Why Metropolitan/Harlem
EM Residency?
MOST RACIALLY INCLUSIVE HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTRY!
(LOWN INSTITUTE HOSPITALS INDEX)
Our mission is to furnish residents with a diverse training environment comprised of high acuity trauma patients and the underserved of Harlem; and to graduate exceptional, benevolent physicians.
The original New York Medical College Emergency Medicine program at Metropolitan Hospital was the first EM program in Manhattan and is the second oldest in the State of New York. We offer a three-year residency that is committed to training residents who will graduate with a high degree of academic and clinical competence. The faculty members and I are committed to providing the highest quality education, promoting an environment conducive to academic and personal growth.
One of the greatest strengths of our program is the cultural diversity of patient populations, a variety of medical practice patterns, residents and faculty who work here. The residents have the opportunity to participate in patient care in different emergency medicine practice settings, which include the primary clinical site of Metropolitan Hospital in Manhattan and Harlem Hospital.
We hope you seriously consider our residency program and look forward to connecting with you this interview season.
It is an honor to be part of NYMC Met-Harlem’s impressive team of faculty and to work in the largest public health system in the country. We have a very supportive and team-oriented culture and a lot of positive changes are happening here!
I am passionate about medical education and bring with me the experience of undergoing a preclinical education that was entirely case-based, which I believe is the best way for the adult learner to retain knowledge. With this in mind I have helped restructure the format of our weekly conference, which now consists of mainly flipped-classroom style discussions in small groups. We’ve also implemented a vigorous SIM curriculum, 24/7 learning via SLACK as well as dedicated medical student didactics and procedure workshops.
Wellness is a major part of the resident experience and I am a firm believer that it is vital for success. We have not only incorporated it into our curriculum but we strive to practice what we preach by maintaining a culture of psychological safety where no one feels uncomfortable speaking up. We have an open-door policy and provide our residents and students with monthly constructive feedback as well as mentoring and guidance inside and outside of the hospital setting.
Our goal is to ensure that our residents and rotators are provided with all of the tools necessary to reach their full potential as successful and well-rounded Emergency Medicine Physicians.
I completed my residency training at Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx and completed the clinical leadership fellowship with NYC Health and Hospitals while working as an attending at Elmhurst Hospital and Lincoln Hospital. I'm very passionate about evidence-based medicine, resuscitation and continued critical care in the ER, clinical operations and patient safety. As emergency medicine physicians we work closely with nearly every service in the hospital and I believe fostering positive relationships, proper communication and professionalism is vital to proper patient care.
Being part of the residency, I've become passionate about providing residents with the resources necessary to develop into an excellent emergency physician. Every day brings new challenges and experiences working with our diverse patient population and provides great training with experienced faculty passionate about emergency medicine.
On a less serious side: I love riding my bike around NYC (as well as for my commute), playing basketball, cooking, the diverse food culture in NYC, going to concerts and day trips out of the city to go hiking.
I completed my residency training at MetHarlem and was fortunate enough to be given the role of Medical Education Fellow and Assistant Program Director. During my fellowship I also obtained a Masters in Medical Education for Healthcare Professionals through John Hopkins University. MetHarlem has been my home throughout residency and I quickly fell in love with academics. It is now my pleasure to continue my training in Academics and bring back my experience and teachings into the program. I am extremely excited to work alongside such a talented and impressive staff. My goal is to help each individual resident grow and help train the next generation of Emergency Medicine attendings.
Born and raised in Long Island, NY I have been blessed with being able to train and continue to work in the NYC area. I completed my residency training here at MetHarlem and have been fortunate enough to step into the role of Assistant Program Director for the residency. Teaching has always been a passion of mine and I look forward to helping train incoming students and residents to become the best emergency physicians they can be.Outside the hospital I enjoy playing/watching soccer, snowboarding and the occasional DIY home project.
Ms. Waleska Ovalles
Residency Program Coordinator, Metropolitan Site Coordinator, Clerkship Coordinator
I simply love my job. I have been at Metropolitan Hospital for 13 years, 10 years as the Residency Coordinator and Student Clerkship Coordinator and have helped many other departments in the hospital. I am not just a “coordinator” I am part of something bigger and being able to change someone’s life is one of the most fulfilling aspects of this job. Here at Metropolitan/Harlem EM Residency Program we are that and more, we are family. At MetHarlem we just don’t say these things, it is our way of life. We hope you love getting to know us through our website and please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
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Maritza Villegas is the Residency Coordinator for the Emergency Medicine Department in Harlem Hospital for Harlem Contract Residents. She has obtained a Bachelor in Psychology. Before Harlem Hospital she previously worked at Touro College of Pharmacy as an Executive Assistant for the Dean of Curriculum as well as Office Manager. Prior to Touro College of Pharmacy she worked at Montefiore Medical Center/ Women’s Center as the Coordinator for the Children’s Center an afterschool and summer program for HIV infected and affected children.