Welcome to the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium Emergency Medicine Residency Program. The SAUSHEC EM Residency was established in 1977 before EM was even designated as a specialty (1979). Our program has a legacy of excellence, but our storied past does not define us. We continue to innovate in medical education to provide you with the best possible opportunities to become an amazing military emergency physician, not just a physician working in the military. We believe we are the most well-rounded and comprehensive training program, providing the ideal combination of military and civilian training. We are truly honored and humbled to know that you are taking the time and energy to see if joining our family is right for you.
One of the oldest emergency medicine residency programs in the nation — predating EM as a recognized specialty.
BAMC is the only Level 1 Trauma center in the DoD and home to the only Burn Center
17 Army, Air Force, and Navy residents train side by side each year, graduating to serve operational forces around the globe.
Admission across the DoD occur at BAMC
Most residency programs train you in one hospital. We train you across a health system that spans four cities, eight partner institutions, and two countries.
Your clinical rotations will take you from BAMC’s trauma bays to dedicated pediatric emergency departments, from a world-renowned burn unit to the Rocky Mountain Poison Control Center. Each environment is intentional — chosen to expose you to patient populations, pathology, and practice styles that no single hospital can offer.
Beyond the ED, you’ll rotate through Medical ICU, Surgical Trauma ICU, Burn ICU, Neuro ICU, Pediatric ICU, Anesthesia, Toxicology, OB/GYN, and EM electives — giving you the critical care foundation to handle anything.
This is what we mean by the most well-rounded training program. Not just in the military. Period.
There’s a difference between a doctor who wears a uniform and a physician who is genuinely prepared to lead in austere and operational environments. We train the latter.
From day one, military operational medicine is woven into everything you do — not treated as an afterthought. Our longitudinal military curriculum runs alongside your clinical training throughout all three years, building competency in the skills your first assignment will demand.
Military-specific pearls are woven into weekly Grand Rounds rather than siloed into a separate lecture series. Procedure labs incorporate Tactical Combat Casualty Care and Damage Control Resuscitation alongside standard EM skills. Field simulation scenarios are built directly into academics, so you practice decision-making under realistic operational conditions before you ever face them downrange.
Elective time can be used to pursue special training such as Air Assault or Airborne School, Critical Care Air Transport (CCATT) training, or Expert Field Medical Badge qualification. These aren’t just allowed — they’re supported. We believe your military development matters as much as your clinical development, and we build space for both.
We intentionally develop the next generation of military EM leaders. Our residents have held national board positions with ACEP and EMRA, delivered podium presentations at national conferences, and published research across a wide range of topics. When you graduate, you won’t just be ready for your first assignment. You’ll be positioned to lead it.
As the 7th largest city in the United States, San Antonio offers an exceptional quality of life that’s genuinely hard to beat. The cost of living is low, the food scene is great, and the culture runs deep. You’re 30 minutes from the Hill Country, a short drive from Austin, and close enough to the coast to make a weekend trip worth it.
We believe resident wellness isn’t a perk — it’s a program priority. Our schedule is built with that in mind: 8-hour shifts at BAMC, thoughtful scheduling, and at least one full day free from clinical duties each week. We don’t just say we care about wellness. We designed the schedule around it.
San Antonio consistently ranks among the most affordable major cities in the country. Low cost of living means more breathing room — whether that’s a comfortable apartment, weekend travel, or simply not watching your bank account with anxiety between paychecks. Train hard. Live well.
When you’re off, you’re actually off — and there’s a lot waiting for you. Hill Country hiking and wineries to the northwest. Austin an hour up the road. Padre Island and the Gulf Coast within reach for a weekend. San Antonio gives you the kind of off-duty life that helps you come back to work ready.
Fort Sam Houston is the largest military installation in the United States, and San Antonio has welcomed service members for generations. Whether you’re a seasoned officer or just beginning your military career, you’ll find a community here that understands your life, shares your values, and has your back.
From the River Walk to the Alamo, from Tex-Mex institutions to James Beard-recognized restaurants, and Rodeo season to Fiesta, San Antonio has a character that’s entirely its own. Residents here don’t just train in San Antonio. They become part of it. And more often than not, they have a hard time leaving.
If you have questions or need additional information, we’re just a message away!
