The University of Vermont / Fletcher Allen Health Care Department of Anesthesiology prides itself on the educational program that we provide to our residents. As the link on the left reveals, we begin residency education with an intensive 6 week lecture series. This entails 2 hours each afternoon dedicated to a broad overview of preoperative, intraoperative, and recovery care. Some of the lectures are lead by our senior residents who provide a first hand view on how to best launch a residency experience.

The remainder of the academic year involves 2 hours/week of lecture with a separate curriculum for CA-I residents and CA-II/III residents. The major goal of the resident three year curriculum is to completely cover the knowledge base as defined by the American Board of Anesthesiology.

In addition to the lecture series, five other educational formats are used. Weekly grand rounds are attended by the entire department and frequently feature invited guest lecturers. Monthly journal clubs are typically held at the home of a faculty member, where articles are discussed over dinner. A monthly “Key word exam/review” is a multiple choice exam in a format similar to the American Board of Anesthesiology written board examination. Following the examination, faculty review the questions and topics. Periodic simulation sessions are used to teach crisis management. Finally and perhaps most importantly, is bedside teaching, where residents and faculty focus on the challenges that each patient brings to their perioperative medical management.

Scientific inquiry is integral to the mission of the Anesthesiology Department. Our research efforts focus mainly upon regional anesthesia and pain management, which reflects the tremendous clinical experience in these areas afforded to our residents. Residents commonly elect to spend several months of their final year of residency performing clinical research. Learn more about our research projects.