Carolinas Medical Center Emergency Medicine Residency program recognizes the importance of having a diverse workforce in medicine that reflects the patient population we serve, provides culturally sensitive care, and is interested in healthcare disparities. 

Learn more about the Emergency Medicine Healthcare Disparities rotation including details about the scholarship.

On the rotation students will:

  • Receive a SLOE.
  • Function as an intern under direct attending supervision and treat diverse patients in our busy level 1 trauma adult and pediatric emergency departments.
  • Complete a healthcare disparities project of their choice with guidance from our passionate faculty.
  • Complete self-directed online modules which include everything from research articles, blogs/podcasts, to art pieces on core social emergency medicine topics such as how to be an upstander, human trafficking, jail health, as well as information on how to care for specific patient populations such as those with limited English proficiency or those from the LGBTQ+ community.
  • Visit community resources and learn about food and housing insecurity as well as treatment options for mental health and substance use disorders,
  • Have experiential learning opportunities where they will spend several hours with one of the following groups based on their interests (Chaplain, Human Trafficking EM Advocacy Team, Domestic Violence Healthcare Project, Project SEED, Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program).

More Information About the Healthcare Disparities Project

A main aspect of this rotation is the self-directed learning project. The only requirements are that it must be focused on healthcare disparities and that the student must give a 10–15-minute presentation at the end of their rotation. Some past projects have included spreading awareness policies related to medical amnesty, the creation of a guide for opioid use disorder treatment options in the greater Charlotte region, and the creation of discharge instructions to help patients find transportation options for primary care visits.

Funding for the Rotation

All students (regardless of home institution) who apply, are accepted, and participate in the elective will receive a stipend which will be allocated as such:

  • Students whose primary living address is between 0-100 miles from our main site (please see address below) will receive a $500 stipend to help defray the cost of gas/transportation and housing relocation.
  • Students whose primary living address is greater than or equal to 100 miles from our main site (please see address below) will receive a $1,000 stipend to help defray the cost of gas/transportation, housing relocation, and a flight/train/bus to and from Charlotte.

How to Apply

Interested Wake Forest students should email the Clerkship Director Dr. Cortlyn Brown and cc the Clerkship Coordinator Claudette Batton the following:

  • A transcript (unofficial is OK).
  • A copy of your USMLE Step 1 result (and Step 2, if available).
  • An updated CV/resume.
  • A personal statement describing your interest in healthcare disparities as well as our rotation. We believe strongly in a holistic review of applications so, if you would like, you may also use this space to comment on any unique hardships, challenges, or obstacles that you have faced. You may also use this space to discuss any unique aspects of your background. (Maximum 1 page, double-spaced).

URiM students interested in a rotation with a broader focus than solely on healthcare disparities


We also offer a limited number of scholarships to students completing our Acting Internship (AI) in EM (4AIM361 on VLSO). These funds require a separate application and are meant to offset the cost of travel and housing for the AI. Learn more about the AI scholarship from Wake Forest University School of Medicine.