A Day in the Life of a Duke Anesthesiology Resident

Amy Manchester, MD, CA-2 Resident

VA Anesthesia Rotation

The VA rotation is typically one of the most rewarding and desired rotations for our residents. Your day typically starts at 6am where everyone draws up their drugs for the day together in the anesthesia stockroom. It is a good time to chat about everyone’s cases for the day and bond with the other residents who are on the rotation. Every morning there is a VA morning conference at 7am. Topics vary every day and each resident also gets the opportunity to give one conference during their month. The OR schedule then starts at 8am.

One of the great things about being able to work at the VA is that you get the opportunity to see a system other than Duke North, where we spend most of our time. Also, the case variety for the month is great because instead of doing only one surgical subspecialty for the whole month, you get to do something different every day. You could do a carotid endarterectomy one day, then regional blocks for ortho the next, then a craniotomy the following day. There are always exciting and challenging cases, and the variety keeps things interesting.

The faculty at the VA are also top notch. They are all focused on great intraoperative teaching but also emphasize resident autonomy. Another perk is that your days are typically a bit shorter, with relief for the day at around 3:30 or 4pm unless you are the late resident.

The biggest reward, though, is that the patient population of military veterans are so grateful and appreciative of the care you provide them. These veterans have a wealth of experiences and stories to share, and it gives me a sense of pride to be able to provide care for these men and women who have done so much for our country.

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