Education Days

The core of our organized education is Education Wednesday, in which one of the CA classes is excused from clinical duties for the entire day to participate in a variety of traditional lectures, hands-on workshops, problem-based learning modules, simulation, practice questions, and board preparation. These days rotate through CA-1, CA-2, and CA-3 so that residents can expect this about every third week.

The CA-1 curriculum focuses on the basic sciences including pharmacology and physiology. Also included in this series are small-group workshops with skills stations on topics such as anesthesia machine checks and troubleshooting, difficult airway management, techniques for single-lung ventilation, and pediatric and adult resuscitation.

The CA-2 curriculum emphasizes subspecialty areas of anesthesiology. A combination of ABA questions, textbook questions, evidence-based questions, clinical case conferences, and PBL sessions are also used to facilitate learning.

The CA-3 curriculum includes a variety of guest speakers who give career seminars on the medico-legal aspects of anesthesiology, career planning, contracts, retirement plans, and benefit packages. During this year, there is also substantial time dedicated to preparation for the written, oral, and practical board exams.

Conferences and Lectures

Grand Rounds

This conference occurs weekly and focuses on the broader scope of medical care that is provided by the anesthesiologist. It covers current topics within and outside of anesthesiology. Both members of the department and visiting faculty present at this conference.

Grand Rounds occur weekly at 6:45 a.m. on Wednesdays with ORs starting an hour later (8:30 a.m.) to accommodate attendance either in person or online. All residents are expected to attend.

Morbidity & Mortality Conference

This conference is held once a month during Grand Rounds. Cases in which there was significant morbidity, mortality, or the potential for morbidity or mortality are presented by the Chief residents, ASAP residents, and members of the CA-3 residency class. The residents presenting the cases are never those personally involved in the care of the patient being discussed. Following the presentation, a moderated discussion occurs which concentrates on the clinical case management and addresses system issues that contributed to the adverse event rather than the assignment of blame. This conference is considered peer-reviewed and closed to clinicians outside the department. In addition, strict confidentiality is maintained and cases are not discussed outside the conference setting.

REAL Curriculum: Resilience, Career Development, & Leadership 

These conferences are held approximately three to four times per year combining traditional morning lectures and Grand Rounds time. This allows extended time for special presentations, workshops, and interactive learning. Ethics, career planning, physician burnout, and communication continue to be the focus of these ongoing sessions.

Rotation Lectures

Residents also attend rotation-specific lectures depending on what block they are on, though all residents are welcome to join if they would like to hear more. Examples include the following:

  • OB at 3 p.m. on Thursdays with the incoming call attending
  • Trauma nights at 6:45 p.m. with a brief presentation by the trauma night float team at shift change
  • Pediatrics conferences on Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30 a.m.
  • Cardiac conference on Mondays at 6:30 a.m.
  • Neuro and ENT conference on Tuesdays at 6:30 a.m.
Journal Club

Journal clubs are held at the subspecialty and division levels. Both the presenters and the attendees critique the article for its scientific merit and pertinence. In addition, residents in the Scholars program and those who choose an extended research rotation organize the session and present articles for discussion. Faculty mentors provide assistance and mentoring. Currently, residents present at Journal Club on pain, regional, OB, pediatrics, and pre-operative rotations. Residents also do a case presentation during their trauma rotation. The skills assimilated by attending journal club are critical to the practice of evidence-based medicine.

Online Learning

Residents have access to a multitude of online learning opportunities and have access to updated textbook materials, question banks, and current, relevant peer-reviewed journal articles. In addition, residents have free access to both the educational platform, Anesthesia Toolbox, and the IARS Open Anesthesia Self Study Plus question bank.