How many positions do you offer?

Typically, we offer 14-15 positions in the Match. One to two positions are reserved for our Academic Career Enrichment Scholars (ACES) Program, a separate NRMP-matched program to support and accelerate the next generation of anesthesiology clinician-scientists. We are approved for a “Reserved” or “R” position; please contact us if you are interested in this position. Applicants may specify any or all tracks when they apply through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Interview offers are not based upon applications to a specific track. After applicant interviews, we will determine track preferences. Applicants may declare or change their preferences up until the time that we submit our lists. Information regarding Duke Graduate Medical Education can be found at https://gme.duke.edu.

I am completing a residency currently and am interested in starting as a CA1 in July. Is this possible?

Please contact us with your information.

How do I apply?

We accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and will continue to participate in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP).

Our application requirements are the same as the standard ERAS application: the complete application, CV, personal statement, medical student performance evaluation (dean’s letter), transcript, and three letters of recommendation. We require Step 1 and Step 2 USMLE scores of all applicants. Step 2 may be completed after the application deadline but must be submitted before ranking in February. Successful completion of USMLE Step 1 and of Step 2 CK is required by Duke University Hospital prior to matriculation.

We abide by the Duke Graduate Medical Education (GME) policy on licensing examinations, with the added stipulation that we require passage of the USMLE Step 3 before starting the CA-1 year.

What tracks do you offer and how many positions?

To complete your ERAS application, you can choose one track or any combination of tracks. For our purposes, these choices are not a binding commitment. If you are invited to interview, you will find out more about each track, and we will ask your track preference before our Match list is submitted.

What are the requirements for international medical graduates?

We have a minimum USMLE cutoff score of 225 on all parts of the exam. IMGs must be ECFMG certified to be considered for an interview. We require some U.S. clinical experience. Observerships do not meet this requirement. We do not have a timeframe for graduation from medical school; we are more interested in what you have done in the time since graduating. Applications are accepted only through ERAS.

I submitted four letters of recommendation. Is that too many?

ERAS allows you to upload up to four letters of recommendation. We consider a complete application to include three letters of recommendation. If you have four, that is fine.

Where can I send questions for the residency program director and assistant directors?

You can submit your questions via email at anesthesiologyresidency@duke.edu.

Other questions?

Please contact us with any questions you may have. You may also refer to the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database.

At all levels, leadership, faculty, staff and the residents themselves raise the bar to bring the highest level of dedication and commitment to the Duke Anesthesiology Residency Program.

The department welcomed Dr. Brandi Bottiger, associate professor of anesthesiology, to her new role as residency program director in May of 2025. She succeeds Dr. Annemarie Thompson, who was appointed Duke Anesthesiology's vice chair for education in April of 2024 after serving as residency program director for nearly 11 years. As a Duke Anesthesiology alumnus and award-winning educator, Bottiger brings 14 years of experience to her position in which she will lead and mentor approximately 60 future health care leaders within our acclaimed program. For nearly the past decade, she has served as the department’s Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship director and in 2019, became the first anesthesiologist to hold a medical directorship position within the transplant center at the Duke University Health System. Bottiger is a visionary leader who will continue to advance the innovative, clinically rigorous, and supportive residency program through robust mentorship and unparalleled clinical and educational experiences.

Welcome to Duke Anesthesiology

Thank you for your interest in the Duke Anesthesiology Residency Program. Choosing a residency is one of the most important decisions of your medical career, and we are honored that you are considering Duke.

At Duke, our mission is simple: to train exceptional anesthesiologists who are clinically outstanding, intellectually curious, compassionate leaders, and lifelong learners. We believe the best residency experience combines rigorous clinical training with meaningful mentorship and a supportive, collaborative community. At Duke, you will find all three.

Exceptional Clinical Training

Duke offers a categorical anesthesiology residency that provides broad, high-acuity clinical exposure from day one. Residents primarily train at Duke University Hospital, a nationally recognized tertiary referral center and Level I Trauma Center, with additional experiences at Duke Regional Hospital and the Durham VA Medical Center.

