Clinical Education
Categorical PGY1 Year
The training for our residents starts at the very beginning of the PGY-1 year with rotations and experiences specifically chosen to optimize their training as anesthesiologists. The year is broken up into experiences in internal medicine, surgery and of course anesthesia. They have rotations in; MICU, SICU, emergency medicine, ENT surgery airway rotation, cardiology, Anesthesia OR, Acute pain, palliative care, PAT clinic, and internal medicine and surgical floors. They receive ACLS, PALS, ATLS and are required to complete the IHI’s course on Quality and Patient Safety and submit their certificate prior to the CA-1 year. At the very end of the PGY-1 year we hold an ‘Anesthesia Boot Camp’ where the residents have a series of introductory lectures, workshops, and clinical activities specifically aimed at getting them ready for the CA-1 year. Our PGY-1 experience is unique and has been an overwhelming success since implemented 3 years ago.
CA-1 Year (PGY-2)
For the first two months each resident obtains experiences in our Main Adult OR, our Pediatric OR and at the VA hospital next door that is part of our training program. These residents are always either with an attending working with just that resident or a senior resident so that there is always immediate supervision and constant learning. They are followed closely and emphasis is placed on airway management, monitoring, life support and the basics of anesthesiology.
Under faculty guidance, residents are given progressive responsibility for the selection of anesthetic agents and techniques, as well as for the total anesthetic management of more complex operative procedures. In September they continue with four hours Wednesday education day educational activities till the end of the June with a mixture of formal didactics, workshops, simulation activities and exam board prep. In September they also begin their formal subspecialty rotations in pediatrics, neurology, pain, ICU and OB.
While a large portion of training is done at Upstate Medical University Hospital, rotations at the adjacent Veterans Administration Medical Center, Crouse Hospital (a private local hospital), and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston provide opportunities for a complete learning experience.
CA-2 Year (PGY-3)
Our CA-2 residents continue with their subspecialty rotations in OB, ICU, pain, cardiac, and thoracic anesthesiology. Requirements for subspecialty training are satisfied in this year. Throughout residency training, regional anesthesia, POCUS and fiberoptic intubation techniques are utilized whenever appropriate.
During the summer months they have weekly PBLD that all the CA-2 and 3’s participate in. In September they begin their month of workshops in Regional anesthesia and POCUS and in October they continue with four hours Wednesday education day educational activities till the end of the June directed at the senior anesthesiology level with a mixture of formal didactics, workshops, simulation activities and written and oral board exam prep.
CA-3 Year (PGY-4)
In the CA-3 year, our residents have 6 months of electives and we work together with them to create a final year that prepares them for their professional careers. They continue their education taking care of the most complex patients in our medical system and participate in our regional anesthesia monthly rotation. They have opportunities for electives in a wide variety of rotations including; research, TEE, ICU, OB, pain, peds, cardiac, thoracic, neurology and at our different clinical locations. During the summer months they have weekly PBLD that all the CA-2 and 3’s participate in. In September they begin their month of workshops in Regional anesthesia and POCUS and in October they continue with four hours Wednesday education day educational activities till the end of the June directed at the senior anesthesiology level with a mixture of formal didactics, workshops, simulation activities and written and oral board exam prep.
At the Completion of Anesthesia Residency
After completion of Anesthesia Residency training, residents interested in Pain Management may apply to our one-year Pain Fellowship program.