Queen Lane Campus
2900 Queen Lane
1st Floor, Room 100
Phila., PA 19129
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
& Friday 8:30a.m. - 5:00p.m.
215-991-8762
Fax: 215-991-8132

Hahnemann Campus
Office of Student Life, Suite 1106, NCB
Wednesday 9:00a.m. - 4:30p.m.
215.991.8762

Anesthesiology

Pathway Director

Gary S. Okum, M.D.	Office #, Campus
gary.okum@drexelmed.edu	(215) 762-7972

Drexel Fourth Year Discipline Based Pathway System

Pathways Overview
Anesthesiology Pathway Overview (Student Handbook)

Pathway Director's Advice On Commonly Asked Questions

Click on each question below to see the response:

How important is it for a student to have completed some type of research to match in this specialty? When should the research be done? Does it have to be specialty specific?

It is not critical that the student have research experience. If the student has participated in research, it is very important that he/she be familiar enough with the research to discuss it on a residency interview.

Are research opportunities available in your department?

Yes. Our director of research is Vance Nielsen, M.D. He can be reached through the department office, 215-762-7972 or by e-mail, vance.nielsen@drexelmed.edu.

Are shadowing opportunities available?

Shadowing opportunities may be available on a limited basis. Contact Gary Okum, M.D., 215-762-7972 or gokum@drexelmed.edu.

Are away rotations essential to a successful match in your specialty?

Away rotations are desirable, particularly for students seeking programs in geographically competitive areas (read California), but are not mandatory.

Any other advice you wish to share?

Anesthesiology has become a competitive specialty in recent years. However, the field is manpower intensive, so there are many more positions available nationwide than in other competitive specialties such as ENT, ophthalmology and orthopedics. A well rounded medical education with emphasis on cardiology, pulmonary and critical care medicine is the best preparation for a residency in anesthesiology. As with other specialties, candidiates with solid performances on USMLE Steps 1 and 2 are viewed more favorably as these students are less likely to encounter difficulty with the Board Certification process.

Go to the Drexel Careers Development Center for information on residency planning, match results, FREIDA (lists of residency training programs across the country) and more.

Drexel and Clinical Site Residency Programs

Drexel University College of Medicine Anesthesiology

Drexel Medical Student Interest Group

Anesthesiology Interest Group

Specialty Description

An anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an operation, obstetric, or diagnostic procedure. It is the anesthesiologist's foremost purpose and concern to protect the patient's well-being and safety just prior to, during, and after surgery. Anesthesiologists have many responsibilities: preoperative evaluation of patients to determine conditions that may complicate surgery; management of pain and emotional stress during surgical, obstetrical, and medical procedures; provision of life support under the stress of anesthesia and surgery; immediate postoperative care of the patient; and knowledge of drugs and their interactions with anesthetic agents. Their functions also include long-standing and cancer pain management; management of problems in cardiac and respiratory resuscitation; application of specific methods of inhalation therapy; and emergency clinical management of various fluid, electrolyte, and metabolic disturbances. (Source: http://www.aamc.org/students/cim/pub_anesthesiology.htm)

Time Requirement

See ACGME for current requirements: http://www.acgme.org/acWebsite/home/home.asp
4 years, including a Clinical Base (or PGY-1) Year

National Organizations

The national specialty organizations can provide medical students with excellent resources as well as updates on current activities within the field, conferences, and on-going research opportunities and research funding.

Subspecialties

Critical Care Medicine
Pain Medicine
Pediatric Anesthesiology

Residency Application and Match Info*

	National Statistic	DUCoM
Average Application Count by Specialty (2008)	26**	27
Mean Number of programs ranked in matched specialty (2008)	6***	9
Application Services	ERAS
Matching Program	NRMP
Drexel Match Data -- 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 - 2009 - 2010 - 2011

*The number of applications and programs ranked will vary based on many factors. Students should seek advice from their Pathway Advisor and/or the Career Development Center in conjunction with the data above.
**Data drawn from 2008 United States Graduates (USG) ERAS Statistics for Residency Specialties. 17Jun2009.
***National Resident Matching Program Characteristics of Matched Seniors, 2006-2008. 17Jun2009.

AAMC - Careers in Medicine

General Information: http://www.aamc.org/students/cim/pub_anesthesiology.htm
(Log in for more helpful data to include: Personal Characteristics / Match data / Residency Requirements / Workforce Statistics / Compensation)

Specialty Specific Opportunities

For external research, volunteering, educational, and other opportunities check the Career Development Center's pages on Research and Community, Educational, and Externship Opportunities. Most of these opportunities are summer programs however some are available throughout the year.