Medical student presents at national emergency medicine conference

Caroline Molins, M.D., Carlysle Salter, and

Carmen Martinez, M.D.

Carlysle Salter, a third-year medical student at the Whiddon College of Medicine, represented the college as a medical student delegate at the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Scientific Assembly, held in September in Salt Lake City, Utah.

While at ACEP, Salter presented a medical education research project conducted with faculty mentors from the Department of Emergency Medicine, Caroline Molins, M.D., and Carmen J. Martinez Martinez, M.D. Their presentation highlighted an innovative educational intervention designed to teach emergency medicine residents how to perform pericardiocentesis, a life-saving procedure to remove fluid that accumulates in the sac surrounding the heart. The training method integrates spaced repetition, simulation, and a cost-effective, high-fidelity model to strengthen procedural competency.

“We got great feedback on how innovative the pericardiocentesis model we created was, and it was a joy to share it with other residency programs to use in simulation to improve the education of emergency medicine residents,” Salter said.

ACEP is one of the premier gatherings in emergency medicine, offering medical students the opportunity to connect with mentors, network with residency program directors, and explore career pathways within the specialty. For emergency physicians, the conference provides a chance to learn new approaches, envision the future of the field, and share knowledge with colleagues.

Salter expressed her gratitude to the Whiddon College of Medicine and the Department of Emergency Medicine for supporting medical student research and to Drs. Molins and Martinez for their mentorship.