Emergency Medical Services Fellowship

The Stanford Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Fellowship is a comprehensive two-year program designed to develop leaders in emergency medical services. The first year is ACGME-accredited, providing a strong foundation in EMS. The second year, which is non-ACGME accredited, allows fellows to focus on advanced research, education, and collaboration with peers

The purpose of EMS subspecialty certification is to:

• standardize physician training and qualifications for EMS practice
• improve patient safety 
• enhance the quality of emergency medical care education to pre-hospital care providers
• further integrate prehospital patient treatment into the continuum of care

By the end of the fellowship, the fellow will have a competency in:

• clinical aspects in EMS
• medical oversight of EMS
• quality management and research
• special operations 

At the conclusion of one year, fellows are Board Eligible for the Emergency Medical Services subspecialty board exam.  

Our goal is to train future leaders by providing a broad knowledge base and allowing time for additional efforts in areas of interest. Fellows benefit from the opportunity to explore different facets of EMS through close contact with our many faculty, providers, and agencies. 

Affiliations: The EMS division provides medical oversight to numerous agencies in the area and is affiliated with the following organizations:

• Stanford Life Flight
• San Jose Fire Department
• Santa Clara County Fire Department
• Palo Alto Fire Department
• Mountain View Fire Department
• Santa Clara (city) Fire Department
• Milpitas Fire Department
• Gilroy Fire Department
• Morgan Hill City Fire Department
• South Santa Clara Fire Protection District
• The County of Santa Clara EMS Agency
• Imperial County EMS Agency
• Yosemite National Park
• NASA/ Ames Research Center Fire Department
• The Emergency Medical Directors Association of California
• The California Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association
• The Metropolitan Municipalities EMS Medical Directors Alliance (“Eagles”)
• California Paramedic Foundation
• Sunnyvale Fire Department

Through a dedicated EMS fellowship curriculum including didactic time, field practice, quality improvement activities, flight time, and a variety of other EMS activities, fellows gain experience in the provision of prehospital care for a variety of acutely ill and injured patients.

Additionally, with the expertise of our faculty, we are able to offer not only an outstanding core EMS fellowship experience, but also other niche EMS faculty support in the areas of:

• Wilderness Medicine
• HAZMAT
• Tactical and Military Medicine
• Pediatric EMS
• Disaster planning/response
• Mass Gatherings
• Paramedic/EMT training

During the first year, EMS fellows do not work as faculty in the Stanford Emergency Department. Instead, they "moonlight" in several local emergency departments, an opportunity that has historically been valued by past fellows for the diverse experiences it offers. 

In the second year, fellows transition into the role of clinical instructors in the Stanford Emergency Department.

Eligibility

• As Directed by ABEM
• Residency program completion
• Background and interest in EMS, education, research and administration
• Must be eligible for an unrestricted CA medical license

To Apply

This fellowship uses the NRMP Match for application. Please review the NRMP website for details and deadlines. To apply for the 2026-2028 EMS Fellowship, please submit the following:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Cover Letter
• Three Letters of Recommendation

Send all application materials to Michael Vernon.

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: September 6th, 2025
• Decision Date: November 8th, 2025
• Fellowship Start Date: August 1st, 2026

Questions? Please email Michael Vernon.