General Program Information

The University of Virginia is consistently rated among the best public institutions in the country, achieving national stature for its teaching, research and public service without sacrificing the intimacy that characterizes the academical village. The Department of Anesthesiology at the UVa Health System strives to help residents develop the knowledge and skills necessary to become leaders through training in all aspects of the specialty. The training fully satisfies the requirements of the American Board of Anesthesiology for residency training in anesthesiology and for fellowship training in pain management. The work environment is trustful and caring, and the location is scenic and provides a high quality of life.

UVA HEALTH SYSTEM

The UVa Health System is a state-of-the-art facility. We have over 600 beds and annually perform approximately 15,000 anesthetics for operations of all types, including extensive programs in cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery; transplantation, including livers, and neurological surgery. Pediatric Anesthesia constitutes 15 to 20 percent of our anesthetic administrations. In the operating rooms, the resident and faculty staff are supplemented by a small group of nurse anesthetists whose assistance permits latitude in selection of cases for the residents and ensures them time for performing more complex procedures and for consultations, rounds, and study.  A freestanding Outpatient Surgery Center gives residents ample experience in a private practice-like setting. We have an  active obstetrical service that cares for a significant percentage of high-risk patients. One advantage of the program is that all training takes place at the University of Virginia hospital and disruptive travel to obtain training elsewhere in pediatrics, obstetrics, or cardiac anesthesia is not necessary. The single location also lends personal and educational cohesion to our program.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOURTH YEAR

Opportunities for the fourth year (CA3) exist in both the advanced clinical track and the subspecialty tracks, as dictated by the needs of the resident and the department's clinical program. The department possesses first-rate clinical expertise in all aspects of anesthesia care and can thereby provide this training at an advanced level. The precise content will reflect the interest and career goals of the resident and her/his progress made to date as assessed by the faculty. Research opportunities exist in a variety of areas for selected residents whose career goals dictate the clinical scientist track. All residents making satisfactory progress may expect to complete the fourth year residency requirement at the University of Virginia in one of the Board's approved tracks.

The surgical intensive care, pediatric intensive care, and neurosurgical intensive units are staffed and/or directed by faculty members in anesthesiology as well as other specialities. Anesthesiology and other residents function as a single ICU service. A full range of teaching rounds and conferences as well as daily x-ray rounds are held. Additional critical care education may include cardiovascular, cardiothoracic surgery, and medical ICU's.

PAIN MANAGEMENT CENTER

The Department has an internationally known and active multidisciplinary Pain Management Center which emphasizes both the physical and psychological evaluation and treatment of patients with complex pain problems. In addition, the Pain Center is responsible for operating an acute pain program in the hospital. The resident learns the indications for and performs nerve blocks for diagnosis and treatment, and develops a clinical approach to pain problems other than those of a purely physical nature. The Center's program provides an academic background for pain studies and emphasizes the consultant's role of the anesthesiologist in this field. Each resident spends two months on service with advanced training opportunities available as a pathway in the Clinical Anesthesia-3 year.

SALARY SCHEDULE

The salary schedule for 2007-08 is as follows:
CA0 - $46,001
CA1 - $46,646
CA2 - $48,504
CA3 - $52,002

HOUSE STAFF

Housestaff Information - For further information concerning salaries, benefits, parking, meals, etc...please check the Housestaff Home Page .

Members of the House Staff are allowed three (3) weeks vacation time and up to four (4) weeks of sick leave per year. Other benefits include liability insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, and life insurance. Scrubs and lab coats are provided and laundered by the hospital. On-call meals are provided to house staff on night call. In addition to a gym with workout equipment located within the hospital, the complete UVA athletic facilities are available to residents and spouses. Residents are given a yearly book allowance as well as $600 per year to use in a number of ways including subsidizing parking.

We intend to appoint both PGY-1 (intern) candidates and PGY-2 entrants through the National Resident Matching Program . Those residents entering the program directly from medical school will complete seven months of the required Clinical Base Year of the four year continuum in anesthesiology during the first year. This will include six months of medical, surgical and emergency medicine services. A rotation in the surgical intensive care unit is done late in the first or early in the second year. The balance of the PGY-1 year is spent in the operating rooms and is credited toward the Clinical Anesthesia-1 year. Second year rotations in pediatric intensive care, cardiology, and other electives will complete the Base Year requirements of the Board. Those matched into the PGY-2 year will begin the three year Clinical Anesthesia sequence having already received Base Year Credit.

We have three weekly teaching conferences as well as periodic research seminars and journal clubs. Major teaching exercises occupy two hours on Wednesday morning when all services defer the start of surgery for conferences. Residents are relieved for afternoon conferences in order to assure their priority in attending. An active program of visiting professorships brings distinguished anesthesiologists to us on a regular basis.