Residency Program

Welcome to the University of Virginia Emergency Medicine Residency, a three-year program committed to training well-rounded emergency physicians who will excel in their medical careers.  At the University of Virginia, our goal is to introduce residents to a broad range of educational opportunities allowing them to explore and develop career paths according to their clinical interests.

The University of Virginia provides a location where there are immense practice opportunities.  As a Level 1 trauma center and tertiary referral center, the University allows access to extraordinary pathology. As an emergency department located in the heart of Charlottesville, residents experience typical cases consistent with everyday practice, as well as rare, complex presentations.  Our patient population is both socioeconomically and culturally diverse. A cutting edge emergency ultrasound program, state-of-the-art simulation center, and international opportunities are just some of the possibilities residents can discover during their time at UVA.  With nationally recognized educators, residents have access to a multitude of regional and national academic opportunities.

From art and music to collegiate sports the Charlottesville community and the University of Virginia offers a mix of appealing extracurricular activities.  Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley, Charlottesville offers ample opportunity for outdoor recreation.  Our residents work hard and play hard, building lasting relationships that continue throughout their careers.

We hope you can see why we have made UVA our home. Feel free to email or call so we can share our experiences with you.

UVA EM Resident Website

Josh Easter, MD, MS – Residency Program Director
Josh joined UVA in 2016 and serves as an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine. He is a national leader and innovator in data driven practice and pediatric resuscitation. He completed his residency in emergency medicine and fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at Harvard. He then worked at Denver Health as an attending, where he conducted research on clinical prediction models for pediatric trauma with a K award. When he finished,  he moved to his hometown of Richmond, VA. There he worked at a busy community ED and directed their educational activities. In 2016 he transitioned to UVA, where he served as Director of the emergency medicine sub-internship and the pediatric emergency elective as well as a Coach and then a Master Assessor for the School of Medicine. He also founded two new fellowship training programs at UVA. His interests are diverse and include knowledge translation, global health, advocacy, evidence-based medicine, cost effectiveness, social justice, and competency based training.  He has received awards for his teaching and research nationally and internationally. He currently directs UVA’s Residency Leadership fellowship and co-leads the Department’s efforts in Kenya and Mexico. Outside of work he enjoys chasing his kids around, running on the trails around Charlottesville, learning Spanish, swimming, or planning his next trip abroad.

Heather Lounsbury, MD – Assistant Residency Program Director
Heather Lounsbury is also a graduate of this residency program and completed a fellowship in medical education. Originally from Arizona, she attended undergrad at Creighton University and then medical school at University of Arizona. Her interests in emergency medicine include medical education, teaching with chalk talks, and cardiovascular medicine research. Her interests outside medicine include travel (she aims to reach every continent soon), reading, and vegan cooking. She has 3 children, 3 dogs (Bear, Panda, and Dobson), and a cat.

Jake Ottenhoff, DO – Assistant Residency Program Director
Jake Ottenhoff completed emergency medicine residency at Detroit Medical Center (Sinai-Grace) before ultrasound fellowship here at UVA. He is originally from Michigan and attended undergrad at the University of Michigan and then medical school at Michigan State University. His interests include trauma, resuscitation, ultrasound, and procedural training. He also enjoys hiking, camping, skiing, sailing, and chasing his 3 kids.

Nardos Makonnen, MD – Assistant Residency Program Director
Nardos Makonnen attended medical school at Drexel University in Philadelphia and came to UVA for residency. She went to George Washington University for a global health fellowship and to complete her MPH in global health policy. Her fellowship work mostly focused on EM residency development, as well as creating research curriculums in India and Ethiopia. Her hobbies outside of work include running, hiking, reading autobiographies, cooking, and listening to podcasts.

Aileen Watchko, MA – Emergency Medicine Medical Education Administrator
Aileen Watchko is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a masters degrees in Medical Anthropology from George Mason University. Born in Seoul, she has lived in Panama and Spain and calls Virginia home. She is an active participant in CORD’s EMARC committee and currently heads up the GMEC committee at UVA. Her interests outside work include travel, food, and event planning.