Our residents care for some of the most medically complex patients in the country while learning to practice in varied settings, from quaternary academic medicine to community-based and veteran care. By graduation, our residents are confident, adaptable physicians who are exceptionally prepared for independent practice or fellowship training.

Building a Strong Foundation

Your training begins with an integrated intern year designed to establish a broad foundation in perioperative medicine and critical care. Rotations include internal medicine, surgery, cardiology, emergency medicine, and multiple intensive care experiences, along with dedicated time in anesthesiology through inpatient pain, hyperbaric medicine, and the Preoperative Anesthesia and Surgical Screening (PASS) clinic.

Throughout the program, residents benefit from a robust educational curriculum that includes:

• Structured didactics aligned with board preparation
• Comprehensive oral board preparation
• Longitudinal simulation training
• Access to major anesthesiology textbooks and question banks
• Dedicated faculty mentorship and career guidance

A Supported Transition to Anesthesiology

The transition to clinical anesthesia training is one of our program’s greatest strengths. Before beginning CA-1 year, residents participate in an immersive four-week orientation designed to build confidence and ease the transition into the operating room.

New CA-1 residents are paired with fellow interns and supported by senior residents, fellows, and dedicated faculty mentors. From the very beginning, you are surrounded by educators who are invested in your success. By July 1, you will be prepared to assume progressive responsibility while continuing to receive individualized guidance and support.

Early clinical experiences include a broad spectrum of cases, including general surgery, colorectal surgery, gynecology, orthopaedics, otolaryngology, and obstetric anesthesiology, providing a strong foundation upon which to build advanced skills.

Advanced Subspecialty Training

As a CA-2 resident, you will assume increasing responsibility while rotating through all major anesthesiology subspecialties, including:

• Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology
• Critical Care Medicine
• Pediatric Anesthesiology
• Neuroanesthesiology
• Regional Anesthesiology
• Vascular Anesthesiology
• Pain Medicine

Residents also gain extensive experience in major organ transplantation, including liver, lung, and heart transplantation. By the end of CA-2 year, many residents have exceeded graduation case requirements and are highly competitive applicants for fellowships and career opportunities throughout the country.

Leadership and Autonomy

CA-3 year is designed to prepare residents for the transition from trainee to independent consultant anesthesiologist. Senior residents develop leadership skills by managing operating rooms, supervising junior residents and CRNAs, coordinating perioperative care, and serving as leaders of multidisciplinary teams.

Residents also enjoy substantial elective time to pursue individualized interests in subspecialty training, critical care, global health, medical education, research, quality improvement, and professional development.

Mentorship and Career Development

Our program is led by Dr. Brandi Bottiger, an award-winning educator and cardiac anesthesiologist, alongside a dedicated leadership team that values resident feedback and continually strives to improve the training experience.

Duke faculty are internationally recognized clinicians, educators, researchers, and mentors who are deeply invested in resident success. Whether your goals include academic medicine, private practice, fellowship training, military medicine, global health, or physician leadership, you will find mentors committed to helping you achieve them.

Residents are actively encouraged and financially supported to present scholarly work and attend regional and national conferences, allowing them to build professional networks and pursue their academic interests.

Life in Durham

Durham offers an exceptional quality of life that consistently surprises and delights our residents. The city combines the amenities of a vibrant, growing metropolitan area with the accessibility and affordability of a smaller community.

Residents enjoy nationally acclaimed restaurants, local breweries, Durham Bulls baseball games, and performances at the Durham Performing Arts Center. Sports enthusiasts can cheer on the Blue Devils while outdoor lovers appreciate the region’s parks, trails, and greenways. The mountains and beaches of North Carolina are both within easy reach, and Raleigh-Durham International Airport provides convenient access to destinations around the world.

Most importantly, Durham allows residents to enjoy a fulfilling life outside the hospital, with manageable commutes, reasonable cost of living, and countless opportunities to explore the Triangle region.

A Community That Feels Like Family

Our greatest strength is our people.

Our residents come from broad backgrounds and bring a wide range of experiences and interests to the program. We are researchers, athletes, musicians, parents, educators, and adventurers. Despite our varied backgrounds, we share a common commitment to excellence, teamwork, and supporting one another.

