Residency Trajectory

Below is an outline of each residency year's milestones and different goals to consider.

Post Graduate Year (PGY) - 1 year

• Pass Step 3 -prior to CA1 year
• Focus on core medicine principles, learning broad basis for clinical practice, don’t think of it as a “scut work year”
• Attend anesthesia gr rounds- if feasible 
• Start reading basic Anesthesia textbook such as “Miller’s Basics of Anesthesia’
• If in a preliminary PGY-1 year, make sure non – anesthesia requirements such as 4 weeks EM and 8 weeks of Critical Care Medicine completed during PGY1 year
• Strong performance- professional relationship starts -NOW (even non-anesthesia rotations)

CA-1

• 1st 1-2 months:
• Adjust to clinical anesthesia schedule – very different from your medicine and surgical colleagues!
• Read Anesthesia textbook and content review on a daily basis
• 1st 6 months:
• don’t worry about fellowship!
• Focus on core OR Anesthesia clinical performance and basic knowledge
• Prepare for ITE and do the best that you can
• 2nd 6 months:
• Prepare and pass the Basic ABA Certification Exam
• Starting thinking if fellowship is right for you
• Explore subspecialty rotations

CA-2

• Consider if fellowship is right for you
• If considering a fellowship, identify a mentor early and apply
• Prepare for ITE- this is a predictor of success on future exams
      
• If not pursuing fellowship, think about what type of practice you would like pursue
• Academic vs Private Practice
• Community vs Tertiary
• Urban vs Suburban vs Rural
• Hospital vs Outpatient
• Visit ASA Resident Component and see their resources

CA-3

• Prepare CV and job application if not applying for fellowship
• Ensure that you have met minimum case numbers
• Employers may ask for credentialing purposes
• Explore rotations of interest or further clinical experience
• Make sure you have a lawyer review your contract (your State Society will recommend one)
• Things to consider:
• Salary, hours, call requirements, location, supervision CRNA, AA etc, Med malpractice insurance
• Start applying for your state medical license (if not obtained already). This may take time…