Clinical Experience

Clinical Base Year (CBY) (PGY-1)

Residents in the PGY-1 year in the Department of Anesthesiology at UNC Hospitals rotate through several different departments. Before the year starts, all residents are required to participate in an Advanced Cardiac Life Support Course. Residents will spend three months on Internal Medicine, three months on Pediatrics, and two months on Anesthesiology. Residents will also spend four weeks on Neurology, four weeks in the Burn Intensive Care Unit, and four weeks on a general surgical service.

While on Internal Medicine, residents will be assigned to Pulmonary or Cardiac ward services, and the Medicine, Respiratory, or Coronary intensive care units. While on Pediatrics, residents care for patients on pediatric wards at UNC Hospitals, in the neonatal ICUs at UNC Hospitals and Wake Medical Center, and in Pediatric Clinics. The two months of Anesthesiology emphasize basic anesthesia training and allow for a smooth transition into the formal Clinical Anesthesia years.

Second and Third Years (CA-1 and CA-2)

The second and third years furnish intensive clinical experience in all areas of anesthesiology. Five and a half months of the CA-1 year encompass introductory General Anesthesia training. One month of OB Anesthesia, one month in the Consult Clinic, and two-week rotations in Acute Pain, PACU, Urology, Gynecology, Orthopedics, Advanced Airway Management, Advanced Anesthesia techniques, and Otolaryngology complete the CA-1 year. The CA-2 year includes at least two months of ICU experience, three months of General Advanced OR, one-month rotations in Regional, Neuro, Pediatrics, Thoracic, Cardiac, Vascular, Chronic Pain, and two-week rotations in PACU and Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE). 

Critical care experience is provided under the direction of critical care-trained anesthesiologists and surgeons.  As the CA-1 and CA-2 years progress, residents develop the skills and judgment necessary to safely care for a broad sample of patients undergoing a wide array of surgical and diagnostic procedures. Residents must often venture into non-traditional environments such as the MRI and CT scanners, vascular radiology, the cardiac cath and electrophysiology labs, and the radiation therapy suite to allow patients to safely undergo necessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Faculty members provide consistent help and consultation as the resident takes on more responsibility for each patient. Senior housestaff share in the teaching of medical students rotating through the department. This experience begins to prepare the resident to accept the important roles of teacher and communicator, which are vital for continued professional development.

Fourth Year (CA-3)

The resident has two options to choose from in the CA-3 year.  All of them involve progressively more complex cases and increasing independence for the resident.  Toward the end of the CA-2 year, the resident and the program director, decide on a plan for the completion of training. Clinical experience in the fourth year consists of advanced anesthesia training and includes the more complex OR anesthetic procedures and care of the most seriously ill patients.  CA-3 residents complete at least one month in either the SICU or PICU.  Residents are also able to choose among the following tracks:

Advanced Clinical Track - residents experience complex anesthetic assignments and may also elect several subspecialty rotations.

Clinical Scientist Track - completed by a six-month experience in complex anesthetic management and six months of clinical or laboratory research.