
Medical Students
University of Minnesota Applicants Site
To learn more about the programs at the University of Minnesota, please visit the New Applicants site. This site also contains resources for choosing the right program path for your skills and interests.
Anesthesiology Interest Group
Regardless of your degree of interest, the Anesthesiology Interest Group (AIG) encourages medical students to get involved and discover more about the specialty of anesthesiology. The group's mission is to stimulate interest in anesthesiology through presentations, discussions, and informal social events and to provide opportunities for medical students to learn skills inherent to the practice of anesthesiology through workshops and physician shadowing programs.
Medical Student Research Volunteer Opportunities
We are grateful for your interest in pursuing research within the Department of Anesthesiology! Whether you are connected to a faculty or a project already or are simply interested in exploring the options, you have come to the right place! Check out our informational brochure to learn more about getting started.
What should I do if I want to join a research project?
Generally you will need to complete an 8-hour module of CITI training, various forms for Human Resources approval, and the NERS process to meet Fairview’s requirements. The Anesthesiology Education Office will be here to guide you every step of the way!
What if I don't have a research project already lined up?
That’s okay! The Anesthesiology Education Office can create a match with faculty who are seeking support from Medical Student Research Volunteers.
How long before I can start researching?
The process to onboard a medical student to a research project takes approximately 2-3 months. This time can be somewhat expedited if the applicant is timely with their completion of documents, however some process task timelines are out of our control.
Can I participate in research if I am not a current University of Minnesota student?
Due to the limited number of research opportunities we are able to offer, we are only able to accept current University of Minnesota students on our research projects.
Can I participate in research if I am here on a visa?
Unfortunately, medical students on a visa are typically not approved by University Human Resources as it may violate their visa requirements.
How do I get started?
- Complete the "Good Practice in Biomedical Research" portion of CITI training.
- Email your completion certificate to [email protected]
- The Education Office will guide you from there!
Anesthesia Research Fellowship
The Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship (MSARF) program is an 8-week summer research experience designed for medical students who have just completed their first year at the University of Minnesota Medical School. This program provides provides financial support and resources to our MSARFs to focus on anesthesiology research, training in scientific methodology and techniques, and learning how to incorporate research into an academic medical career with the aim of expanding and developing scientific talent in academic anesthesiology, locally and nationally.
Based on the competitiveness of applications, 1-2 medical students are chosen each year by members of the MSARF Committee. MSARFs present to the MSARF Committee and at a national conference, if accepted.
For more information, please email [email protected].
Opportunities for Visiting Students
Visiting medical students from domestic LCME-accredited medical schools and COCA-accredited medical schools ONLY may apply for selected elective rotations at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
International medical students are not accepted unless a formal agreement exists between their medical school and the University of Minnesota. For a list of medical schools with whom the University of Minnesota has formal agreements, please visit the website for the Global Medical Education & Research Program.
The University of Minnesota Medical School uses the AAMC's Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) to receive visiting student applications. Our institution information is available at AAMC's list of VSLO host institutions.
To apply to our institution, you will need to complete an application in VSLO. Do not send elective requests directly to our office or to course personnel. For more information, please visit the University of Minnesota Medical School's "Visiting Students" site.
Shadowing
Shadowing provides the opportunity to learn alongside one of our Department faculty in order to better understand the anesthesiology specialty. Individuals interested in shadowing with the Department of Anesthesiology should reach out to [email protected] for more information. Please note that our shadowing availability is limited and our criteria for shadowing are strict so it is highly likely you will be placed on a waiting list.
Rotations
Medical students have the opportunity to take advantage of six major clerkships offered.
ANES 7181: Introduction to Anesthesiology
Introduction to Anesthesiology is a 2 week rotation designed to provide students with a solid foundation of the principles of anesthesiology. Students will have the opportunity to participate in the anesthetic care for an ample variety of surgical procedures and be exposed to a broad scope of anesthesia practices. The anesthesia rotation is a great opportunity for students to become familiar with the preoperative evaluation of patients presenting for surgery and to understand how their underlying clinical conditions impact the elaboration of an anesthetic management plan.
*This course is a prerequisite for ANES 7183 and ANES 7185, Anesthesiology Advanced Electives.
