A: Speaking as a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist myself and a former cardiothoracic fellowship program director, the best preparation for a top-tier cardiothoracic fellowship (or any subspecialty fellowship for that matter) is by building a strong foundation in the fundamentals of anesthesiology during your residency training.

A: Starting anesthesia residency at Duke is exciting! Our advice is simple and likely applicable to all residencies: Bring a positive, inquisitive attitude to work each day; Arrive early and work hard; Study daily (briefly) – bridge book knowledge to real patients; Introduce yourself to everyone you meet; try and remember names.

A: The most common fellowship pursued by our residents is cardiothoracic anesthesia. Here is a list of our 2015 graduates and their post-graduate plans.

A: Simulation-based education at Duke has three main functions during residency training. First, orientation. All anesthesia residents spend their first week at Duke in small groups practicing the basics of anesthesia preparation, induction, maintenance and emergence. Orientation allows students to ask questions in a controlled, safe environment so they are well prepared when they are in the clinical setting.

A: I am excited to hear about your interest. I am sure you will receive lots of advice on how to best prepare for a career in anesthesiology, beginning with residency. At Duke, we are looking for residents who are passionate about anesthesiology and will lead our field into the future. It is important to be well-rounded with 1) a good understanding of physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology, 2)  well-developed clinical skills and bedside manner, 3) a passion for lifelong learning, and 4) leadership experience. This is not a comprehensive list, but is meant to guide you as you begin your preparations. At Duke, we will foster growth in each one of these areas to best prepare you for your career.

A: Currently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not able to accommodate observerships for international students. For those interested in our program, please visit our Duke Anesthesiology Residency Program webpage for dates for our upcoming virtual open houses.