Emergency Medicine Residency
Merit Health Wesley's emergency medicine residency program has been granted continued accreditation by the ACGME and is currently a three-year program with 24 total residents. We will be recruiting 8 PGY-1 residents in the upcoming 2025 NRMP cycle.
Our emergency medicine residency program in Hattiesburg, MS, is designed to develop highly skilled, independent emergency physicians by immersing residents in real-world emergency medicine from day one. Here’s what sets us apart:
Collaborative Teamwork with Experienced Attendings:
We believe in learning by doing — and doing it together. Residents work closely alongside board-certified attendings who view themselves as mentors, not just supervisors. Attendings are accessible and approachable, fostering a collaborative environment where questions are encouraged and teaching moments happen naturally. This close working relationship promotes a smooth transition from learning to leading, helping residents become confident decision-makers.
Autonomous Practice in a Supportive Environment:
Our program emphasizes early exposure to independent clinical decision-making. From the start, residents are empowered to manage their own patients, develop treatment plans and make critical decisions, all with the safety net of experienced attendings by their side. As residents progress through the program, they gain increasing autonomy with the goal of graduating ready to lead any emergency department team.
Experience Real-World Emergency Medicine at Its Core:
Hattiesburg's unique patient population offers the perfect blend of urban, suburban and rural emergency medicine. Residents encounter everything from multi-system trauma to community-acquired infections, from pediatric to geriatric care, and from low-acuity complaints to life-threatening emergencies. By being an unopposed residency program, our residents frequently have hands-on opportunities to perform critical procedures like intubations, central lines and bedside ultrasounds.
Prepare to Lead in Any Setting:
Because we serve as a regional transfer center, our program ensures exposure to real-world challenges, such as limited resources, time-sensitive decision-making and multi-patient management. Whether graduates pursue fellowship opportunities, community practice, academic medicine or rural emergency care, they leave our program equipped with the experience and confidence to thrive in any environment.
A Residency Program That Values Your Growth:
Our goal is not just to train excellent clinicians but to develop well-rounded leaders in emergency medicine. With structured feedback, mentorship and progressive responsibility, we help residents grow professionally and personally. You'll graduate from our program with the ability to practice independently, lead teams and adapt to the evolving demands of the specialty.
The residency program strives to continuously improve upon its program, training facilities and academic curriculum to achieve the ultimate goal of the department of emergency medicine: “Excellence in patient care”. We have incorporated the Merit Health Wesley mission statement, which is: “Loving God, serving others, excelling in healthcare.”
ThucAn Bui, D.O.
Chief Resident
Sun-Woong Kang, D.O.
Chief Resident
Spencer Rhodes, D.O.
Chief Resident
About Hattiesburg
Boasting a growing population of almost 50,000, Hattiesburg is known as the Hub City and is centrally located less than 90 minutes from New Orleans, Mobile, the Gulf Coast and Jackson. The Hattiesburg area offers many popular events, attractions and restaurants. The city is known for its genuine southern hospitality, live music and arts scene, as well as its rich history. For more information, click here.
Contact Us
For more information about Merit Health Wesley's emergency medicine residency program, contact our graduate medical education coordinator by calling (601) 296-3680, or by email.