Program Overview

Introduction to the Anesthesiology-Wichita Program

The Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita offers a medium-sized, ACGME accredited residency program with five residents per year. The program is designed to provide a balance between clinical and didactic learning, with a focus on preparing residents to pass boards and confidently enter a fellowship or clinical practice.

Program Structure

The program consists of three years of training, with each year building on the previous one. The first year includes a transitional year with experiences in critical care, surgery, emergency medicine, internal medicine, cardiology, nephrology, and other elective rotations. The second year includes four months of general anesthesia rotations, an ICU rotation, a research rotation, and a combination of specialty rotations. The third year includes seven blocks of required complex rotations along with six blocks of elective rotations.

First Year

• Transitional year with experiences in:
  • Critical care
  • Surgery
  • Emergency medicine
  • Internal medicine
  • Cardiology
  • Nephrology
  • Other elective rotations
• Incorporation of a block of perioperative medicine in the second half of the year
• Block focused on Point-of-Care Ultrasound
• Intense immersion on an anesthesiology rotation during which all five interns rotate together

Second Year

• Four months of general anesthesia rotations
• ICU rotation
• Research rotation
• Combination of specialty rotations, including:
  • Difficult airway management
  • Post anesthesia care
  • Acute pain
  • Pediatric anesthesia
  • Obstetric anesthesia
  • Introduction to cardiovascular anesthesia

Third Year

• Seven blocks of required complex rotations
• Six blocks of elective rotations
• "OR Manager" block during which the resident runs the entire schedule at the main hospital

Research Opportunities

Residents have dedicated time to work with the research associate to prepare a case for presentation at the Midwest Anesthesia Resident Conference. They can also initiate a research project or join a research project already in progress. The majority of the research is clinical in nature, but bench research is an option due to the relationship with the local university.

Program Goals and Expectations

The program director strives to provide a balance between clinical and didactic learning, and time away from work. Residents rarely work more than 60 hours per week, including didactic learning. The program director promises to prepare everyone to pass boards and to confidently enter a fellowship or clinical practice immediately upon completing the program.

Location and Community

Wichita is a great community, very safe and family-friendly, with outstanding school districts and an ultra-modern airport that provides easy access for travel. The program director encourages applicants to consider making Wichita their destination for anesthesiology residency training.