The Joint Emergency Medicine Exercise: A Capstone Training Evolution of a Military Unique Curriculum for Emergency Medicine Residents

Introduction The role of the Emergency Medicine (EM) physician in the U.S. military continues to expand, and current Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education general training requirements do not optimally prepare military EM graduates to be successful in postresidency operational assignments. To address this gap, the Naval Medical Center San Diego EM residency program introduced a Military Unique Curriculum (MUC) culminating in a capstone event, the Joint Emergency Medicine Exercise (JEMX). Methods Part of an approved Quality Improvement project, annual survey results from 2012 to 2017 evaluated graduate opinion on the strengths and weaknesses of the MUC. We describe a pilot project conceived by tri-service EM physicians to evaluate the feasibility of the JEMX. Results Forty-eight graduate residents responded to surveys, 18 of which were administered pre-MUC implementation. With a 100% response rate from graduate residents, overall trends showed greater perceived readiness for postresidency operational assignments after MUC implementation. Written comments received cited the MUC as areas where the Naval Medical Center San Diego EM program excelled and the successful JEMX evolutions as the most valuable curricular component of the MUC. Conclusion An integrated MUC with a capstone exercise, such as our JEMX, provides a feasible and effective educational experience that improves operational readiness of graduating EM residents.