New Anesthesiologist Assistant Program Explored for Medical College of Wisconsin

The Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) has commenced a formal feasibility assessment to bring an anesthesiologist assistant educational program to the Wisconsin market. “The Anesthesiologist Assistant program will aim to advance the mission of the AHW to be a catalyst for positive change in the health of Wisconsin communities,” said Lois Connolly, M.D., ASA alternate district director, Wisconsin, past president of the Wisconsin Society of Anesthesiologists, and professor of Anesthesiology at MCW.

To realize this goal, the Department of Anesthesiology has secured grant funding from the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin (AHW) endowment to analyze and further develop the Master of Science in Anesthesia program at MCW. Assuming all proceeds as planned the targeting matriculation date of the inaugural call will be August 2016.

Dr. Connolly further added: “We have partnered with a national consulting firm to develop an innovative curriculum model that will train the AAs of the future and prepare them to practice within future patient care models, such as the Perioperative Surgical Home.”

ASA endorses efforts to educate, train and allow for the practice of anesthesiologist assistants. There are currently ten accredited anesthesiologist assistant program locations in the United States.

Anesthesiologist assistants are highly skilled health professionals who work within the direction of physician anesthesiologists to implement anesthesia care plans. Anesthesiologist assistants work exclusively within the Anesthesia Care Team environment as described by ASA. All anesthesiologist assistants possess a premedical undergraduate background and complete a comprehensive didactic and clinical program at the graduate school master’s degree level.