Anesthesiology

Anesthesiology Residency Questions

What advice would you give about getting letters of recommendation in your specialty?

Obtain at least 3 letters of recommendation, preferably at least one from an anesthesiologist.

What is the value of doing audition rotations in your specialty?

It can be valuable assuming you have a good performance during the month, though certainly not a requirement. If geographic location is a major consideration, it might be worth it to have an away rotation there.

To what extent does research, publications, or presentations affect one's ability to match in your specialty?

Scholarly activity is now an ACGME requirement for anesthesiology residents, so some evidence of a willingness to participate in these activities prior to residency is favorable, though not a requirement for successful match.

Is a Step 2CK score needed before you will invite someone for an interview?

No, but having a Step 2CK score is preferred if possible.

What does the perfect applicant look like in your specialty?

It depends on the program, some programs value research ability more highly than others. However, an applicant whose application displays evidence of outstanding character, conscientiousness, willingness to be a team player, ability to excel in all types of testing scenarios and a servant's heart would be considered an ideal candidate for successful match into any Anesthesiology program in the country.

Does having a below average Step 1 score doom you in your specialty?

No, though it does severely hinder one's ability to obtain multiple interview offers from competitive programs. A complete application with evidence of volunteer work, scholarly activity, and completion of a successful audition rotation, good grades in medical school, fantastic letter of recommendation and a reasonable explanation of extenuating circumstances which lead to a poor test score can still overcome a single bad score.

Would you ever take someone with a Step 2CS failure?

Possible, but not likely.

Does a student need to Honor in your specialty in order to match?

No, however it can be seen as concerning to not honor a subspecialty rotation in Anesthesiology especially if part of a larger trend.

The students have significant elective time during their 2nd and 3rd year for career exploration.

What electives would you recommend to a student who knows they are interested in your specialty?

What electives would you recommend to a student who is undecided but considering your specialty?

Is there anything else I haven't asked that you feel an applicant to your specialty ought to know?