Unique Program Aspects

Flexible Career Pathways & Leadership Development

Combined Pathway Program
The Combined Pathway Program supports residents early in their careers by providing opportunities to develop advanced skills and credentials that enhance national competitiveness. Residents may pursue advanced degrees such as an MBA, MHA, or MPH. These pathways are designed to prepare graduates for leadership roles in anesthesiology, academic medicine, and healthcare systems.

Resident Leadership Academy
Select residents are supported annually to participate in the University of Minnesota’s Resident Leadership Academy, a program developed by the Graduate Medical Education Office to cultivate future physician leaders through structured leadership training and mentorship.

Advanced Simulation & Educational Innovation

Students in a simulated OR

M Simulation
In 2020, the University of Minnesota Simulation Center relocated to the Health Sciences Education Center, a state-of-the-art interprofessional education facility. The simulation center occupies the 5th and 6th floors and is led by Dr. Mojca Remskar, a faculty member in the Department of Anesthesiology. Residents across all clinical years participate in a comprehensive simulation curriculum, including repeated and progressive training in difficult airway management, regional anesthesia, crisis resource management, and perioperative emergencies.

Protected Didactic Time
Resident education is a top priority. To ensure protected learning, residents are routinely relieved from clinical duties at 3:00 p.m. each day to participate in structured didactics, including lectures, journal clubs, problem-based learning discussions, and simulation sessions.

Research

Research Track
The American Board of Anesthesiology allows protected time during residency for scholarly activity, particularly for residents pursuing academic careers. We work closely with interested residents to develop individualized research tracks that include mentorship, protected time, access to institutional resources, and relevant coursework. These pathways are designed to equip residents with the skills needed to succeed in research-focused and academic careers.

Broad & Distinctive Clinical Training

Robust ICU Experience
We believe critical care training is essential to developing well-rounded anesthesiologists. Residents complete six months of ICU training across the Surgical ICU and Cardiovascular ICU. Many of these rotations are staffed by anesthesiology faculty, and the CVICU is led exclusively by anesthesiology-trained intensivists, providing consistent leadership and anesthesiology-focused education.

Care Team Model & CRNA Collaboration
Our department values a collaborative, team-based practice model. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) play an integral role in resident education and daily workflow. They ensure residents receive morning and afternoon breaks, a 30-minute lunch, and facilitate protected didactic time by relieving residents at 3:00 p.m. Their expertise in operating room flow and equipment is especially valuable during call and complex cases.

Electives, Teaching & Global Health Opportunities

Elective Opportunities
Residents receive comprehensive exposure to all anesthesiology subspecialties and may tailor their education through a wide range of electives, including:

  • Ambulatory surgery center rotations
  • International and global health experiences
  • Practice management electives with hands-on experience in OR scheduling and supervision of residents and CRNAs
  • Teaching opportunities, including the option to design an education-focused elective for those interested in academic medicine

Global Health Experience
Residents interested in global health may participate in international clinical experiences. One such opportunity is highlighted below:

Residents in Uganda for a medical mission trip

“As a pediatric anesthesia fellow, I traveled to India for a two-week rotation at Narayana Health, a multispecialty hospital in ‘Health City’ near Bangalore. Pediatric patients from across India and neighboring countries come for advanced cardiac surgery. I worked alongside pediatric cardiac surgeons performing up to 10 surgeries per day and participated in daily TEE lectures with cardiac anesthesiology fellows. It was an unforgettable and invaluable learning experience.”

- Former Pediatric Anesthesia Fellow

Resident Benefits & Support

Food Allowance
Residents receive a Fairview meal card at the start of the CA-1 year. The stipend amount is based on the number of assigned call days.

Parking
Contract parking is provided for residents during their CA-1 through CA-3 years on both East and West Bank campuses.

Recreation & Wellness Center
Residents have access to the University’s Recreation & Wellness Center on the East Bank campus, which includes cardio and weight training equipment, lap swimming, rock climbing, and additional wellness amenities.

Vacation & Leave
Per American Board of Anesthesiology policy, residents may take up to 60 days of combined vacation, sick leave, and leave between CA-1 and CA-2 years. Our program provides:

  • 3 weeks of vacation per academic year
  • 1 week of sick leave per academic year

Residents who become parents through birth, adoption, surrogacy, or as gestational carriers are eligible for six weeks of paid parental leave, which does not count against vacation or sick leave. Written notice should be provided to the Program Director at least eight weeks in advance when possible.

Stipend & Benefits
For the most current stipend and benefits information, please visit the University of Minnesota Applicants site and refer to the appropriate academic year.

Academic & Conference Funding
Residents receive $1,000 per academic year (excluding the intern year) for educational or travel-related expenses. Unused funds may carry over. Residents presenting at scientific meetings are granted up to five working days of conference time per year, counted as clinical time.

ITE Incentive Program
To promote academic excellence, the department offers the following incentives:

  • CA-1: $750 education fund bonus for scores ≥75th percentile on the ABA Basic ITE
  • CA-2: $2,000 bonus for scores ≥75th percentile; additional $500 for scores ≥50th percentile

Residents presenting at major conferences receive an additional $1,000 annually for travel. All CA-1 residents attend the MARC conference with full departmental coverage of registration, airfare, and lodging.