by Glynne Stanley MD, Anesthesia Program Director
Welcome to the Anesthesiology Department at Boston University Medical
Center! I am delighted to learn of your interest in our residency training
program. You have chosen a field of medicine that is exciting, challenging,
and rewarding. Boston Medical Center does approximately 13,000 surgical
cases per year and is a designated Level One trauma center. It is the
result of a merger of two adjacent hospitals, providing the full range
of specialties and residencies. There is a diverse case mix and faculty
and residents rotate between the two sites so that full integration is
accomplished. We also have an affiliation with Hasbro pediatric hospital
so our residents get additional exposure to pediatrics.
In July 1998, a new anesthesia department was formed. This was the result
of a unique combination of anesthesiologists from Boston Medical Center
and Anaesthesia Associates of Massachusetts, one of the largest and best-known
anesthesia corporations in New England. The new department now has a core
group of anesthesiologists who work predominantly at Boston Medical Center
and a group of other physicians who rotate in from surrounding hospitals
on a regular basis. Many of the rotating physicians have a breadth of
expertise that can be utilized to augment resident education. This highly
regarded residency program has now been enhanced by a new lecture format
which features regular written and oral board review sessions, in-depth
resident presentations and clinical case scenarios. This is in addition
to Grand Rounds, visiting lecturers and our didactic training program,
which has facilitated our residents' success in the examination process
of the American Board of Anesthesiology. Other additions to the program
include a rotation in pain management and an attachment in electrophysiological
monitoring at two affiliated institutions. We are the first residency
program in the country to feature an internet-based case logging system
for our residents which allows rapid analysis of clinical case load and
facilitates ACGME reporting.
We have an established commitment to residency training with members
of our faculty leading the way in areas such as resident evaluation techniques
and multimedia education. There is also considerable computer expertise
and two members of the faculty have developed award winning interactive
programs on the airway management, Heartport surgery and the anesthesia
machine. There are many opportunities for research involvement in areas
such as cardiac and obstetrical anesthesia, and multimedia education.
Our program strongly emphasizes practice management so residents are made
aware of the financial, managerial and quality assurance issues in anesthesia.
Resident facilities include a study room at each campus and computers
are readily available. Books and other educational items are provided
for the residents and they are encouraged to attend local and national
scientific meetings. Dues are paid to the American Society of Anesthesiologists
and the International Anesthesia Research Society. Our residents rotate
in the surgical ICU and surgical residents and pulmonary fellows rotate
on anesthesia fostering a collegial atmosphere.
Resident goals and objectives have been developed for each year
and for each clinical rotation. Being a smaller program there is never
competition for cases and frequent evaluations and feedback sessions help
guide the resident through their training. Faculty members are also evaluated
on a regular basis to optimize the education process. The first six months
is an introduction to broad areas of anesthesia, after which residents
begin subspecialty rotations. Cardiac, pediatric and obstetrical attachments
begin in the second year and in the third year there is opportunity for
increased specialization with six months of the time being elective. The
most popular option is cardiac anesthesia, but attachments are also available
in areas such as obstetric anesthesia, neuroanesthesia and critical care.
We believe that our residency program is among the best in the country
and the recent restructuring of the department and Institution can only
further enhance our worldwide reputation
Who We Are: The Residency Program