research components and exit (fellowship) exam.
Our research
Research is a key and integral part of the Specialty of Emergency Medicine. It is being conducted by the specialty members, associated staff and students of the Sydney Medical School.
Research is important not only to showcase the talent within the specialty but also to answer vital questions of life and death in the ED. Our studies involve aspects of acute medicine, resuscitation, toxicology as well as pre-hospital ambulance data.
Students are encouraged to participate in research within the specialty and during their critical care rotations. Research can take many forms such as a formal study, audit or an independent learning project. Each year, an award is presented to the best research study conducted by a Sydney Medical School student within the specialty.
Our research links include:
- ACEM Academic EM Interest Group
- Emergency Care Institute
- Ambulance Research Institute
- ANZICS (Australia & New Zealand Intensive Care Society)
- ITIM: Institute of Trauma & Injury Management
- NSW Poisons Infomation Centre
- Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute.
Our research focuses on areas key to emergency medicine including resuscitation, toxicology, sepsis and trauma.
- Dr Rosslyn Hing, Central Clinical School,
E: rosslyn.hing@sswahs.nsw.gov.au - Clinical Professor Michael Dinh, Central Clinical School,
E: michael.dinh@sydney.edu.au - Associate Professor Fenton O'Leary, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School
E: fenton.oleary@health.nsw.gov.au - Associate Professor Richard Paoloni, Concord Clincial School,
E: richard.paoloni@health.nsw.gov.au - Dr Bill Croker, Nepean Clinical School,
E: william.croker@health.nsw.gov.au - Associate Professor John Vassiliadis, Northern Clinical School
E: john.vassiliadis@health.nsw.gov.au - Dr Andrew Coggins, Westmead Clinical School,
E: andrew.coggins@health.nsw.gov.au - Dr Peter Bilenkij, School of Rural Health,
E: peter.bilenkij@sydney.edu.au