The culture at Duke is genuinely collaborative. We celebrate each other’s successes, show up for one another during difficult moments, and build lasting friendships that extend far beyond residency. Whether sharing stories in the resident lounge, exploring Durham’s food scene, or gathering outside the hospital, our residents truly enjoy spending time together.

We hope you will take a closer look at Duke Anesthesiology. If you are seeking world-class clinical training, exceptional mentorship, meaningful autonomy, and a supportive community that will challenge and inspire you, we would be honored to meet you and show you what makes Duke such a special place to train.

Respectfully,

Eric Conklin, MD
Chief Resident, Duke Anesthesiology Residency Program
eric.conklin@duke.edu

Adam Brown, MD
Chief Resident, Duke Anesthesiology Residency Program
adam.brown@duke.edu

Yujin Shin, MD
Chief Resident, Duke Anesthesiology Residency Program
yujin.shin@duke.edu

The Duke Anesthesiology Residency Program offers a wide variety of learning experiences and resources for trainees including didactics, simulation, and more. This page provides an overview of the resources and educational opportunities available to residents during their four years at Duke.

Residency Didactics

In addition to intraoperative and bedside teaching, Duke Anesthesiology offers a strong didactic program for trainees. Each lecture series is organized by faculty leaders to ensure that content is up to date and provides residents the knowledge they need to become world-class anesthesiologists. Trainees have the opportunity to evaluate the lectures and provide feedback to presenters to help ensure the sessions are relevant to the needs of learners.

ACGME Anesthesiology Core Requirements: IV A 3: The curriculum must contain didactic instruction through a variety of learning opportunities occurring in a conference setting, in the clinical setting, or online that encompasses clinical anesthesiology and related areas of basic science. Other topics from Internal Medicine that are important for the preoperative preparation of the patient, from surgery as to the nature of the surgical procedure affecting anesthetic care, and from obstetrics that impacts anesthetic management of the patient should be included. The material covered in the didactic program must demonstrate appropriate continuity and sequencing to ensure that residents are ultimately exposed to all subjects at regularly held learning exercises.

Intern Lecture Series

The goal of the intern lecture series is to introduce interns to anesthesiology fundamentals at the beginning of their anesthesiology training. Topics include pre-operative screening, pain management, and ultrasound basics, among others. Lunch is provided for this series that meets once a month on Thursdays from noon to 1:00 p.m.

CA1 Lecture Series: Anesthesiology Fundamentals

This series is designed to build on the intern lecture series by providing trainees a concrete base of anesthesiology as they begin their anesthesiology rotations. Three primary topics are covered over the year:

• General cardio-pulmonary physiology and management
• Renal, hematologic, gastrointestinal and endocrine physiology
• Basics of intraoperative anesthesia management and introductions to subspecialty anesthesia topics (OB, CV, and neuro)

The final portion of the series is devoted to board review topics. This series meets on Tuesday afternoons from 5 – 6 p.m.

CA 2/3 Lecture Series: Subspecialty Anesthesiology

This lecture series is a two-year curriculum that provides advanced residents with in-depth knowledge of anesthesiology subspecialties. Many of these sessions are taught using novel methodologies, including flipped classroom, games, peer-to-peer learning,  and case-based discussions.

For many sessions, pre-work is posted online in our course management system. During the live session, residents will participate in active learning activities such as case-based learning, large and small group discussions, and review games in a “Jeopardy” format.  This series meets on Wednesdays from 5 – 6 p.m.

All Residents Lecture Series: Thursday Series

The Thursday afternoon lecture series is designed to provide trainees with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed as well-rounded attending anesthesiologists post-training.  This series focuses on the following ACGME competencies: practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, and systems-based practice. During the course of the year, residents will participate in the following activities on Thursday afternoons from 5 – 6 p.m.:

• M&Ms (6x/year)
• Twitter Journal Club (3x/year)
• QI lectures
• Nuts and bolts meetings with residency program leadership
• Leadership development sessions
• Mock orals
• TEE Interactive Series (see TEE below).

