Program Overview

Introduction to the Space Medicine Training Program

The Baylor College of Medicine Massachusetts General Hospital Space Medicine advanced specialty training program is a jointly administered program designed to train experts in clinical care, risk management, medical system design, research, and operational considerations supporting human activities in space.

About the Program

The two-year program for Emergency Medicine residency graduates aims to establish extra-terrestrial standards of clinical excellence. It is administered by the Departments of Emergency Medicine at BCM and MGH, as well as the Center for Space Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. The program is sponsored by the Translational Research Institute for Space Health, The Departments of Emergency Medicine at BCM and MGH, and commercial spaceflight partners.

Curriculum and Experiences

The program's curriculum is divided into several areas of focus, including:

• Space Medicine Operations (50% of training time)
• Engineering Systems Design (30% of training time)
• Austere and Extreme Environment Emergency Care (7% of training time)
• Space Analogue Simulation Training (4% of training time)
• Space Crew Screening, Health Maintenance, and Reconditioning (4% of training time)
• Electives and Vacation (5% of training time)

Research Experience

Fellows collaborate with the Translational Research Institute for Space Health's (TRISH) established research framework within cutting-edge opportunities in the field of human spaceflight research. TRISH is a research consortium led by Baylor College of Medicine, along with MIT and Caltech, and funds projects aimed at solutions to emerging problems in human spaceflight.

Affiliated Institutions

The program is affiliated with several institutions, including:

• Baylor College of Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine
• Baylor College of Medicine Center for Space Medicine
• Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Emergency Medicine
• Massachusetts General Hospital Division of Space, Ecological, Arctic, and Resource-limited (SPEAR) Medicine
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Translational Institute of Space Health
• Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX)
• Johns Hopkins University Division of Bioastronautics

Administration

The program is led by:

• Erik Antonsen, M.D., Ph.D., as the BCM Program Director
• Dana Levin, M.D., MPH, as the Assistant Program Director
• Stuart Harris, M.D., MFA, as the MGH Program Director

Faculty

The program's faculty includes:

• Mohammad I. Hirzallah, M.D., MSc
• Kris Lehnhardt, M.D.
• Amit Padaki, M.D., MS
• Daniela Ortiz, M.D., MPH
• Emmanuel Urquieta, M.D.

Current Fellows

The program's current fellows include:

• Carlo Canepa, M.D.
• Luke Apisa, M.D.
• Kenny Chao, M.D.

Requirements

To be eligible for the program, applicants must:

• Graduate from an ACGME-accredited Emergency Medicine Residency
• Be eligible for a Texas or Massachusetts state medical license
• Opportunities for non-US citizens exist, and interested parties should contact the program for more details

Admissions

Applications are accepted through November 1. Applicants must submit:

• The application form
• A current CV
• A personal statement describing their interest in Space Medicine After screening, exceptional candidates will be invited for a virtual interview with program faculty and commercial partners. Applicants can expect to hear the program's decision by mid-December.