Message from the Emergency Medicine Director

Becoming a leader in the field of emergency medicine requires many special talents. Emergency management skills, medical knowledge and an inherent ability to quickly and accurately recognize the seriousness of a patient’s condition presenting to the ED are all critical to optimum patient care. The recognition and development of these talents is what separates the best training programs from the rest. Valleywise Health offers a program tailored to excellence in every category and an atmosphere that is contagious about teaching, resident learning and helping you achieve those goals to be the doctor you want be. 

As the Program Director of a program that finds its roots established in 1983, I am personally 110% committed to creating an environment of excellence and going above and beyond in every area of your experience here. The entire faculty feels the same. At Valleywise Health, you will have the unique and unprecedented opportunity to be a part of an exciting time in the program’s history and participate in the structuring and development of how the program unfolds and further a cornerstone of our program amongst residents and faculty alike – Copa Pride. You are unlikely to find a group that will be more receptive, sensitive and responsive to your input and needs because we are on a path toward becoming one of the premiere programs in the country and know that we’ll get there faster by encouraging and valuing your feedback.

You’ll also live and learn in Phoenix - one of the most exciting, and diverse cities in the country. Our residency program mirrors those qualities and will prepare you for anything and everything that your future in emergency medicine may expose you to. The experience you will get in just a few years at Valleywise Health could take a decade of clinical practice in many other areas of the country.

A truly unique time for an exciting program in a fast paced work environment. Your future as an emergency physician is only as good as your foundation and we are prepared to help you ensure that the initial step in paving the way for your future is rock solid. Accept nothing but the best, as do we, from yourself and our program that prides itself on tradition and the people.

Are you ready? 

Michael L. Epter, DO, FAAEM
Program Director, Valleywise Health Medical Center
Emergency Medicine Residency Program