The ÐÔ°®ÎåÉ«Ìì, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), in partnership with Western Emergency Physicians, announces a new Department of Emergency Medicine. This development is a strategic milestone in UNR Med’s mission to train physicians and providers dedicated to our vision of A Healthy Nevada. The Department of Emergency Medicine benefits from strong partnerships with and , offering unparalleled educational opportunities for students and residents who will enhance emergency care across Nevada and beyond.
Emergency medicine is a vital component of medical education, with 13.2% of UNR Med’s Class of 2024 matching into emergency medicine residencies. The development of the department marks a significant investment in addressing the growing demand for skilled emergency physicians. Nationally, emergency medicine residency programs offered 3,026 positions in 2024, achieving a 95.5% fill rate — an increase of 13.9 percentage points over the previous year, according to the . With these trends, UNR Med’s emergency medicine department is poised to meet the country’s growing health care needs.
“The establishment of a new emergency medicine department at UNR Med not only expands educational opportunities for our students, but also lays a strong foundation for advancing medical research and improving patient care for the Northern Nevada community,” said UNR Med Vice Dean Timothy Baker, M.D. “We are excited to launch this partnership, which supports our strategic objectives and advances our vision of creating Nevada’s first integrated academic health system.”
Leading the department as interim chair is Bret Frey, M.D. ‘00, a dedicated physician with a diverse background in clinical care, research and medical leadership. Dr. Frey, an alumnus of UNR Med, completed his residency training at the University of Connecticut. Since returning to Nevada, he has held numerous leadership roles, including president of Western Emergency Physicians, vice president of the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners, and chief of staff at Renown South Meadows. These experiences have prepared him to guide the department’s formation and growth.
Supporting Dr. Frey is David Benaron, M.D., who will serve as the department’s vice chair. Dr. Benaron previously acted as the educational liaison for Western Emergency Physicians. His expertise in education and collaboration enhances the department’s mission to deliver exceptional training for Nevada’s future health care providers.
"Western Emergency Physicians is more than excited to be in partnership with UNR Med on critical education and research priorities,” said Dr. Frey. “This is a strategic alliance which will benefit the regional community for decades to come, providing patients with access to high quality emergency care in both rural and urban settings, enhancing the resilience of emergency care through clinical care, research and workforce development.”
The department’s joint faculty team comprises over 60 board-certified emergency medicine physicians from Western Emergency Physicians, including five specialists in pediatric emergency medicine. These physicians offer emergency services in the ER at Renown Regional and Renown South Meadows Medical Center. They contribute directly to UNR Med’s teaching mission through hands-on education, research mentorship and advising, and are commitment to fostering a just culture and supportive learning environment for all.
“This partnership exemplifies our commitment to the four pillars of our 2024-2029 Strategic Plan,” said UNR Med Dean Paul J. Hauptman, M.D. “The addition of the Department of Emergency Medicine not only strengthens our dedication to fostering a connected community but also promotes educational excellence and offers opportunities for advancing research and health care innovation, while building an integrated academic health system with Renown.”
The establishment of the department further enhances UNR Med's highly regarded curriculum, offering students comprehensive, hands-on training across diverse clinical settings. This initiative reflects the school’s ongoing commitment to excellence in medical education and to advancing health care throughout the state.
With the establishment of the Department of Emergency Medicine, UNR Med continues to expand its northern Nevada-based curriculum, ensuring that students receive robust, hands-on training in diverse clinical settings. This initiative reflects the school’s vision for excellence in medical education and its unwavering commitment to improving health care across the state.
