Anesthesiology Residency Program
The Naval Medical Center San Diego Anesthesiology Residency Training Program is a fully accredited 3 year program of specialty training in anesthesiology. The objective of the graduate training program in anesthesiology at NMCSD is to provide Navy Medicine with physician specialists in anesthesiology who have broad experience and who can function as consultant anesthesiologists. The duties of a consultant anesthesiologist may include:
- preoperative evaluation and preparation of patients
- planning and execution of a rational and safe anesthetic
- prevention, evaluation, and treatment of perioperative complications
- consultation in respiratory therapy, critical care medicine, emergency resuscitation, and pain management
- education of trainee physicians, nurses, and support personnel
- research at the basic science and clinical level
The three year clinical anesthesia residency training follows one year of clinical base training. The program is designed to progressively increase both the resident's knowledge and his ability to safely conduct ever more complicated anesthetics. Through this training a physician will be well prepared for the written and oral certification process of the American Board of Anesthesiology.
The first year in the continuum in anesthesiology is called the Clinical Base Year (Internship). This training is done outside of the Department of Anesthesiology and may involve a transitional, medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, family practice, or surgery internship, or other training as approved by the Program Director.
The second year of postgraduate training is spent in clinical anesthesia. The junior (CA-1) resident is initially supervised closely as he or she gains experience. Throughout this period the resident will become familiar with a variety of anesthesia equipment and techniques. In the latter months of the CA-1 year the junior resident will begin to assume more responsibility and function independently. The second year of clinical anesthesia experience is spent in more complex and challenging cases. Rotations in the CA-2 year include neurosurgical, pediatric, cardiothoracic, and major vascular anesthesia, as well as critical care medicine. As the senior resident progresses he or she will function with increased responsibility for clinical planning and perioperative problem solving. The CA-3 year of residency be spent in one of three tracks: Advanced Clinical, Sub specialty Clinical, or Clinical Scientist. Sub specialty training is available in advance pain management, ambulatory, regional, obstetrical, vascular, and cardiothoracic anesthesia. Affiliated institutions may be utilized for additional clinical experience at the discretion of the program director. Research experience for the Clinical Scientist track may be done within the department or at an appropriate affiliated institution.
The didactic program at NMCSD covers both the clinical science of anesthesiology and the basic science upon which the specialty is based. The didactic program consists of daily morning conferences as well as formal and informal teaching at other times of the day. The morning conferences are given by both staff and residents and include didactic lectures, subspecialty case conferences, critical incident and Quality Assurance conferences. Journal clubs are held every month and finally, selected guest lecturers present conferences as they are available.
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