ANES 7182: Anesthesiology Research
Anesthesiology Research is an individually formulated course with a University of Minnesota faculty member that will include on and off campus learning experiences in areas not covered by regular courses. This rotation focuses on advanced anesthesia structure with an emphasis in clinical and research practice and will provide an increased understanding of perioperative care of patients needing Anesthesia services.
ANES 7185: Anesthesiology Advanced Elective
This 4-week advanced rotation is focused on the medical student who has completed ANES 7181 and is interested in pursuing a career in anesthesiology and/or desires additional anesthesia experience in managing medically complex patients undergoing medium to high-risk surgery. Students will have the opportunity to care for the aging veteran population. There will be an emphasis on managing patients with multiple co-morbid conditions undergoing cardiac and vascular surgery. Additionally, medical students will learn more advanced concepts during cases that include ENT, thoracic, and abdominal surgery. The medical student will develop skills including placing peripheral intravenous catheters, endotracheal intubation, arterial lines, and central lines. The medical student will develop a greater understanding of perioperative cardiovascular physiology/hemodynamics and pulmonary physiology, ventilator management and interpretation of data from multiple simultaneous monitors. They will function at the level of a sub-intern and will be given advanced responsibilities consistent with their level of knowledge and skill.
Training sites include the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and University of Minnesota Medical Center.
ANES 7187: Preoperative Clinic Rotation
This is a 4-week advanced elective that takes place in the Preoperative Anesthesia Clinic with the department of Anesthesiology faculty. The goal of this elective is for medical students to gain experience evaluating medically complex patients and optimizing them prior to their procedures.
This elective is geared towards medical students planning to go into the primary care fields, surgery, or anesthesiology. Primary care physicians routinely perform the preoperative history and physical examinations for patients’ procedures. They will gain a greater understanding of the anesthetic and procedural considerations that affect their patients.
Medical students will work closely with the Preoperative Anesthesia Clinic faculty and anesthesiology residents. Initially, the medical student will shadow residents/faculty, then they will progress to see patients independently and present to staff pertinent history and physical, assessment, and plan of action. They will also assist in the coordination of the patient’s care which involves contacting primary care providers, surgical teams, and consultants
The medical student will have the opportunity to follow select medically complex patients from a patient-centered, longitudinal perspective including coordination of care; application of evidence based, best practice protocols and pathways; observation of the anesthetic care of the patient intraoperatively; observation of the recovery and rehabilitation of the patient post operatively; and finally return of the patient to his or her primary care physician. This is a unique, all encompassing view of a complex health care event not typically afforded trainees in traditional rotations.
ANES 7188: Pain Medicine Elective
Pain is a common ailment that physicians across a range of specialties manage. Therefore, accurately diagnosing and effectively managing pain is an important skillset to acquire. Medical students will gain a greater depth of understanding of the complex mechanisms that contribute to pain and appreciate the multidisciplinary approach to pain medicine. Medical students will spend their two weeks in both the outpatient and inpatient settings. In the chronic pain clinic they will evaluate patients with faculty, fellows, and residents, and observe and participate in interventional pain procedures. In the inpatient setting, they will observe and participate in regional anesthesia procedures prior to surgical procedures, evaluate hospitalized patients with chronic pain or complex pain management concerns and round on patients on the inpatient pain management service.
ANES 7189: Acting Internship: Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit
In the U.S., cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality and many patients require surgical treatment for cardiovascular disease. Understanding the principles of diagnosis and management of complications in cardiac surgical patients is essential for students interested in pursuing a career in critical care regardless of avenue (surgery, emergency medicine, internal medicine, and anesthesiology). The goal of the Cardiovascular ICU (CVICU) clerkship is to give students the opportunity to develop basic skills in evaluation and treatment of patients requiring cardiac surgery including management of patients requiring mechanical circulatory support such as ventricular assist devices (VAD's) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
ANES 7601: Introduction to Medical Device Innovation
Introduction to Medical Device Innovation will provide a 4 week experience for fourth year medical students to immerse themselves in the world of medical device innovation. Students will have opportunities to visit industry and see first hand how medical devices are developed. Students will come to the course with their own ideas and gain experience with prototyping in our own Bakken medical devices center and will work with the Carlson School of Management to participate in the evaluation lab and perform a marketability assessment of their idea.
Contact

Wendy Nguyen, MD, MEd
Medical Student Education Director
[email protected]

Ellen Klemme
UME Coordinator
[email protected]
(612) 624-9061