Residency Rotation Summary
Anesthesiology residency training at the University of Minnesota offers a comprehensive clinical experience across six integrated training sites throughout the Twin Cities. The Department of Anesthesiology is based at the M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center, where the majority of clinical rotations and didactic sessions occur. Additional core training sites include M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital, Regions Hospital, Hennepin County Medical Center, and the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.
Residents typically enter the program at the postgraduate year one (PGY-1) level following medical school. Entry into the first clinical anesthesiology year (CA-1) may be considered when positions are available. Advanced entry into the CA-2 or CA-3 year may be considered on a case-by-case basis under special circumstances, contingent upon available space.
Graduates of our program are well prepared to care for a diverse patient population, ranging from neonates and critically ill adults to geriatric patients with complex medical conditions.
The PGY-1 year (clinical base year) is completed at Hennepin County Medical Center and is designed to provide broad foundational training in disciplines essential to anesthesiology.
Core rotations include:
- Internal Medicine
- Pediatrics
- Emergency Medicine
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
Rotations in surgery, neurology, and neonatology are strongly recommended. A required one-month rotation in the University of Minnesota Department of Anesthesiology is included during the PGY-1 year.
During this clinical base year, residents participate fully in patient care, conferences, and educational activities alongside trainees from other specialties, ensuring a well-rounded and immersive clinical experience.
The first two clinical anesthesiology years provide structured, progressive exposure to the full spectrum of anesthesiology practice. Rotations are organized into blocks ranging from one week to one month or longer and include:
- Anesthesia for general surgery, otorhinolaryngology, gynecology, thoracic surgery, transplantation, and cardiac surgery
- Neuroanesthesia
- Obstetric anesthesia
- Pediatric anesthesia
- Acute and chronic pain management
- Critical care medicine
- Post-anesthesia care
- Regional anesthesia
Residents take call an average of one week in every six while assigned to the University of Minnesota Medical Center. More frequent call responsibilities occur during obstetric anesthesia and critical care rotations. When assigned to affiliate sites, call schedules are structured to align with rotation-specific requirements and departmental guidelines.
The CA-3 year (advanced clinical training) is designed to meet the educational needs of senior residents while fulfilling all American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) requirements. Residents work closely with faculty advisors to tailor their schedules toward career goals, including subspecialty training, fellowship preparation, or academic development.
Senior residents assume increased supervisory responsibilities, mentoring junior residents under faculty guidance. Up to six months of protected research time may be available to qualifying CA-3 residents. All senior residents are required to present a scholarly lecture to the department on a clinical anesthesiology topic of their choosing.
Clinical Anesthesiology Residency Structure
Each clinical anesthesiology class (CA-1, CA-2, CA-3) consists of ten residents, creating a 36-month continuum of progressive clinical training. The program provides comprehensive exposure to all aspects of anesthesiology and fulfills eligibility requirements for certification by the American Board of Anesthesiology.
Graduates are expected to pass USMLE Step 3, be eligible for Minnesota medical licensure, and achieve board certification by the ABA.
Residents gain significant clinical experience across a wide range of specialties, including:
- Cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Pediatric and neonatal surgery
- Transplantation
- Orthopedics
- Otolaryngology
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Trauma and burns
- Ophthalmology
- Critical care and pain management
While several training sites serve as busy regional referral centers for the Twin Cities metropolitan area, the University of Minnesota Medical Center functions as a quaternary care facility, attracting patients from across the nation and internationally for highly specialized and experimental therapies. This ensures exposure to both routine and exceptionally complex clinical cases.
Supervision, Progression & Teaching
Residents advance through the program at a pace appropriate to their level of training and demonstrated capability, progressing from foundational skills to increasingly complex responsibilities. Supervision is provided by full-time and adjunct anesthesiology faculty in all clinical environments.
Attending anesthesiologists also supervise Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), who contribute significantly to patient care and help provide the flexibility needed to support resident education. Residents also participate actively in medical student education and have regular opportunities to teach and mentor learners at earlier stages of training.
Didactic Program
Throughout residency, residents participate in a robust and structured didactic curriculum led by faculty from the Department of Anesthesiology, collaborating departments, and invited national speakers. Regularly scheduled teaching sessions occur four days per week and include:
- Core lecture series
- Resident reading seminars
- Case management conferences
- Problem-based learning discussions
- Journal clubs
- Visiting professor lectures
- In-training examination preparation
Additional educational offerings include annual mock oral board examinations and workshops focused on difficult airway management, regional anesthesia, and career development. The department makes extensive use of the University of Minnesota Simulation Center to provide training in basic and advanced patient management, crisis resource management, and high-acuity scenarios such as malignant hyperthermia.
Evaluation & Feedback
Resident performance is assessed through ongoing formative and summative evaluations. Formative feedback is provided by supervising faculty, perioperative staff, and co-residents on a daily basis and at the conclusion of each rotation. The Clinical Competency Committee conducts quarterly reviews of resident progress.
Summative evaluations occur twice yearly and are based on a comprehensive review of each resident’s clinical performance, professionalism, and educational milestones. The goal of the evaluation process is to provide constructive feedback that supports resident growth and prepares graduates for independent practice as anesthesiology consultants.