The American Board of Anesthesiology requires 48 months of postgraduate anesthesiology training. Anesthesiology residency candidates must complete at least 12 months in internal medicine, surgery, transitional internship or other accredited training prior to beginning the first clinical anesthesia year (CA-1). Currently, the department shares 4 positions with Transitional Medicine to provide PGY-1 education to anesthesiology residents. PGY training must include at least ward medicine, emergency medicine and two or more months of critical care medicine. At Emory University, anesthesiology training begins in the second post graduate year (PGY-2) after medical school.

The CA-1 year is devoted to learning the foundations of anesthesiology. Classroom training and clinical exposure form the cornerstones of excellence in clinical care. The didactic portion of our resident education program begins immediately with our orientation lecture series and continues throughout the three years of residency training. The orientation lecture calendar provides a summary of the wide range of important topics that the incoming residents are taught. For a better idea of the scope of educational opportunities offered within the department, check out our "Calendar of Events".

In an effort to provide our residents with 24/7 access to important educational materials, we use Blackboard 5, a comprehensive and flexible e-Learning software platform from Blackboard Inc. Blackboard 5 offers course and content authoring tools, an assessment capability, and interactive collaboration tools. We use Blackboard for posting such things as departmental manuals, departmental policies, lecture slides, and articles for journal club. We also use Blackboard to post "case discussions" which allow residents to interactively offer solutions to difficult cases with a faculty moderator. Some rotations use Blackboard for pre- and post- rotation quizzes to help the resident assess their knowledge acquired during a given rotation. Prospective residents can gain more insight into Blackboard by visiting http://classes.emory.edu and logging in using "preview" as both the username and password.

We also have web based simulators available to help residents assess their knowledge in the following important areas:  

1. ACLS: The Anesoft ACLS Simulator is a real-time simulator that provides the ability for residents to practice the management of cardiac arrest. Study the patient's history, and determine the ECG rhythm. Control the Airway, Breathing, and Circulation, Defibrillate and provide other treatment as necessary.


2. Anesthesia:The Anesoft Anesthesia Simulator provides the opportunity for residents to improve response to anesthetic emergencies through computer simulation. The Anesthesia Simulator reproduces the anesthesia work environment on the screen of the computer and simulates responses of patients under your care. Many emergency situations will occur, requiring rapid diagnosis and proper treatment to avoid disaster. The program also includes an on-line help system which provides diagnostic and therapeutic information for the optimum management of the clinical scenario. An automated record-keeping system provides a detailed chart for the case.


3. Bioterrorism: The Anesoft Bioterrorism Simulator will help residents improve their response to biological and chemical attack. Simulated patients are presented and you must make the diagnosis and administer the most appropriate treatment. An on-line help system is available and an automated record-keeping system provides a detailed chart for the case.


4. Critical care: The Anesoft Critical Care Simulator provides the opportunity for residents to improve response to ICU and ER emergencies through computer simulation. The Critical Care Simulator reproduces the Intensive Care Unit on the screen of the computer and simulates responses of patients under your care. Many emergency situations will occur, requiring rapid diagnosis and proper treatment to avoid disaster. The program also includes an on-line help system which provides diagnostic and therapeutic information for the optimum management of the clinical scenario. An automated record-keeping system provides a detailed chart for the case.


5. Hemodynamics: The Anesoft Hemodynamics Simulator will help residents review invasive monitoring, cardiovascular physiology and vasoactive infusions. Follow the self-directed study lessons to optimize the blood pressure, cardiac output and filling pressures in a variety of clinical conditions using fluids and vasoactive infusions. Analyze left ventricular function with Frank-Starling plots and pressure-volume loops.


6. Sedation: The Anesoft Sedation Simulator will help residents review the management of sedation. Simulated patients are presented and you must manage the airway, ventilation, fluids and medications. Many emergency situations will occur, requiring rapid diagnosis and proper treatment to avoid disaster. An on-line help system is available and an automated record-keeping system provides a detailed chart for the case. Review the principles of safe sedation and document competency for JCAHO.

The Clinical Anesthesia 1 Year

With emphasis on the foundations of general and regional anesthetic techniques, residents typically spend the majority of the CA-1 year at two of our hospitals:

• Emory University Hospital

• Grady Memorial Hospital

In May and June of the CA-1 year, some residents may begin sub-specialty rotations. A rotation through the PACU occurs either in the CA-1 or CA-3 year.

