Emergency Medicine Physician Extender Development Program

Emergency Medicine Physician Extender Development Program, or EMPED, is a 12-month post graduate training program involving University Emergency Medicine Foundation (UEMF) faculty and senior physician extenders to support a comprehensive emergency medicine training program.

The program utilizes three hospitals as sites for orientation, training, and clinical rotations for newly graduated or non-emergency medicine trained physician extenders. All three sites are affiliated with Alpert Medical School and Lifespan, and are teaching facilities.

Fiona Craft, NP is the EMPED program coordinator.   Diana Afonso, PA-C and Cailyne Ghazarian, PA-C are the program lead educators.  Dr. James Monti is the Advanced Practice Provider Medical Director.

Program Content

During the development year, EMPEDs receive the following training:

• Five hours of didactic conferences each week with emergency medicine residents.
• Hands-on training in various emergency departments, working with appointed faculty.
• Procedure workshops and lectures provided by senior physicians and appointed faculty.
• Rotations:
  • ACLS, ATLS, PALS
  • Radiology and Ultrasound training
  • Psychiatry
  • Critical Care and Trauma
  • Medical Simulation Center
  • Chest Pain Observational Unit
• Training:
  • EKG Interpretation
  • ABG’s and Central Lines
  • Slit Lamp
  • Suturing and I&D
  • Intubation and Chest Tubes
  • GYN and ENT procedures
  • Arthrocentesis
  • Lumbar Punctures

Program Requirements

Acceptance into EMPED requires:

• Certificate from an accredited physician assistant or nurse
• Personal interview
• Current NCCPA certification
• Rhode Island State licensure/eligible
• A GPA of 3.0 or greater