Welcome to the Anesthesiology Residency at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis! 

'23-'24 Chief Residents: Samuel Erlinger, MD, Avi Dobrusin, MD, and Mallory Hawksworth, MD
’23-’24 Chief Residents (pictured from left to right): Samuel Erlinger, MD, Avi Dobrusin, MD, and Mallory Hawksworth, MD.

Residency is a unique experience during which you will not only develop excellent clinical skills but also grow into a caring and compassionate physician. At WashU, you will have the opportunity to care for patients with complex medical conditions under the guidance of nationally recognized physicians and educators. By the end of your training, you will have developed the knowledge and skills for a successful career wherever your future leads.

As a categorical intern, you will gain valuable experience and knowledge from our medicine, surgery, and emergency medicine departments while developing relationships with trainees throughout the hospital. You will also spend time in the cardiothoracic and surgical intensive care units, where you will care for critically ill patients alongside senior residents, fellows, and advanced practice providers. These rotations, while challenging, are also some of the most rewarding and educational experiences. Intern year also lays the groundwork for perioperative evaluation through patient interactions in the preoperative clinic and it provides opportunities for education by collaborating with medical students and residents in the simulation center. 

Moving into your clinical anesthesia years, you will start with tutorial, a six-week period where you and a fellow resident will receive close supervision and mentoring from one of our many exceptional faculty members. Your introduction to the OR is supplemented by various lectures and simulations to provide important foundational knowledge that you will build upon throughout your residency. One of the many unique aspects of our residency is the early exposure to subspecialties. As a resident, you will rotate through St. Louis Children’s Hospital, pain management, intensive care units, labor and delivery, and trauma during your first clinical anesthesia year. WashU has robust cardiothoracic and organ transplant programs, with residents starting to care for these patients during their CA-1 and early CA-2 years. These early experiences in the subspecialties provide residents with the opportunity to make informed decisions as they consider applying for fellowships.

As you enter your CA-3 year, you will have the opportunity to participate in two exciting educational opportunities. The Anesthesia Clinical Educator track provides specific training for residents interested in medical education, while the Leadership Education in Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine track prepares residents interested in a career involving organizational leadership and administration.

In addition to the exceptional clinical training at WashU, you will work and learn alongside compassionate, intelligent co-residents who will become your colleagues and close friends. Monthly social events allow residents from all classes to gather outside the hospital and enjoy St. Louis.

We are excited to meet you and discuss more about our program! Washington University in St. Louis provides a unique training environment that will foster your growth and development as a physician, leader, and educator. This program will truly allow you to thrive wherever your future aspirations lead. 

Avi Dobrusin, MD
Samuel Erlinger, MD
Mallory Hawksworth, MD

2023-24 Chief Residents
Department of Anesthesiology
Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis