Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Abstract

Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) as a specialty was developed to improve and ensure the quality of patient care, teaching, and research in this new field of pediatric medicine. The authors discuss multiple reasons for choosing a career in PEM: “organized chaos,” “flexibility,” “location, location, location,” “a career of scholarship,” “the jack of all trades,” “the ultimate team sport,” “get out in the community and serve,” “gaining trust is our challenge,” and “the PEM family is tight.” PEM certification requires the completion of a three-year fellowship for pediatric residency graduates and a two-year fellowship for emergency medicine residency graduates (of note, some PEM fellowships require 3 years for both pediatric and emergency medicine graduates). There are currently 28 enrolled and active PEM fellowship programs in the United States as per the 2022 National Resident Match Program (NRMP) data [8] Paramount to the PEM application process is building your curriculum vitae, often accomplished by seeking out educational opportunities, getting involved in research or quality improvement opportunities, and participating in committees while demonstrating leadership. The final steps to a well-rounded PEM fellowship application include a personal statement and letters of recommendation. Build a relationship with your mentor(s) and meet with them regularly to help guide you along your pathway to PEM success.