Resident TEE Curriculum

The Resident TEE curriculum is a 6-month curriculum for CA-2 and CA-3 residents focused on basic perioperative TEE; including image optimization, recognition of valvular abnormalities, ventricular dysfunction, and hands-on image acquisition.

Simulation

In addition to didactics, Duke Anesthesiology trainees have the opportunity to participate in world-class simulation activities. These sessions use various modalities of simulation, including task trainers for procedural skills as well as high-fidelity mannequins for case-based scenarios. A faculty champion, often division-specific, leads each session. The curriculum is developed and standardized in collaboration with simulation staff to ensure a paramount learning experience for all participants. The chart below reflects simulation-based education for graduate medical education in the Department of Anesthesiology.

Intern Survival Skills: Procedure-based simulation training including central line, airway management, and IV placement led by Dr. Sharon McCartney.

Subspecialty Case-based Scenarios: Organized by Dr. John Eck, these regular sessions rotate CA-1, CA-2, and CA-3 learners through cases created by champions in each subspecialty.

Anesthesia Crisis Resource Management (ACRM): Complex case-based scenarios that challenge CA-2 and CA-3 learners with crisis resource management-focused debriefings. The course originated with Dr. Ankeet Udani.

Education Highway

Trainees have access to the Education Highway, an online departmental repository for learning materials. This tool provides opportunities for self-directed learning in addition to supporting the flipped lectures. Each division has a space, curated by a faculty member with expertise in that area, to house educational videos, significant papers, protocols, and other learning materials. Each week, a recording of the departmental Grand Rounds lecture is posted for viewing by those unable to attend.

Advising and Coaching

Each resident has the opportunity to choose a faculty adviser. In addition to the support provided by the resident’s adviser and residency program leadership, the department’s PhD educator, Lana Minshew, is also available for individual educational coaching.

Other Resources

The following individuals are available to answer questions about the educational opportunities available in the department for trainees:

Brandi A. Bottiger, MD
Director, Anesthesiology Residency Program
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology

Angela Pollak, MD
Assistant Director, Anesthesiology Residency Program
Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology

Sarah Cotter, MD
Assistant Director, Anesthesiology Residency Program
Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology

Residents in the Duke University Department of Anesthesiology have endless opportunities to involve themselves in research. All subspecialty divisions within the department are academically productive, with nearly all research faculty actively managing multiple simultaneous projects. For those interested in basic science, our division boasts several productive laboratories investigating pain, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, neuroprotection, and the role of G-protein coupled receptors in human disease.

The Department of Anesthesiology is also fortunate to have unparalleled support for clinical research (Clinical Research Unit or CRU), allowing straightforward design and conduct of complex and unique clinical investigations. While participation in research is not required, resident research collaboration is both important and universally appreciated by investigators. Residents are encouraged to attend research meetings when their training schedule allows. Furthermore, residents presenting at national meetings typically receive departmental financial support for travel, board, meals, and attendance. For residents who are interested in a research-focused career, the residency training program offers two ACES positions annually. Please refer to the ACES program section of the website for more information.

Mandatory Rotations

*Managed by the Department of Anesthesiology

DUMC=Duke University Medical Center
DRH=Duke Regional Hospital
VA=Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Duke Anesthesiology created the Academic Career Enrichment Scholars (ACES) Program in 2007 to integrate advanced clinical and research training without prolonging the duration of the traditional residency and fellowship system. This innovative curriculum program is a highly-selective resident research track designed to increase the number of graduates pursuing academic careers and help them gain status as independently-funded researchers. It matches up to two residents per year. Since 2007, 24 trainees have graduated from the ACES Program or are currently in the program. To date, ACES residents have brought in more than $27 million in extramural funding, have published more than 450 peer-reviewed papers, and 22 of 24 graduates (91%) remain in academic anesthesiology.

Learn More About This Program

Bella Vishnevsky, MD
Residency Program Alumna

Megan Fah, MD
Residency Program Alumna

Leah Acker, MD, PhD
ACES Chief Resident, 2022

Find out why Durham, North Carolina is a great place to work and play.

Resident Classes of 2026-2027

CA-1s

CA-2s

CA-3s