About the Department of Emergency Medicine

One of the primary education goals for our department is to provide an experience for medical students that is not only exciting and educational, but is an accurate picture of what emergency medicine is all about. At Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, students complete a mandatory three week long third year rotation. Students participate in clinical shifts and complete required clinical experiences under faculty supervision. Outside of the emergency department, students are expected to complete an asynchronous lecture course with associated board exam-style questions, as well as a high fidelity simulation and table top simulations with faculty.

Medical school students can choose one of the following sites to rotate:

1. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital – New Brunswick, in New Brunswick, NJ
2. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital – Somerset, in Somerville, NJ
3. Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, NJ

This course is graded on a pass/fail basis. Our students have consistently ranked this clerkship very highly both from an overall perspective and from the experience with the faculty.

The sub-internship is also offered for visiting students interested in pursuing emergency medicine residency. Applications are accepted only through VSLO. Start dates are non-negotiable.

Once a student’s initial VSLO application is reviewed, the student will be asked to complete a short supplemental application that will be sent to them by clerkship leadership. Students who are accepted to our sub-internship have the opportunity to apply for at $1500 scholarship that aims at supporting diversity and inclusion at our institution.

The sub-internship is also offered for visiting students. Applications are accepted only through VSLO, and rotation start/end dates published in VSLO are non-negotiable. Students interested in emergency medicine residency are given scheduling priority. Students can apply starting at the end of March through the beginning of June each year. Once a student’s initial VSLO application is reviewed, the student will be asked to complete a short supplemental application that will be sent to them by clerkship leadership.

Background

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) is the primary teaching hospital of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, located in New Brunswick, NJ and the primary site of the Rutgers RWJMS Emergency Medicine Residency Program. The population of New Jersey is reflected in New Brunswick, where we serve a variety of populations with unique health concerns.

Our department is committed to expanding our residency program with individuals who are capable and prepared to serve our patient population.

Program Goal

This program aims to provide financial support for fourth-year medical students interested in providing care to our patient population. Students who rotate with us in New Brunswick can further their practice with disadvantaged populations related to healthcare access, education, and financial resources.

Scholarship

Up to four $1500 scholarships will be awarded annually to students based on their completed applications. Scholarships will only be considered for students who are accepted to rotate at our institution and will be distributed after the student accepts the rotation.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must meet the ALL of the following requirements:

1. Applicants must be a current 3^rd year medical student who attends a US accredited medical school and is enrolled in a Medical Degree granting program.
2. Applicants are interested in expanding their knowledge of the issues facing populations in our community who are disadvantaged with respect to healthcare access, education, and financial resources.
3. Applicants must have successfully completed their core rotations in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, OB/GYN, and Family Medicine.

Application

Applications will be accepted between April 15 – June 1, 2025 on a rolling basis, however, we encourage early applications to ensure funding availability. There is no application fee.  Students must also apply to and being accepted to rotate as a sub-intern for the Visiting Sub-Internship in Emergency Medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School 8999 through the AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) system for their application to be considered.

Applications will require:

1. Completion of the application, found here:
2. A personal statement (approximately 350 words) that answers the following question: What are you looking to gain from this experience? How might you apply this new knowledge as a clinician in the future?
3. A copy of an unofficial medical school transcript
4. A CV or resume
5. One letter of recommendation from an emergency medicine faculty member. For schools without emergency medicine programs, a letter from a school dean will be accepted.

Questions

Please contact Dr. Amanda Esposito (santoraa@rwjms.rutgers.edu) with questions regarding the program.

Laryssa Patti, MD, FACEP                      Amanda Esposito, MD    
Clerkship Director

                                   Subinternship Director
laryssa.patti@rutgers.edu                         amanda.esposito.md@rutgers.edu

Daniel Polvino, MD                                 Michelle Bardsley
Bootcamp Director                                    Clerkship Coordinator


polvindm@rwjms.rutgers.edu                   holswomi@rwjms.rutgers.edu

We have developed several focused areas of investigation that include:

• ED Operations,
• Emergency Medical Services,
• Toxicology,
• Ultrasound,
• Medical Student and Resident Education,
• Resuscitation,
• and Social Emergency Medicine.

Our department actively collaborates with the Departments of Medicine, Cardiology, Critical Care, Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Rheumatology, Radiology, and Family Medicine and Community Health and also includes connections with the New Jersey Alliance for Clinical and Translational Science (NJ ACTS), the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ), Rutgers School of Public Health, Rutgers - University Center for Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response and Rutgers - Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research.  

We also participate in national emergency medicine research networks such as Strategies to Innovate Emergency Care Clinical Trials Network (SIREN) and Comprehensive Oncologic Emergencies Research Network (CONCERN).

