Keck School of Medicine of USC

Department of Emergency Medicine

Are you a Patient?

Where Urgency Meets Expertise

The essence of emergency medicine is being there for people in their moment of need. That commitment drives our department — one of the oldest in our specialty nationwide — 24/7. It’s at the core of our top-rated training, our research into disparities in care, and our service to diverse, underserved populations at one of the nation’s busiest emergency rooms.

Research

We’re working on the next leaps ahead in quality of care for emergency room patients. To make the biggest difference, our investigations are inspired by the problems and inequities faced by the patients who need the most help, in L.A. and all around the world.

Learn about Research in Emergency Medicine

Education & Training

Nurturing Excellence from Students to Experts. For Medical Students, our immersive clerkships provide a sneak peek into resident life, complemented by third-year rotations unveiling the realm of emergency medicine. Preclinical students have the unique opportunity to shadow physicians, gaining insights into acute case treatments. Embark on the path to becoming experts through our top-rated Residency program, where we shape the brightest minds into accomplished emergency medicine professionals. Elevate your specialization through Clinical Fellowships, where future leaders are trained across various domains. From honing technical skills to pioneering medical research and acquiring the essential expertise to establish new departments, our trainees are presented with compelling avenues for growth and impact.

Learn about our Emergency Medicine training programs

Medical Students

Clerkships enable medical students to preview resident life, while a third-year rotation introduces students to emergency medicine. Preclinical students shadow top physicians treating acute cases.

Residency

Our department offers one of the nation’s top-rated residency programs. We welcome the best and brightest trainees and guide them as they grow into sought-after emergency medicine experts.

Clinical Fellowships

Fellowships prepare future leaders in a range of specialties. From technical skills to medical research to everything they need to know to start a new department, trainees have compelling options.

Patient Care

At L.A. General Medical Center and other hospitals, we provide the highest-quality care to patients who include the underserved, underrepresented, undocumented and unhoused. Our expertise in areas such as trauma and burn care is matched by our dedication to treating every patient with dignity and respect.

Patient Care

Message from the Chair

We take pride in offering emergency medicine training that’s second-to-none, the same way we take pride in caring for patients who depend on us in their toughest moments, all day, every day.

Carl Chudnofsky, MD, Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine

Areas of Expertise

Our Divisions

Each Division is a nexus of expertise and innovation, contributing uniquely to the advancement of emergency medicine. As you explore the following Divisions, you’ll discover the dedicated teams and groundbreaking initiatives that define our commitment to research, education, and healthcare excellence.

Division of Emergency Medicine Research

We’ve built a vibrant, collaborative and sustainable environment for medical researchers to create and test new solutions for the most pressing questions in emergency medicine.

Division of Global Emergency Medicine

Sitting at the crossroads of clinical medicine and public health, our division develops best practices for restoring and protecting the health of vulnerable populations worldwide.

Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Our expert physicians see about 25,000 pediatric patients every year. In addition to providing the best in care, we advance emergency treatment for the youngest patients through research and policy.

Division of Toxicology

Whether affected by poison, venom or drugs of abuse, patients receive exceptional care through our division. We are shaping the future of medical toxicology with in-depth education and research.

Division of Emergency Ultrasound

Sonography is a crucial tool in emergency medicine, from diagnosis to monitoring treatment. Our specialists provide the best in point-of-care ultrasound while educating the next generation of experts.

Facts & Figures

132

Emergency beds at L.A. General

95,000

Emergency visits at L.A. General annually

1971

Department’s founding year

Support Us

Backing extraordinary education, research and care in emergency medicine is a profound way to make a difference in the lives of others. Our faculty and trainees are all in for patients, and your giving advances emergency treatment, now and in the years to come.

Learn about Giving Oportunities