Career Development: Medical Specialties: Anesthesiology

Anesthesiology is the practice of medicine which involves the perioperative care of patients and the treatment of pain. The field is predominantly a hospital-based specialty, which cares for patients acutely preoperatively, postoperatively and in critical care units. It also involves the treatment of acute and chronic pain as one of its major subspecialties. The practice of anesthesiology includes a wide spectrum of patients: all ages, all degrees of illnesses and both sexes. The subspecialties include: pediatric, cardiac, neuro, obstetrical, ambulatory anesthesia as well as critical care medicine and pain management. Individuals interested in anesthesiology are those who enjoy physiology and applied pharmacology in the clinical setting. They must be comfortable with managing acute life threatening problems and enjoy working in the operating room.

Residency training information:

• Duration of training (number of years): Internship + three years with an optional PG5 year with a fellowship
• Number of programs nationally: 121 programs nationally
• Number of entering residency positions per year: 1,500
• Types of fellowships or subspecialties: Pediatric, Cardiac, Obstetrical, Neuro, Critical Care Medicine and Pain Management
• Type of Match: Regular
• Overall competitiveness of the specialty: Not Very Competitive (average Michigan student will match into an average program. The top 20 programs are more competitive.)

Primary faculty contact person for M1 and M2 students:

• Kevin K. Tremper, M.D., Ph.D. (ktremper@umich.edu)
  Phone: 936-4235

Medical Student Club or Interest Group:

• The anesthesia interest group meets at Dr. Tremper's home every August. All interested students are given a free membership to the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
  
  Fellowships available:
• All subspecialties in Internal Medicine
• All subspecialties in Pediatrics

Shadowing or mentoring experiences available to M1 or M2 students:

• Brian Woodcock, M.D. (bwudcock@umich.edu)
  Phone: 936-4235

Resources:

• American Society of Anesthesiology
• Department of Anesthesiology