Sara Heinert, PhD, MPH
Director of Research
sara.heinert@rutgers.edu

Jonathan McCoy, MD, FACEP
Research Faculty
mccoyj1@rwjms.rutgers.edu

Paul Peng, MD, PhD, MSCR, FACEP
Research Faculty
paul.peng@rutgers.edu
 

Ruth Salas, MPH

Assistant Research Coordinator

More information on our Emergency Medicine Research Elective for medical students can be found here:

EMED 9017 - Emergency Medicine Research Elective

Medical school students or Rutgers undergraduate students interested in volunteering as an emergency medicine research associate can complete the form below. 

Volunteer by Completing the Form

We will reach out to you if there is a match between your availability and experiences and our current needs. If current availability is limited, we will keep your information on file in case additional opportunities open. Thank you for your interest! 

The Department of Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds take place on the second Wednesday of each month from September through May. These sessions bring together faculty, residents, fellows, and students to engage in academic discussion, share research, and explore current topics in emergency medicine practice and education. All members of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health are welcome to attend.

Wednesday, November 12, 2025 - 8-9am  

CHINJ Room 3101 & via Zoom  

New Brunswick, New Jersey  

 “Health Inequities among Latino Communities in New Jersey"

Presented by 

           Rafael E. Pérez-Figueroa, MD, MPH   

   Associate Dean for Community Engagement, Population Health, and Public Health Service 

Associate Professor

Department of Urban-Global Public Health 

Rutgers School of Public Health 

Newark, New Jersey

Click Here to View Recorded Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds

Emergency Medicine

Our clinical team of physicians, residents, and advanced practice providers, supported by dedicated medical scribes, delivers 24/7 emergency care for adult patients (ages 21 and older) at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. The department treats over 80,000 patients each year, encompassing the full spectrum of emergency conditions—from life-threatening injuries and critical illnesses to minor and urgent concerns.

Our goal is to provide the highest quality care in the most efficient, compassionate, and patient-centered manner possible.”

View More Information on Clinical Services

Observation Medicine

The Rapid Decision Unit (RDU) within the Department of Emergency Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital provides focused, short-term care for patients who require extended evaluation, treatment, or monitoring beyond their initial emergency department visit.

Staffed by emergency medicine physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and support staff, the RDU enables timely diagnostic testing, therapeutic intervention, and coordinated disposition planning. This model enhances patient safety, throughput, and resource efficiency, while ensuring that each patient receives high-quality, evidence-based care in an appropriate setting.

Medical Toxicology

The Medical Toxicology service within the Department of Emergency Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital provides expert consultation and management for patients affected by poisoning, drug overdose, and exposure to toxic substances.

Our board-certified medical toxicologist works alongside emergency physicians, residents, and pharmacists to deliver specialized, evidence-based care. The service also plays a key role in education, research, and community outreach, training the next generation of clinicians to recognize and manage toxicologic emergencies while advancing knowledge in this vital area of emergency medicine.

Division of Emergency and Critical Care Ultrasound

The Division of Emergency and Critical Care Ultrasound is comprised of multiple fellowship-trained ultrasound physicians who provide comprehensive oversight of all point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) services within the Emergency Department. They are responsible for quality assurance, image review, and clinical integration of POCUS throughout the department. In addition, the division provides education and mentorship to our ultrasound fellows, and delivers dedicated teaching and hands-on training to emergency medicine residents and rotating medical students.

Emergency Medical Services

The Department of Emergency Medicine provides medical command oversight for RWJ Mobile Health Services based at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. RWJ Mobile Health Services delivers Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Life Support (ALS), and Specialty Care Transport Unit (SCTU) services to communities throughout New Jersey.

Working in close collaboration with the Emergency Department, RWJ Mobile Health Services ensures seamless prehospital-to-hospital care, supporting timely interventions and continuity across the entire emergency care spectrum.

EM+PACT (Emergency Medicine + Partnering for Access, Community and Trust) provides an opportunity for the Department of Emergency Medicine to participate in community outreach, build interactions between faculty and residents, and learn meaningful information about other cultures/ethnicities with a goal to provide quality patient care. 

The Division of Emergency and Critical Care Ultrasound includes a team of fellowship-trained physicians who oversee all aspects of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) within the Emergency Department. Their responsibilities include program oversight, image review, quality assurance, and the continued integration of ultrasound into clinical care and decision-making.

The division plays a central role in education and training, providing instruction and mentorship for ultrasound fellows, emergency medicine residents, and rotating medical students. Faculty also collaborate with the Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Interest Group, engage in research and innovation, and are actively involved in regional and national ultrasound organizations focused on the growth and advancement of point-of-care ultrasound.

ULTRASOUND LEADERSHIP

Christopher Bryczkowski, MD, FACEP, FAEMUS                      Amanda Esposito, MD    
Interim Chair

                                                                                 Assistant Professor
bryczkjcj@rutgers.edu                                                                   amanda.esposito.md@rutgers.edu

Michael Mirza, MD                                                                        Daniel Morrison, MD, FACEP
Assistant Professor                                                                        Professor
mirzamr@rwjms.rutgers.edu                                                          morrisds@rwjms.rutgers.edu

Mary Rometti, MD                                                                        
Assistant Professor                                                                        
mr1436@rwjms.rutgers.edu