The Clinical Anesthesia 2 Year

• Ambulatory Anesthesia
• Cardiothoracic Anesthesia
• Critical Care Medicine
• Neurovascular Anesthesia
• Obstetric Anesthesia
• Pain Medicine--Acute and Chronic
• Pediatric Anesthesia

The Clinical Anesthesia 3 Year

In their final year of required anesthesiology training, CA-3 residents in the Advanced Clinical Track spend approximately six months in the general operating room and six months in clinical electives of their choice. CA-3 residents also may choose the Clinical Scientist Track and spend up to six months performing research under the guidance of one of our clinical scientists. The 6 months spent in the Clinical Scientist Track can be joined with a fellowship program to provide residents with 18 months of Research / Specialty training.

Clinical Specialty Rotations

Ambulatory Anesthesia

The Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center performs over 5000 cases per year in six operating rooms. The Clinic is located on the campus with Emory University Hospital. Anesthesiology residents learn various techniques important in the ambulatory surgery environment and may select elective as a CA-3 resident.

Cardiothoracic Anesthesia

The Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Division provides anesthesia and life support for more than 2,300 adult and pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery and more than 750 patients undergoing thoracic surgical procedures. In consultation with the attending faculty, residents design an all encompassing perioperative management plan that provides experience with:

• techniques of intravascular monitoring
• severe systemic diseases
• fiberoptic and endobronchial intubation and one-lung ventilation
• management of extracorporal circulation and cardiogenic shock
• care of patients requiring cardiac-assist devices
• care of patients requiring heart and single or double lung transplants

CA-3 residents may select this rotation as an elective . For more information, see Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology.

Critical Care Medicine

Intensive care units present residents with the opportunity to learn under the direction of anesthesiology faculty trained in Critical Care Medicine. Residents learn diagnostic and therapeutic procedures required to manage critically ill patients who have multiple systemic diseases. Residents also learn to communicate with patients' families, with surgeons, and with consultants. Anesthesiology residents spend a minimum of two months in the ICU and assume primary-care responsibility for these critically ill patients and may request the elective as a CA-3 resident.

For additional information, see Critical Care Medicine.

Neurovascular Anesthesia

Anesthesia for vascular surgery and neurosurgical procedures can be extremely complex and rewarding. We enjoy busy vascular and neurosurgical schedules, especially at Emory University Hospital and Crawford W. Long Hospital. Anesthesiology residents spend one month on the service as CA-2s and may request the elective as a CA-3 resident.

Obstetric Anesthesia

Physicians at Grady Memorial Hospital perform 4,500 deliveries per year. Anesthesia residents consequently perform more than 3,000 lumbar epidurals a year for patients in labor. During this two-month rotation, residents also learn spinal, caudal and general anesthesia techniques for obstetric patients. Many high-risk patients are admitted to the obstetrical service at Grady Hospital, so residents manage anesthesia for patients with premature labor, preeclampsia/eclampsia, and numerous other medical problems associated with pregnancy. An obstetrical anesthesiologist is a key member of the OB ICU team where our residents are active and welcome participants.

CA-3 residents may request this elective. For more information, see Obstetrical Anesthesiology.

Pain Medicine--Acute and Chronic

The Department of Anesthesiology staffs and directs a pain-treatment service with 20,000 patient visits each year at the Center for Pain Medicine Clinic, Emory University Hospital, and Crawford Long Hospital. Faculty members and residents under faculty supervision evaluate and treat hospitalized patients and outpatients with various acute and chronic pain problems. Residents learn from clinical and didactic teaching while performing many types of nerve blocks, ranging from sympathetic and somatic to neurolytic. Residents also gain extensive experience in the use of psychotropic and analgesic medicines for the treatment of acute and chronic pain. The department provides a postoperative pain service which emphasizes diagnosis and treatment of pain syndromes in hospitalized patients.

CA-3 residents may request this elective. For additional information, see Pain Medicine.

Pediatric Anesthesia

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston is both a primary and tertiary care facility. Surgeons at Egleston perform approximately 10,000 procedures in 10 operating rooms. Two of the operating rooms are dedicated to cardiac procedures and 4 potential anesthetizing locations are located outside the operating room (CT+MRI at Egleston; radiation oncology and special procedures at EUH). During the CA-2 year, residents spend two months receiving instruction in basic pediatric anesthesia techniques applied to special problems posed by children. This experience provides training in the management of pain relief in all kinds of pediatric surgical patients, including neonates with serious neurological and cardiovascular diseases.

CA-3 residents may request this elective. For more information, see Pediatric Anesthesiology.