Anesthesiology Residency Program - University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Residency In Anesthesiology Program Features Complete Range of Procedures:
HISTORY Hartford, Connecticut certainly has its place in the history of anesthesiology. At one point, it was the home of Horace Wells who described the anesthetic properties of nitrous oxide in 1844. The Hartford Hospital Anesthesiology Residency was one of the first anesthesiology residencies in the country, and the American Board of Anesthesiology was headquartered in the city for many years. The merger of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine Anesthesiology Residency Program with that of Hartford Hospitals represented the integration of two well-established anesthesiology programs. What emerged is a training program that blends superb clinical training sites with the academic resources of the University to foster scholarly activity. In addition, all of our clinical sites have well established research resources and graduate medical education oversight. This long history of dedication to quality education is apparent to everyone who has experience with our training program. The chairman of our department is also the residency program director. This structure streamlines internal and external program oversight responsibilities and highlights the fact that the chairman's primary focus lies with the residency educational program. Policy decisions and evaluations are made by members of our education committees, who are committed to excellence in resident education. SUPERB CLINICAL ANESTHESIOLOGISTS Our forte is training physicians to become masterful clinical anesthesiologists. Graduates of the program move on to practice in both private practices and academic departments. The program encompasses four hospitals with over 80 anesthetizing locations; approximately 60,000 anesthetics are delivered per year. The tremendous variety and number of cases coupled with a relatively small number of residents allows residents to be assigned to cases having the greatest educational benefit. Exposure to challenging and rigorous cases fosters the professional growth and confidence that is necessary for graduation. SEPARATION OF EDUCATIONAL MERIT AND MANPOWER NEEDS The fact that we staff a large number of locations with relatively few residents by no means implies that residents’ working conditions are onerous. On the contrary, resident assignments are based on educational value rather than service needs. DIDACTIC PROGRAM Our formal educational program is designed to provide a framework to ensure academic achievement. Every week, there is a two-hour formal lecture which all residents are required to attend. Each clinical site also conducts a weekly educational activity such as a morbidity and mortality conference or equipment update. We also have a monthly Journal Club (which includes an introductory biostatistics course) and residents are relieved from clinical duties to attend state society meetings. In addition, there is a four-hour evening didactic session each month, which includes case discussions, resident presentations, and in-depth review of topics selected from the American Board of Anesthesiology content outline; all residents are excused from clinical assignments to participate in this activity. Residents also have the opportunity to prepare for their oral board examinations with three of our faculty members who serve as examiners for the American Board of Anesthesiology. RESEARCH AND SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY All residents are expected to present a rigorously researched review of a self-selected topic during their third year of training. In addition, several of our physicians have research experience and encourage resident participation in research projects. Some of our residents have published abstracts, presented at national meetings and a few have co‑authored publications in peer reviewed journals. SIMULATOR TRAINING Under the guidance of Dr. Thomas Mort, residents participate in high-fidelity simulator-based training using the Laerdal SimMan®. Before new residents see their first patient, they spend three days in the simulator center learning basic airway skills, ACLS protocols, and the operation of anesthesia delivery and monitoring equipment. This allows them to approach their first patients with appropriate self confidence. Simulator training continues for the duration of the residency, allowing residents to practice managing rare clinical situations such as malignant hyperthermia while reinforcing management strategies for more common clinical scenarios. We are proud to offer this educational opportunity to our residents, and believe that it adds greatly to the residency experience. Here are excerpts written by some our recent graduates regarding the role of the simulator in their training: “There is a tremendous advantage to the hands‑on training with SimMan®. My experience from being on the spot with SimMan® is as close to reality as it gets.” “The unique chance to face and practice many life threatening situations in the simulation center gave me a great dose of confidence and a clear view of what to expect in real life cases.” “SimMan® continues to be an invaluable part of my anesthesia training. Through these sessions, I have acquired many of the necessary skills and knowledge to better prepare me for the difficult situations I must face as an anesthesiologist‑in‑training. I look forward to many more teaching sessions with SimMan®, a key piece in my residency training and a vital tool for improvement in patient care.” LIFESTYLE Our residents are able to pursue outside interests and obligations during training. On average, call is every fifth night with the next day off. It is expected that residents will attend didactic sessions after call duty. Daily relief from clinical OR duties usually occurs at approximately 1700. This allows time for the resident to review the charts of the next day’s outpatients and to conduct preanesthetic evaluations of inpatients. There is adequate time to fulfill family obligations. We are sensitive to the number of hours that residents work each week, and track each resident’s assignments to ensure compliance with accrediting agencies such as the ACGME. LIFE AFTER RESIDENCY Graduates of our program have gone on to successful careers in both academic and private practice settings. After graduation some residents may be offered the opportunity to join our practice. Regardless of their practice venue, the feedback we receive regarding our graduates’ performance is uniformly positive: They are productive, talented anesthesiologists with solid educational background and outstanding clinical acumen. For information regarding our program please contact Anesthesiology
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