A Day in the Life of a Duke Anesthesiology Resident

Robert Lobato, MD, CA-2 Resident

Resident Research

Robert Lobato, MD

When I started evaluating residencies as a medical student, I knew that I was looking for a program that could offer both strong clinical training and opportunities for research. As I went through the interview process and learned more about the top-tier programs, Duke stood out a leading program in both respects. The residents I talked to on interviews had case logs filled with challenging and interesting cases, and the faculty spoke passionately about a variety of research interests. I knew very quickly that Duke was where I wanted to train.

One of the remarkable things about our department is its commitment to research. I am continually surprised by the breadth of topics under investigation at both the basic science and clinical levels. The environment here is one of cooperation and collaboration, and residents are encouraged to participate in any aspect of research that interests them. As an intern I became involved in the work being done by the Perioperative Genomics and Safety Outcomes Study (PEGASUS) investigative team, which looks at the influence of genetic polymorphisms on perioperative outcomes. I started working on a project examining the effect of genetic variability on long term outcomes after cardiac surgery. I was able to put together an abstract to submit to the American Society of Anesthesiologists annual meeting and I have been selected to present it in Chicago this October. The department has extended an open offer to provide time off and financial support for any resident who is presenting at a meeting, and several residents have had the opportunity to attend and participate in national meetings.

For me, anesthesiology is fascinating not just in the day-to-day practice of a challenging discipline, but also in the enormous questions the field has yet to answer. Duke is a place where people search for those answers, and the residency allows us the flexibility and faculty support to start proposing our own research questions. At this point, there is an option for a Clinical Scientist Track which allows 6 months of dedicated research time during our CA-3 year. But the department is working to find ways to incorporate structured research time into the earlier years of residency, and proposals are being made expand protected research time throughout our clinical training. I look forward to continuing my clinical education and to finding new and exciting research opportunities.