Anesthesiology Medical Student Programs

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Welcome to the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine! We encourage students to explore the wide variety of opportunities available within our department to learn more about our specialty and engage in meaningful clinical, educational, and simulation-based experiences.

Whether you are still deciding if anesthesiology is the right career path or have already chosen another specialty, time spent rotating with our department offers an invaluable perspective. Students gain a deeper understanding of perioperative medicine, patient safety, and team-based care—experiences that will enhance your practice regardless of your future field.

Anesthesiology faculty and residents are deeply committed to the education and professional development of medical students. Through a collaborative, hands-on approach, learners are actively engaged in the operating room, simulation experiences, and small-group teaching sessions. Faculty provide structured instruction in core anesthesiology principles, while residents play a vital role as educators—offering practical guidance, real-time feedback, and approachable mentorship. This commitment to excellence in education has been recognized through multiple student teaching awards.

Beyond clinical teaching, our team is dedicated to supporting students’ career exploration and growth. From one-on-one advising and skills workshops to research opportunities and residency preparation, we strive to create a supportive learning environment where students feel welcomed, challenged, and inspired. This culture of teaching and mentorship ensures that every student gains both the knowledge and confidence to succeed, regardless of their chosen specialty.

What do Anesthesiologists do?

Anesthesiologists are physicians who specialize in pain management, anesthetic management, and critical care medicine. Anesthesiologists are able to work in a variety of settings including the operating room, inpatient wards, outpatient clinics, intensive care units, and provide perioperative consultation services. Anesthesiologists have the unique quality of incorporating technical skills with clinical management of dynamic pathophysiologic and pharmacologic states for the whole spectrum of patients - geriatrics, adults, pediatrics and obstetrics.

Technical Skills:

Airway management
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Regional and neuroaxial blocks
Joint and trigger point injections
Central and peripheral venous access
Arterial line placement
TTE and TEE
Point of care ultrasound

As the focus of medicine continues to evolve, currently emphasizing enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) and perioperative surgical home (PSH) models, anesthesiologists are central to providing innovative care to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction. The ability to incorporate the knowledge acquired throughout medical training into everyday practice to make a profound impact on patient outcomes is quite fulfilling. But it doesn’t end there! The interactions anesthesiologists have with their patients can be quite meaningful, oftentimes being the primary person able to help alleviate the anxiety and fears associated with surgery. We hope you consider rotating through our department to learn even more and engage with our many physicians, physicians in training, and nurse anesthetists to gain more perspective into our care team model for patients.

What post-graduate training options are available for Residents?

After completing four years of residency in an ACGME accredited Anesthesiology residency program, there are a couple options to explore. You can go on to practice as a generalist – keeping your skills broad for a wide spectrum of patients. If desired, there are a variety of subspecialty fellowships available to gain further training. As of current, most ACGME accredited fellowships are one year in length. ACGME Anesthesiology link: https://www.acgme.org/Specialties/Program-Requirements-and-FAQs-and-Applications/pfcatid/6/Anesthesiology/