Curriculum

The Anesthesiology Residency Program takes advantage of Mayo Clinic's multisite practice by offering a flexible, integrated program, with resident opportunities at all three campuses (Rochester, Minn.; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Scottsdale, Ariz.).

Clinical Training
The residency is divided into two parts: a clinical base year (PGY-1); and clinical anesthesia years (CA-1 through CA-3, which are equivalent to PGY-2 through PGY-4).

Clinical Base Year
To begin an anesthesiology residency, one year of basic clinical training at Mayo Clinic or another accredited academic medical center is required. To fulfill this requirement, Mayo Clinic offers:

• A preliminary internal medicine program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester
• A preliminary surgery program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester
• A transitional year program at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville
• A transitional year program at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale

Also see

• Transitional Year Residency Programs at Mayo Clinic

Clinical Anesthesia Years
The three clinical anesthesia years (CA-1 through CA-3) include training in basic, advanced and subspecialty anesthesia, as well as opportunities to participate in research. Rotations vary in length between one and three months.

CA-1 and CA-2 Years
The first and second years of Clinical Anesthesia training (CA-1 and CA-2) consist of clinical rotations in all basic and subspecialty areas with increasing levels of responsibility as residents gain experience.

The curriculum is outlined below:

During the CA-2 year, extramural rotations can be arranged at affiliated locations. Mayo Clinic funds the authorized additional costs of travel and licensure fees for these rotations. Housing is provided by the host. These rotations include:

• Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, AZ
• Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, FL
• Nemours Pediatric Hospital in Jacksonville, FL
• Bowman Gray in Salem, NC

CA-3 Year
The third year of clinical anesthesia training (CA-3) may be completed in one of three tracks as defined by the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA). These tracks are:

CA-3 Advanced Clinical Track
The advanced clinical track can include rotations at Mayo Clinic’s campuses in Rochester, Jacksonville, or Scottsdale or a combination of these sites. Residents choosing this track work in a variety of areas and are responsible for more complex and difficult anesthetic procedures and perioperative assignments. The length of each rotation is flexible and can be scheduled based on individual interests and need.

CA-3 Subspecialty Clinical Track
The subspecialty clinical track can be selected for the CA-3 year. This consists of nine months of additional training in one of the following subspecialties:

• Ambulatory Anesthesia
• Cardiovascular Anesthesia
• Critical Care Medicine
• Neuroanesthesia
• Obstetric Anesthesia
• Pain Medicine
• Pediatric Anesthesia
• Thoracic Anesthesia

The remaining three months consist of other advanced clinical rotations such as Anatomy, Transesophageal Echocardiography, Transfusion Medicine or Transplant Anesthesia.

CA-3 Clinical Scientist Track
The clinical scientist track is offered at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. It includes  completing an in-depth laboratory or clinical research project during the CA-3 year. The depth and breadth of Mayo Clinic's caseload provides abundant clinical research opportunities. Residents may choose to participate in clinical research, laboratory research or a combination of both.

Didactic Training
Didactic training is an integral part of Mayo Clinic's Anesthesiology Residency Program. You will participate in:

• Clinical Case Conferences
• Core Curriculum Lectures
• Introductory Lecture Series
• Journal Clubs
• Key Word Phrase Mini-lectures
• Morbidity and Mortality Conferences
• Oral Board Reviews
• Subspecialty Mini-lectures
• Written Board Reviews

Cardiac Life Support Certification
Certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is required for all Mayo Clinic residents and fellows. ACLS courses are offered free of charge during the last week of June, just before the start of the academic year. In addition, the course is offered evenings every three months during the year to facilitate recertification.

Research Training
Your research opportunities at Mayo Clinic are outstanding. During the course of this fellowship, you will design and complete a research project under close mentorship from one of our clinician-researchers. Opportunities for both clinical studies and laboratory-based projects exist. Several bench and clinical laboratories are available for residents to rotate through.

Clinician-Investigator Program
The Clinician-Investigator Program prepares residents for a career in academic medicine and allows development of research skills during training. In addition to standard anesthesiology residency training, an 18-month laboratory research rotation and graduate-level courses are required. Residents enrolled in this program also participate in an institutional clinician-investigator seminar series.

Application for this program may be submitted at any time. It is not necessary to declare an interest in this program when you apply to the Anesthesiology Residency Program. For more information about the Clinician-Investigator Program, contact the program director.

Also see

• Anesthesiology Research at Mayo Clinic
• Clinical Research in Anesthesiology
• Laboratory Research in Anesthesiology
• Clinician-Investigator Program

Teaching Opportunities
Residents have the opportunity to teach Mayo medical students; visiting students from other medical schools; surgery, pediatric and internal medicine residents; and other anesthesia residents through operating room instruction and formal didactic lectures.

Practice Examinations and Reviews
The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) In-Training Examination is an all-day exam administered each year in July. It is used to compare individual knowledge with that of other trainees nationwide. The written examination for certification by the ABA is a subset of this examination and is completed at the end of your anesthesiology residency training.

The ABA requires an oral examination after completion of the written examination. To prepare, practice oral examinations are conducted quarterly during clinical training, and former residents are encouraged to return to Mayo for practice oral exams shortly before taking the examination for credit.
Eight members of Mayo’s current anesthesiology faculty serve or have served as associate examiners for the ABA.

Call Frequency
Mayo follows the recommendations of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) regarding call frequency. Call schedules vary by individual rotation, but call is approximately every fourth to fifth night. This allows a day after call with no direct patient care responsibilities and at least one weekend day off per week.

Committee Assignments
You will have an opportunity to gain experience in a number of administrative capacities during your training. These include the department's education council, education committee and quality assurance committee. Residents and fellows can also participate in committee assignments for the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA), the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation, the House of Delegates of the ASA and the state societies of anesthesiology in Minnesota, Florida or Arizona.

Evaluation
To ensure acquisition of adequate knowledge and development of appropriate technical skills, your performance is monitored carefully during the course of your anesthesiology training. Formal evaluation by supervising faculty members occurs quarterly, and you are assigned a faculty adviser who provides feedback.

Residents and fellows receive a written clinical competence evaluation by the chair of the Clinical Competence Committee twice each year. These evaluations are forwarded to the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA), which grants credit for training.

In addition, you regularly evaluate rotations and faculty to ensure education needs are met and provide feedback to the faculty to guide their efforts in improving the program.

Career Development
You will meet periodically with your faculty adviser and the training program director to discuss your goals.

Mayo Clinic recruits many of its staff physicians from its own training programs. Thus, after completion of your anesthesiology residency, career opportunities may be available at one of Mayo Clinic's practice sites.

Rotations to Other Mayo Clinic Sites
Throughout the course of graduate training in anesthesiology, assignments may be arranged at Mayo Clinic’s campuses in Rochester, Jacksonville or Scottsdale. Mayo Clinic funds the authorized additional costs of travel, housing, auto rental and licensure fees.

Moonlighting Policy
Moonlighting is permitted for licensed residents and fellows beyond the PGY-1 level. Moonlighting activities may be scheduled during those times when you are assigned to research and course work rotations. Moonlighting should not interfere with required learning and must not violate ACGME work hour rules. Moonlighting should not compromise your education, but rather enhance it.