As Chairman of the Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care at the University of Chicago Hospitals, I would like to personally welcome you to our Residency Program website. On our website you will not only unearth most of the answers to the questions you have about our program, but you will also discover just why the University of Chicago is the best place for you to start your career in anesthesiology. Please allow me the opportunity to provide you with a little background on our department and residency education program.

Residents who join our department benefit substantially from the intensive didactic training program we provide, as evidenced by exceptionally strong performance on the written board examinations. Residents' conferences are held four times per week and consist of practice oral board examinations, presentations of key topics in anesthesia by residents as preparation for in-training exams, and lectures by faculty from multiple disciplines specifically designed for resident education. Additionally, residents will have the opportunity to attend a multitude of "Grand Rounds" sessions presented by internationally renowned anesthesiologists, and also Quality Improvement Conferences presented by our faculty and residents.

Our residents enjoy training in a very busy clinical program. We stress the importance of both the art and the science of anesthesia and critical care and promise that you will learn to confidently and skillfully care for patients with severe co-morbidities undergoing complex procedures. Don't worry, you'll also learn to efficiently care for the healthy patients as well! Clinical activities during the year ending June 2009 for the department have resulted in the administration of anesthetic care to over 26,000 patients. In addition to the administration of anesthesia for surgical procedures, our residents experience robust rotations in acute and chronic pain, as well as in the primary delivery of medical care (not just a consultative service) to patients in the intensive care setting.

With over fifty faculty members, the Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care provides an extensive range of research opportunities for those few residents who might be interested in developing academic careers. Many of our faculty members have ongoing research studies in which residents are welcomed and encouraged to participate. A brief sample of the research interests of the department include the study of electronic database information systems, the effects of sedation and anesthesia on restorative sleep, the efficacy of transesophageal echocardiography, the biophysics of anesthetics, patient safety, and clinical investigations into recovery from anesthesia. Even for the vast majority of residents who do not formally participate in research, training in an environment in which critical thinking is a part of day to day life adds a unique dimension to the residency which establishes for them an ideal pattern of lifelong learning.

Lastly, you should appreciate the intangible yet incredible value of training in what is in every way a "peer department." The Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care rivals the strengths of all other University of Chicago departments clinically, academically, and administratively. This is evidenced by the broad representation of our faculty in such key positions as hospital and medical school executive committees, medical school administration, clinical leadership and research. Being a part of this strong and well respected team as a resident positively influences your day to day interactions in the hospital and positions you to learn by example the full role of a consultant anesthesiologist.

Please feel free to explore this website, and discover for yourself just how essential it is that you train with the best faculty at one of the the best teaching institutions the world. Again, I welcome you to the Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics, and hope you find all the answers you need to become part of the U of C anesthesia community.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey L. Apfelbaum, M.D.
Professor and Chairman
Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care
The University of Chicago