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What defines the ideal anesthesiology residency program? In my opinion, it combines a clinical experience filled with challenging cases across the spectrum of anesthesiology subspecialties, combined with a strong didactic program that facilitates successful completion of the board examination process. It is critically important that this transpires in an environment that is friendly, supportive, and stimulating. The Ohio State University Medical Center’s Department of Anesthesiology provides all of these components in our advanced and categorical residency training and fellowship programs. The extensive list of required cases and procedures, as delineated by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)’s Residency Review Committee for Anesthesiology, helps to ensure that residents trained in anesthesiology have adequate exposure to cases across all anesthesiology subspecialties. The clinical experience available at Ohio State’s Medical Center permits our residents to complete the majority of their clinical case requirements by the end of their CA-2 year, essentially leaving the CA-3 year for the pursuit of subspecialties of interest, including a variety of clinical and basic science research opportunities, without being encumbered by having to complete case requirements. With the exception of the rotations in pediatric and regional anesthesia, all rotations are conducted at OSUMC, fostering a “team” approach and allowing great friendships and camaraderie to develop during residency training. OSUMC’s anesthesiology residency program has a long-standing tradition of excellence in preparing its graduates for success in the board certification process. Year in and year out, our pass rates for the written and oral exams are above the national average. In the past 20 years, virtually 100% of our graduates have successfully obtained ABA certification. During 2007-2008, 766 medical students applied to our residency program. Nearly 80 candidates were interviewed, and 12 matched to fill all of our spots. The relatively small size of this residency program ensures that a resident will get individual attention and not become “lost,” while being large enough to provide peer support and interaction. In our resident selection process, we value those residents who have demonstrated a commitment to teamwork, cooperation, and leadership. The end result is a terrific group of residents who work well together, becoming excellent anesthesiologists while building lifelong friendships. For those resident graduates who wish to go on to post-graduate physician training, OSUMC now offers ACGME-approved fellowships in pain medicine and cardiothoracic anesthesiology, and non-ACGME approved fellowships in regional anesthesiology and neuroanesthesia. |
