Applicants
Anesthesiology Residency Program
The Allegheny Health Network Medical Education Consortium Residency Training in Anesthesiology Program provides a comprehensive educational experience at four major hospitals in Pittsburgh: Allegheny General Hospital, Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Forbes Hospital, and the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. An enthusiastic faculty of over 60 physicians with diverse backgrounds provides a rich educational experience and balance between didactic and clinical teaching. The program's academic affiliation is with Drexel University College of Medicine.
Continuum of Clinical Education
The Allegheny Health Network Medical Education Consortium Residency Training in Anesthesiology Program is fully accredited for 4 years of training by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The continuum of education consists of 4-year training program in Clinical Anesthesia (PGY-1, CA-1, CA-2 and CA-3). The Anesthesiology Department participates in the National Residency Matching Program for entrance at the PGY-1 year level of training. The residency program supports 10 positions at each level of training that provides residents eligibility to participate in the examination system of the American Board of Anesthesiology.
Clinical Base Year
The resident in anesthesiology must complete 12 months of accredited preliminary training in a clinical discipline other than anesthesiology. Acceptable training includes a transitional year, internal or emergency medicine, pediatrics, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, neurology, family practice, or any combination of these as approved for the individual resident by the program director.
As of July 2019, the Allegheny Health Network Anesthesiology residency program offers 7 categorical positions and 3 advanced positions.
Both Allegheny General Hospital and West Penn Hospital provide opportunities to prospective residents to do their Clinical base year (PGY-1). The Allegheny Health Network Medical Education Consortium offers an Osteopathic Rotating Internship for graduates of osteopathic medical schools.
CA-1 : Basic Anesthesia Training
In July of each year the Department of Anesthesiology conducts a series of tutorial sessions for residents beginning their first year of Clinical Anesthesia. Each new CA-1 resident is paired with a higher level resident who serves as the new resident's mentor during the first month of training.
Each CA-1 resident is selectively assigned to cases designed to provide graded experiences of increasing difficulty that progressively challenge the resident's clinical performance in the provision of anesthesia for :
- General surgery - Gynecological surgery - Orthopedic surgery - Urologic surgery - ENT/Ophthalmologic surgery
- Outpatient procedures - Burn injuries - Major Vascular surgery - Recovery room management
CA-2: Subspecialty Anesthesia Training
This level emphasizes the theoretical background, subject material, and clinical practice of the subspecialties of anesthesiology. Each resident is assigned to a series of rotations that guarantees adequate exposure at the consultant level of practice within the subspecialties of:
- Cardiothoracic anesthesia - Neuroanesthesia - Pediatric Anesthesia - Obstetric anesthesia
- Critical care medicine - Pain medicine -Regional anesthesia
CA-3: Advanced Clinical track
A modular approach to the Advanced Clinical track has been developed with specific curricular objectives for advanced topics in clinical management or perioperative consultative practice. Residents may choose to focus on areas of interest and continue to develop their expertise in areas such as Research and Perioperative echocardiography.
Didactic program:
A comprehensive core curriculum has been implemented for the didactic education of residents at all levels to prepare residents for both excellence in clinical performance and board certification.The format of these conferences includes basic science lectures, problem based learning discussions, board review with 3 faculty members who oral board examiners, and monthly simulation workshops at our nationally recognized STAR center. Monthly journal clubs, a visiting professor lecture series, resident research projects and supported attendance at local and national conferences all complement the curriculum.
A Healthy Learning Environment
Allegheny Health Network fosters and environment of interaction that is conductive for training young physicians. The anesthesiology faculty at all hospitals aspires to create a friendly learning environment, where each and every anesthesiology resident becomes a part of the "family". The size of the program allows for the faculty to get to know each resident, allowing them to personalize the residents learning, based on their individual strengths and weaknesses. Each resident is assigned to a mentor who will act as advisor/counselor during the course of the residents training.
The residency as a Wellness Program that consists of monthly lectures/activities directed in promoting wellness and preventing burn-out in addition to a quarterly Wellness newsletter, healthy office snack delivery service, and daily monitoring of resident morale.
Graduates
Graduates are highly successful in securing competitive fellowship training positions, university faculty appointments, and positions in private practice. The faculty is very instrumental in aiding CA-3 residents in securing their desired post-graduate position through key contacts and reputation among anesthesiologists throughout the country. More than 95% of the graduates in the past 5 years have successfully completed the requirements for board certification in anesthesiology, passing both the written and oral examinations.
Living in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is a very friendly, family-oriented city with an expanding night-life and beautiful suburbs. No longer a center for heavy industry, the city has earned an international reputation for its succesful shift into advanced technology and biomedical enterprises. The extensive physical redevelopment of the metropolitan area has been parallel by a rise in quality of life indicators, as demonstrated by the selection of Pittsburgh as one of the most livable cities of the USA.
Building on a base of stable neighborhoods, low housing costs, moderate climate, and low crime rates, Pittsburgh also boasts a diversified economy and strong cultural, educational, and medical communities.
Regular performances by the Pittsburgh Symphony, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, and the Pittsburgh Opera will satisfy the most demanding performance-goers. Museum lovers will appreciate the Carnegie Museum with its outstanding art collection and museum of natural history, as well as the Andy Warhol and Heinz Regional History Museums. Sports enthusiasts will enjoy the Pittsburgh Pirates, Penguins and Steelers, as well as Division I college sports.