Medical Student Pathway

Below is an outline of what to consider each year of medical school and anesthesiology residency planning.

Year 1:

• Perform the best that you can on Basic Science courses
• Strong performance – critical to success in matching
• Any remediations or repeated courses will be red flags later on
• Join the ASA and the State Society of Anesthesiologists - $10.00!
• Become involved in your medical school AIG chapter!
• Allows for networking, and demonstrating leadership
• If your school does not have one - start one!
  Contact ASA med student component for guidance
• Become involved on the state level and nationally thru ASA Medical Student Component
• Consider spending time “career exploring” following an Anesthesiologist in the ORs, OB, Pain Clinic and Preoperative Optimization Clinic to get a feel for anesthesiology
• If there is no anesthesia department consider reaching out to local Anesthesia division to find a mentor
• Clinical Director or Section Chief can help find a anesthesia preceptor or faculty advisor (even if a private practice group)
• Consider applying for FAER grant if interested in research at FAER Medical Student Fellowships

Year 1 Summer

• Do something meaningful – could be research, volunteer work
  Tip: Quality is more Important than Quantity
• Don't add meaningless activity to ‘pad the CV’ - it's not recommended
• Does not have to be anesthesia related as long as you are invested in the work
• Keep it broad – avoid thinking about your ‘back up plan’
• Follow your passion

Year 2:

• Perform the best that you can on Basic Science courses
• Continue to be involved in ASA and AIG
• Consider spending several days observing in Anesthesia Department / OR
• Prepare and PASS USMLE Step 1
• For DO candidates: consider also taking USMLE exams - required for some programs

Year 3:

• Do the best you can on clerkships
• Consider evaluations on each clerkship matter and are reviewed
• Strong performance on core clerkships matters
• Take a 3rd year Anesthesiology rotation early on!
• Identify an Anesthesiology mentor/specialty advisor
• Express interest in the field to your advisor and school Dean
• Identify and request LOR from faculty that know you well
• You will need at least one Anesthesiology LOR (letter of reccomendation)
• Consider additional letters from Core Clerkships: E.g.  Surgery, Internal Med, OB/GYN
• Avoid LOR from personal / family friends /unclear clinical, professional relationship
• If no home anesthesia program – suggestions for letters:
• Tell your letter writers to include a statement to that effect
• Have a Mix of letters, core letters will be most valuable
• Be proactive on your anesthesia rotation, seek out faculty mentors and guidance
• Letters from academic anesthesiologists can be more favorable vs someone who has never written a LOR
• Still significant clinical time or relationship can speak regarding interaction
• Eg PD, Clerkship Director, Electives, People that know you well
• Content about the candidate is more important than prestige of letter writer
• Prepare for Step 2 - will be one of the most important factors
• Research programs to determine if a good fit
• Look for safety, target and reach programs that match one’s academic profile
• Attend virtual open houses to get a feel for programs

Year 4:

• Take Step 2 preferably in June/July and do the best you can
• Take 4th year Anesthesia rotation, Consider away rotation with application thru VSLOs
• Talk to your advisors and consider away at program within your academic ‘reach’ target
• FREIDA - is an AMA resource that allows students to search for residency programs
• Remember the Away rotation is = 4 week job interview/audition!
• Don’t stress if you do not get the away elective - not absolutely required.
• Most match and succeed without the away!
• Use personal statement to explain any gaps, avoid generic personal statements, say something meaningful, grammatically correct and succinct
• Write personal statement, prepare CV, remind letter writers of deadlines
• Finish complete application by Aug!
• Sep: ERAS opens, Residency Application goes out
• Signal guidance
• Oct-Jan: Interviews for Residency
• Feb: Finalize match list
• March: Congratulations you matched into an Anesthesiology residency
• FREIDA, Charting the match, Talk to dean previous years