Anesthesiology Residency Program

Welcome to the Anesthesiology Residency Program at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. You will find this hospital and the Upper Valley an outstanding place to work and live.

Throughout your training here, you will benefit from faculty who are highly skilled and dedicated to teaching. Many are nationally and internationally recognized for their work in areas as diverse as ultrasound-guided regional, pediatric, and neuraxial anesthesia as well as trans-esophageal echocardiography, critical care, and patient safety. In addition, several Clinical Base Year positions are available that provide an excellent foundation for your career as an anesthesiologist and perioperative physician. The balance between education and clinical work is outstanding at all levels of training. You will find your relationships with our faculty and residents to be respectful and collegial.

The PGY-2 year (CA-1) begins with simulator sessions and by working closely with a senior resident for one week to learn the basics of an anesthetic. This is followed by a three week, one-on-one session with a faculty member, where you will learn the foundations of airway management, anesthetic induction, delivery, and emergence, as well as perioperative management of surgical patients. A dedicated rotation in airway management helps to develop your skills with advanced airway equipment to manage the difficult airway. CA-1 residents also rotate through the subspecialty areas of OB, cardiothoracic, TEE, and ICU. The remainder of the year is spent fine-tuning and expanding your abilities.

The PGY-3 year (CA-2) provides further in-depth study of subspecialties in anesthesiology including obstetric, pediatric, CT, vascular, neuro, and regional anesthesia, as well as acute and chronic pain management. Through these subspecialty rotations you will manage increasingly complex cases. You will also begin to supervise CA-1 residents on call as they learn labor epidurals, off-site airway management, and the management of trauma patients.

The PGY-4 year (CA-3) is the culmination of your training as you develop and implement your anesthetic plans with more independence. This year allows you to hone your skills in the general OR and during additional subspecialty rotations of your choosing. Unique opportunities in the CA-3 year include training in transesophageal echocardiography, the international pediatric anesthesia elective, and participation in research. Your confidence continues to grow as you find yourself managing the most complex patients in our ORs.

Our didactics are robust, boasting weekly conferences in TEE and regional anesthesia. Other conferences include case conference, journal club, M&M, grand rounds, and visiting professor lectures. A month-long introductory lecture series for the CA-1 residents covers a variety of basic anesthesia topics. Weekly CA 1-2 conferences cover these topics in more depth. A dedicated CA-3 conference series focuses on preparation for the oral and written board exams, including weekly "mock" oral board reviews with current or former board examiners in our department. Additionally, our residents are encouraged to participate in committee activities and resident input into the curriculum is highly valued.

We are confident that you will find our residents happy and well-trained. Our graduates continue their careers in a variety of excellent fellowship and practice opportunities nationwide. We encourage you to stop by for a visit, call, or email with any questions.

Sincerely,

Laura Lahaye, MD
Chief Resident

Chris Reidy, MD
Chief Resident