Redbook 2000

Anesthesiology

Ligaya Stice, ‘00

Despite the fact that our curriculum does not routinely expose medical students to Anesthesia, this is a specialty that has tremendously increased in popularity recently. Six students matched in top-rated Anesthesia programs this year versus only two the previous year. Although one should not make decisions of specialty based on market and job potential, it is nice to know that in this field, this is not an issue. Residency programs appear eager to hire American grads after going through large cut-backs in residency slots approximately a decade ago. The job market looks very promising for residents entering training at this time.

An early fourth year elective at BU makes sense. Unless you have had some other exposure to the field, even if you are planning an away elective in anesthesia, do one at our home institution. Doing so will let the department faculty get to know you. This helps in two ways: when obtaining letters of recommendation, and in selecting an advisor. The BU experience consists of two weeks at each campus. At the Harrison Ave Campus, take advantage of the Obstetrical and Pediatric services. While at East Newton work in the Cardiac room and the Outpatient Pain Clinic.

Other electives I would recommend include:

MICU or SICU

You will gain technical experience with lines and monitors, and learn about ventilators in detail. You also will learn TONS of cardiology, pulmonary physiology and renal medicine.

Medical Care of the Surgical Patient

This is a med consult elective that involves seeing patients in pre-op clinic prior to elective procedures and doing consults on the floor for complicated post-op patients. It gives a good perspective on the myriad of peri-operative problems of which the anesthesiologist has to be aware.

Pain Medicine

This is useful in that it gives a glimpse into Anesthesiology Outpatient medicine. A unique experience that I had was doing a Pain and Palliative Care elective at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Neurologists run the service, which offers an interesting perspective. Also useful for those considering fellowships in Pain Management.

Cardiology, Pulmonary or Renal Medicine

In terms of choosing a Clinical Base Year (Prelim year), pick an internship that you feel you will best tolerate. Every anesthesiologist will advise you differently on what will best prepare you for residency. Some are adamant that a year of Medicine is the only way to go, as Anesthesia is essentially medicine in the OR environment, while others feel that a year of Surgery is necessary to familiarize oneself with the various surgeries and to become comfortable in the OR. Transitional years are also popular as they offer exposure to Ob/Gyn and Pediatrics, and also allow considerable elective time. Some categorical programs often offer a transitional-type Clinical Base Year. For example, Cornell offers an intern year that consists of 2 blocks of Ward Medicine, 3 months in the SCU, a month each of Head and Neck and Thoracic Surgery, 2 months of Medicine elective and a month each of NICU, PICU and Anesthesia.