On behalf of our residency training program, I would like to welcome you to our department's website. We hope that many of your potential questions about our program and department can be answered right here. You will also find contact information for our residents/faculty, directions regarding the application process, and information about our residents—a group that we are very proud of.

"What should I look for in a residency program?"
It is a question we get asked a lot, and one that many students ask especially as they enter the match process. The answer is complex because of the various factors that go into selecting a program—educational, geographical, personal, and logistical considerations all play a large role. Complicating things further is the fact that for each individual, all of these considerations are a bit different—making each person’s answer unique. However, there is a common theme you should try to identify in any training program: look for a department that is going to push you to realize your potential, one which will broaden your horizons, and result in you being the best consultant anesthesiologist you can be.

At the Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care (DACC) at the University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC) we offer a unique training program for our residents, one that is full of challenges and opportunities to meet those aforementioned goals. Challenge and Opportunity are two important words in our department's mission: we challenge our residents to maximize their potential, and we provide them with every opportunity to succeed. Below, I have elaborated on several examples of our commitment to these endeavors.

What is our commitment to Education?
From an educational standpoint, our department prides itself on a didactic curriculum that tries to emphasize the critical thought process, rather than just the regurgitation of facts. We have didactics targeted towards residents ranging from journal clubs, case conferences, mock oral boards, and M&M's. Of course, these go along with intraoperative teaching from our renowned faculty (see more below). To put our educational program into perspective, we have had a > 98% written board examination pass rate for the last several years. In addition, several of our residents have gone above and beyond just passing their anesthesia boards during their training—they have also passed additional board examinations in Transesophageal Echocardiography, through the strength of our Echo rotation and our faculty's mentoring. We also employ a great deal of innovation when it comes to education, whether it be rotations such as Echo or days our residents spend shadowing the operating room coordinator, we try to prepare our residents for the wide gamut of experiences they will face upon graduation.

There is more to Resident Education than just clinical work and didactics!
Beyond clinical opportunity, our residents have had an extraordinary amount of success over the years in other areas, examples include: presenting at national/international meetings, serving in the Illinois Society of Anesthesiologists Resident Component (we have had several residents serve as President of this society over the past few years) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists Resident Component as elected officers or being awarded international health travel fellowships. You will find that our residents are highly motivated to engage in these types of activities, and we as a department support their endeavors. Not only does it help them individually, but we all benefit from their experiences as they come back and share them with us.

What about our faculty?
With respect to our faculty, the faculty that teach in the operating room are the same people that present at the American Society of Anesthesiologists' (ASA) Annual Meeting and other national/international meetings, write book chapters, submit journal publications, are respected as leaders in our field. Most importantly however, they happen to be excellent clinicians and educators as well---and this is their primary responsibility. By being surrounded by such role models, our residents have a tremendous opportunity to be mentored by true leaders in our specialty.

Where do our graduates practice after residency?
All of the above helps explain why our residents are so successful after graduation. Of course, many of our graduates have settled into practice in the Midwest, especially in the Chicagoland area and serve as excellent resources and recruit amongst our graduates every year. Additionally, we have a strong network of alumni across the nation, from New York to Hawaii, which our residents can rely on to help find employment opportunities. Our residents join some of the most competitive private practice groups in the nation and assume leadership positions within their groups. For our residents interested in fellowships, we have had residents continue their training in competitive programs all over the country, routinely getting their top choice of fellowship program. Whether it is academic practice, where they serve as fellowship and residency program directors, or in private practice where they are the presidents of their group, our graduates are leaders in our field.

Other perks of training at the University of Chicago
Finally, we have the advantage of being in Chicago—one of the truly great cities in the world. We have excellent restaurants, world-class art/opera/symphony, and sporting events. Realistically, the city has something for everyone, with a vibrant downtown, friendly citizens, and a gorgeous lakefront. As far as the weather—well it is not as bad as some make it out to be. I grew up in Miami, Florida—not only has my blood thickened but I have grown to love Chicago as my adopted hometown.

It is almost impossible for a webpage, pictures, or text to do justice to all that our program has to offer. I hope that our website has provided some information that is helpful and sparked your curiosity to learn more about us. We encourage you to apply to our program and speak with our residents and faculty to get their perspective as well. I look forward to hearing from you.

Take care
Mohammed Minhaj, MD
Associate Chair for Residency Education