The First 50 Years

Celebrating the Indiana University School of Medicine Emergency Medicine Residency program.

a black and white photo of the 11 members of the 1979 emergency medicine residency class

Emergency medicine residents in 1979 | All photos courtesy of IU Indianapolis University Library Archives, Butch Humbert. MD, and Jim Graber-Slater

Emergency medicine is one of the youngest medical specialties, both nationally and in Indiana. What began as ad hoc emergency care evolved into a formal discipline with dedicated residency programs, board certification and academic departments. In Indiana, this transformation has been driven by visionary leaders, innovative educators and committed clinicians. From the founding of the Indiana Chapter of ACEP in 1971 to the establishment of the Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine in 1999, the state has played a pivotal role in advancing emergency care, education and research. The Emergency Medicine Residency program, launched in 1976 under Frank Black, MD, has steadily grown into the largest three-year emergency medicine residency in the country, known for its academic rigor and national leadership. With the addition of a combined emergency medicine and pediatrics program and multiple fellowships in areas such as ultrasound, EMS and toxicology, the department continues to lead in clinical excellence, innovation and education.

Since 1976, the three-year residency has grown to 21 categorical residents per year with the addition of two residents per year through the combined emergency medicine and pediatrics program. For five decades, it was the only emergency medicine residency program in the state of Indiana.

My years at IU shaped everything about who I am as a doctor, leader and person. The people I trained with — and those who trained me — taught me what it truly means to put patients first and to take care of each other.

Ashley Grigsby, DO

Class of 2019

1971

Formation of Indiana Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians

A group of interested physicians met on Oct. 27, 1971, to form an Indiana Chapter of ACEP (INACEP). J.D. McPike presided over the meeting and was elected president. The inaugural board included the following: Larry W. Simms, James M. Brantly, Paul P. Van Kirk, Theodore R. Crawford, Edwin R. Eaton, Foreeset M. Kendall, Joseph R. Hoover, Carl D. Martz and Martin J. Graber, Jr.

1972

First board and executive director established for Indiana Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians

At the following meeting on Feb. 5, 1972, Jacob Van Druenan was elected to the board. Barbara Schilling was hired as the first staff person serving as the executive director until Dec. 1, 1978.

1976

Launch of the physician training program

The emergency physician training program in Indiana was established in 1976 with Frank Black, MD, and was initially based at Methodist Hospital. CT Fletcher, MD, was the first graduate in 1978.

Disaster drill at university hospital, 1976

1979

Reincorporation of Indiana Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians

Although INACEP started in 1972, the original incorporation papers were apparently lost, so in 1979 reincorporation was necessary.

: Myers Bldg on right (part of Wishard Hosp.) dedicated in 1968. Vertical bldg on left is Regenstrief Health Center. The Dunlap Building, dedicated in 1978, low dark building is known also as "the bridge" for it connects the Regenstrief Bldg and the Myers Bldg.

1989

A new program director

Carey Chisholm, MD, was named program director of the emergency medicine residency program.

1990

An academic Department of Emergency Medicine

The Indiana University School of Medicine Curriculum Council recommended an academic Department of Emergency Medicine be created within the IU School of Medicine.

1990–present

Emergency medicine and pediatrics program and fellowships established

The department launched the emergency medicine and pediatrics program. Multiple fellowships have also been established, including critical care, EMS, disaster medicine, research, simulation, toxicology and ultrasound.

1990–present

National leadership

Faculty have played leadership roles in the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine (AACEM), Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) and Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine (CORD).

1992–2015

Residency program expands and grows

Over this time, the residency class grew from eight to 19 residents annually, becoming one of the largest three-year emergency medicine programs in the United States to date with 650+ graduates. The program expanded to 19 graduates per year in 2001 when Wishard Hospital was added.

1995

Emergency medicine physicians in the Wishard emergency department

The specialty associate medical directors of the Wishard Hospital emergency department agreed that the Wishard ED must transition from its specialty-based triage to an emergency medicine paradigm.

1997

Indiana University School of Medicine

The creation of Clarian Health Partners (later known as Indiana Clinic then IU Health) unified the IU and Methodist Hospitals, deferring all residency training programs to IU School of Medicine. The Methodist emergency medicine residency was then placed under the school's sponsorship and supervision.

1999

Rolly McGrath, MD, named the inaugural chair

IU School of Medicine established an academic Department of Emergency Medicine and Rolly McGrath, MD, was named the inaugural chair. This was the 19th clinical department in the IU School of Medicine and the 58th academic Department of Emergency Medicine among 125 U.S. medical schools. Since 1999, the department has developed and fostered activities in education, research and patient care. The academic department serves as the focal point from which the training sites (IU Health Methodist Hospital, Eskenazi Hospital and Riley Hospital) provide their educational, research and patient care service missions. The department has created divisions tasked with the oversight and administration of the departmental missions in patient care, research and education.

2000

From specialty-based triage to emergency medicine

The Wishard ED transitioned from specialty-based triage to an emergency medicine-led department. To achieve this transition, 15 new faculty members were recruited.

2005–2010

Major research milestones

The Department of Emergency Medicine received its first National Institutes of Health Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award program (K08) and Research Project (R01) awards. At that time fewer than 20% of U.S. academic departments of emergency medicine had NIH grants.

2002

Emergency medicine clerkship

IU School of Medicine created a required emergency medicine clerkship for fourth-year medical students. At its inception, it became the largest mandatory emergency medicine clerkship in the country. The medical school senior class selected it as the best clerkship at IU School of Medicine in each of its first four years.

Chief residents with clerkship coordinator eating lunch

2007

One Department: Methodist and Wishard

Methodist and Wishard faculties unified under one academic structure.

The emergency department entrance of Methodist Hospital

2009

Endowed chair

The academic department created a fully endowed senior professorship in the IU School of Medicine. Fewer than 10% of the nation's academic departments of emergency medicine had done so.

2011

Accelerating research and education

Cherri Hobgood, MD, becomes the second chair, with a focus on accelerating research.

2015

Academic momentum

National Institutes of Health funding and tenured faculty numbers more than double.

Dr. Paul Musey interacts with a student.

At least once a shift I find myself thinking how proud I am to have graduated from the IU School of Medicine Emergency Medicine Residency. The program gave me the tools to not only be an excellent physician, but also a leader. I learned how to keep up with the most evidence based practice and continue to do so because I was fueled by the energy and compassion of such great faculty.

Brian Phillips, MD

Class of 2016

2020

Innovation

Peter Pang, MD, was appointed chair.

Dr. Peter Pang stands in the emergency department.

2025

Bloomington emergency medicine residency earns ACGME accreditation

The Bloomington Emergency Medicine Residency program received ACGME accreditation. The program will recruit in fall 2025 and matriculate its first intern class of six residents in July 2026. Butch Humbert, MD, is the current program director.

Six faculty members smile in front of the emergency department outside..

2025

Innovation

Paul Musey, MD, was named interim chair.