Welcome to the University of Oklahoma Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine! We are thrilled that you are interested in learning about our residency program. We hope you find this page informative and that it provides answers to any questions that you may have.
The residency program strikes a great balance between work, educational opportunities, and wellness with plenty of activities to enjoy around the city. From a scenic Bricktown the offers canal side dining, nightlife, and entertainment to more family centric activities like the OKC zoo or science museum there is something for everyone to relish. The Oklahoma City Thunder Basketball (our 2025 National Champs!!), Oklahoma City Comets Minor League Baseball, and Oklahoma City Energy Football Club provide plenty of sports entertainment. The city also boasts a diverse food scene, with plenty of cuisines we are lucky enough to try while on call. There are plenty of outdoor activites as well for bikers, runners, and lake sports. You may venture to Lake Hefner, Arcadia Lake, bluff creek or one of our many parks centrally located and just a short drive away from the hospital.
We want to emphasize the amazing culture that this residency program is built upon. Oklahoma as a whole is family oriented, with some of the nicest wholesome people and that extends to the hospital. We have a great working relationship with all the OR staff, including the surgeons. The faculty promotes intraoperative learning without the harsh hierarchy that some residencies experience. Most of all, the residency prides itself on the quality of individuals that match here. During our very unique intern year, we rotate most of our time at a private practice hospital where residents will have an opportunity to bond with your class, a foundation of friendship that will carry on through residency. There, residents get to practice intubations, central lines, and arterial lines with most residents exceeding 100 procedures by the time they start their CA-1 year. Interns also get to experience rapid responses and run codes to develop a solid educational foundation that will be applicable to your CA years. Throughout the year you will find a variety of OU sponsored events including the interview dinners which is often hosted at one of our fellow residents or attending’s houses.
Again, we hope this website is helpful in your quest to find the anesthesiology program that best suits you. If anything remains unclear, please feel free to contact us directly at our university emails, Colby-Koontz@ou.edu and Ashley-Fitzgerald@ou.edu . We wish you all the best of luck in your journey and hope to see you in the near future for an interview or rotation.
Our
Chief Resident, Colby Koontz grew up in northwest Oklahoma as the oldest of four siblings. Standing 6'8", he moved to central Louisiana to play basketball and baseball at Northwestern State University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in biology. Colby went on to attend medical school at LSU Health Shreveport, earning his MD. During medical school, he co-founded For Student Advancement, a student-led organization dedicated to addressing gaps in the medical curriculum and better preparing students for the process of applying to residency.
Throughout his residency, Colby has taken on multiple leadership roles, and he is honored to have been selected as Chief Resident. In this role, he is committed to advocating for residents in all areas of training, including clinical support, wellness, and professional development. He is particularly passionate about supporting residents with families, drawing from his own experience as a husband and father of three - two of whom were born during residency.
Following residency, Colby plans to pursue a fellowship in chronic pain. Outside the hospital, he enjoys spending time with his family, staying active outdoors, traveling, and woodworking.
Our Co-Chief Resident, Ashley Fitzgerald grew up in Albuquerque, NM where she completed her bachelors in biochemistry at The University of New Mexico. Before medical school, Ashley worked in a lab, studying neurochemical pathways activated following cerebrovascular ischemia and was an active volunteer at a local non-profit Spanish speaking clinic. She completed her MD at The University of New Mexico, where she graduated as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha.
Throughout the residency, Ashley has demonstrated an interest in Resident wellness and education. As a Co-Chief Resident, she looks forward to collaborating with other residents and faculty to create a more robust and unique education experience through simulations and board prep. She also looks forward to planning wellness activities for the residents and their families. Ashley plans to practice a mix of general and obstetric anesthesia following the completion of her residency program. Outside the hospital, Ashley enjoys running, baking, traveling, and spending time with her husband and son.