Department of Anesthesiology

The Department of Anesthesiology offers two positions for a 12-month CA-4 fellowship in regional anesthesia, beginning July each year. This program is non-ACGME approved and allows flexibility; we can tailor the fellowship to meet the needs of the applicant.

The Regional Anesthesia service performs approximately 1000 upper and lower extremity peripheral / plexus blocks for orthopedic surgery predominantly under ultrasound guidance. We continue to utilize the peripheral nerve stimulator in addiction to maintain the skill set required for this technique of performing peripheral nerve blocks. A unique function of the service is the placement of peripheral nerve catheters to provide continuous postoperative regional analgesia. The fellow will be involved in placement of these catheters as well as the postoperative management of these patients. This wealth of clinical exposure allows an enthusiastic fellow to gain vast clinical experience and to participate in ongoing clinical research projects. Over the course of the year, the regional fellow will develop the skills and knowledge necessary to function as a consultant regional anesthesiologist. The Fellowship is designed to expand the Fellows knowledge base in regional anesthesia, with an emphasis on anatomy pertinent to the performance of regional anesthesia. . Research experience is another component of the fellowship; experience and instruction in experimental design and implementation will take place during the year, with up to two days per week dedicated to clinical research. Fellows may be primary investigators on assigned research projects, and will be co-investigators in ongoing projects. They will write abstracts, and present these to the department during the year. The department will sponsor one extra-institutional meeting, as well as any meeting at which the fellow’s work is presented. Fellows may also spend time in the anatomy laboratory. Based on interest, fellows can be paired to an appropriate faculty mentor to facilitate research collaboration. The regional fellow will become a proficient clinical regionalist during the year, and will spend at least 3 days each week in the operating room, performing regional anesthetic techniques and gaining expertise in management of perioperative care of patients undergoing regional anesthesia. Fellows are also expected to instruct and supervise junior residents on rotation in Regional Anesthesia. They will also represent our Division at departmental Case Conferences, participate in Journal Club and attend monthly Fellow’s conferences.

Elective rotations are available in the related areas of obstetric anesthesia and pain management. Flexibility exists to modify the standard rotation based upon the training, experience, and needs of the individual fellow.